Common Symptoms of Depression:
Pesisting Sadness or Unhapiness
Frequent Crying
Trouble Sleeping
Decreased Appetite
Decreased Energy
Loss of Motivation
Loss of Interests
Loss of Sense of Pleasure
Reduced Libido
Withdrawal from Others
Difficulty Concentration
Irritability
Suicidal or Morbid Thoughts
Loss of Self-Esteem
Depression is one of the more common mental health disorders, impacting on approximately one of ten people at some time in life. While anyone may feel depressed briefly symptoms of significant intensity or persisting more than 2 weeks would warrant medical and or psychological evaluation.
Most episodes of depression are successfully treated within 3 months to two years, with a combination of medication and therapy being more effective than either alone in some studies. Patients should be aware of the risks and benefits of medication and the role of psychotherapy as primary treatment or an adjunctive treatment.
Left untreated depression is responsible for lost work days, impaired work performance, marital difficulties, physical complaints and can sometimes worsen to the point that an acute psychiatric hospitalization is necessary.
Postpartum depression is classified as a major depressive disorder. Learn more about postpartum depression.
Anxiety is also a very common cause of referral for psychological evaluation and treatment. Like depression, many people have experience brief or situational anxiety. When symptoms are intense or when they persist, medical and psychological evaluation and treatment is warranted.
There are a variety of anxiety disorders from simple phobias (fears), social phobias, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, (persistent or vague worry about many things), panic disorder (has multiple intense physical symptoms) and post-traumatic disorder.
Some individuals suffer anxiety since childhood whild others develop anxiety due to situational factors, trauma, or stress.
Medication is often effective for the short term immediate relief for anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral techniques and relaxation training are also very effective.
Unfortunately many anti-anxiety medications are addictive and are not intended for long-term use. Cognitive-behavioral techniques are often effective for reducing or eliminating reliance on medication. This should be coordinated between your prescribing doctor and you to determine the appropriateness of this approach. Abruptly stopping anti-anxiety medication on your own can be dangerous and should not be done without medical consultation.
Children and adolescents with anxiety or childhood depression can show slightly different symptoms than adults. This can often lead to misdiagnosis unless a carefull psychological or psychiatric evaluation is performed.
Childhood symptoms can be irritability, poor attention, restlessness, suddenly becoming more child-like, relapse of bedwetting, unexplained vague medical complaints such as headaches or stomach complaints, night terrors, or withdrawal from others. There are some common childhood fears.
