Identifying Depression and Resources for Help & Treatment
What Is Depression?
Depression is a real, legitimate mental health condition that affects thoughts, emotions, and actions. Depression is different from feeling down for a few days. People who have depression may feel like they won’t ever feel happy again, or like their problems will never resolve.
Common Depression Symptoms
Symptoms of depression differ from person to person. Some people who are living with depression may find that symptoms come and go, while others may find that their symptoms are consistent over time.
Symptoms of depression may include:
- Physical problems with no direct explanation, such as backaches, headaches, or stomach problems
- Slower thinking than normal
- Slower body movements than normal
- A fixation on past embarrassments or struggles, despite not wanting to think about such issues
- Sleeping problems, including both insomnia and sleeping more than normal
- Anger and frustration
- Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, and tearfulness
- Loss of interest in things once found pleasurable
- Changes in eating patterns
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Extreme fatigue following normal tasks, such as cooking dinner or going to work
- Suicidal ideation
- Suicide attempts
Living With Depression? Arkansas Psychiatric Clinic can Help
When you’re living with depression, it’s normal to feel like no treatment will be effective. Thankfully, there is hope. At Arkansas Psychiatric Clinic, we offer a full range of psychiatric services to help you begin the recovery process. We’re here to help—not to judge. Reach out to us today to chat about potential depression treatment options.
Additional Resources
Listen to writer Andrew Solomon eloquently discuss his difficult battle with depression in this TEDx talk.
The American Psychiatric Association’s site includes resources for patients and families.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources for people who are living with depression.
Photo by Ally Griffin on Unsplash
