Signs of Depression: How to Recognize the First Symptoms

Sometimes the morning begins with a heaviness that is hard to explain: everything is as usual, but there is no energy and nothing brings joy. Most often this state passes on its own. But sometimes it can be depression behind it — a disorder recognized by a combination of symptoms and by how long they last.

What depression is and how it differs from a bad mood

Depression is not just sadness for a few days. It is a serious mood disorder: it changes how a person thinks, feels, and lives, and ordinary tasks — sleep, eating, work — can become difficult. Symptoms last for weeks or months and interfere with work, communication, and family life.

A bad mood usually passes within a short time. For a diagnosis of depression in adults, symptoms must be present nearly all day, nearly every day for at least two weeks, and one of them must be depressed mood or loss of interest in most activities. Grief and depression are similar, but grief is a natural reaction to loss and softens over time; depression more often involves hopelessness, guilt, and thoughts of death.

Early signs of depression

The onset is not easy to notice: depression often develops gradually, and a person explains their condition for a long time by fatigue or workload. From the outside, changes are sometimes more noticeable than to the person themselves. There is no universal list of ten signs — symptoms differ between people, and rarely does anyone have all of them at once.

• persistently low mood, a sense of hopelessness and helplessness;
• loss of interest in former activities and of pleasure in life;
• low self-esteem, tearfulness, feelings of guilt, irritability;
• difficulty making decisions, lack of motivation, anxiety and restlessness.

Physical and external signs of depression

The body is involved too. Movements and speech slow down, appetite and weight change — more often decreasing, but sometimes increasing, constipation, pain, and unpleasant sensations without a clear cause appear, along with lack of energy and reduced sexual desire. Sleep is disturbed: it is hard to fall asleep or the person wakes very early. Externally, slowness and detachment are noticeable, and in communication — avoiding friends, fewer shared activities, abandoned hobbies, difficulties at home, at work, and in the family.

Signs of depression in women and in men

Depression is more common in women; this is linked to hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause. In the weeks before menstruation, some women develop pronounced symptoms of depression and anxiety — premenstrual dysphoric disorder. After the birth of a child, depression occurs not only in mothers but also in fathers and partners.

In men, manifestations often look different: instead of sadness — anger and irritability. This is accompanied by changes in mood and behavior, increased use of alcohol or other substances, and withdrawal from family and friends.

Depression in an adolescent: what to pay attention to

Adolescent depression does not always look like sadness: an adolescent may behave defiantly or sleep too much. In children, symptoms are also often closer to irritability than to sadness, and in older people they are less noticeable. It is easier for close ones to notice changes in behavior and loss of interest in former activities.

How depression is diagnosed and when to see a doctor

The diagnosis is made by a doctor based on an interview and diagnostic criteria. They ask about symptoms and family history, assess mental state, and may order tests to rule out other causes: some illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, and some medications produce similar symptoms. For screening, self-assessment tests are used — the Zung Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory; by themselves they do not replace a diagnosis.

Adult depression is described as less or more severe, based on the frequency and intensity of symptoms, the duration of the condition, and the impact on daily life; in severe forms, symptoms of psychosis are possible. Seeing a doctor is appropriate if symptoms persist for most of the day, every day, for longer than two weeks.

Depression by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. The numbers 103 and 112 are for thoughts of suicide or self-harm, as well as if a close person speaks of such intentions.

This text is for reference: it helps to notice changes and understand their possible causes, but does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer