Symptoms

Many symptoms could be indicative of depression but the most prominent are

• depressed mood (i.e. you are sad)
• lack of interest (i.e. you can't feel joy in anything)
• tiredness and lack of energy

Amongst the many other symptoms that can be indicative of depression are

• pessimism
• inability to feel joy
• nervousness
• anxiety
• confusion
• inability to make decisions
• worrying over trivial matters
• tiredness
• difficulty in concentrating
• lack of energy
• reduced self-confidence
• feelings of guilt
• bad memory
• slow and languid movements and slow speech
• reduced appetite
• sleep disturbances
• physical pain
• fear of diseases (hypochondria)

The physical symptoms can raise suspicion about a physical disease. But also many physical diseases give symptoms that are reminiscent of depression.

Comorbid depression

It is also important to note that a serious physical disease increases the risk of developing depression. Depression that occurs in connection with a serious physical disease is called a comorbid depression.

Even though the above symptoms are the most prominent, there are a number of other symptoms which are characteristic of depression. Together the symptoms create a pattern and this pattern is the basis for doctors being able to make the diagnosis.

In most depressions it is the people closest to the patient that first discover the symptoms of depression. If you are suspicious about someone in your family or circle of friends (or yourself) suffering from depression or having unexplained physical symptoms, we advise you to get them to contact their doctor.

In this section you can read more about the individual symptoms.