Nicole Laby

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

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All information below is extracted directly from the National Institute of Mental Health. For more information visit www.NIMH.NIH.gov

If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, or for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression. Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many.

bullet Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
bullet Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood, Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
bullet Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
bullet Decreased energy or fatigue
bullet Moving or talking more slowly
bullet Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
bullet Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
bullet Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
bullet Appetite and/or weight changes
bullet Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
bullet Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
bullet Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
bullet Irritability
bullet Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
bullet Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
bullet Decreased energy or fatigue
bullet Moving or talking more slowly
bullet Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
bullet Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
bullet Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
bullet Appetite and/or weight changes
bullet Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
bullet Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

All information below is extracted directly from the National Institute of Mental Health. For more information visit www.NIMH.NIH.gov

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with generalized anxiety disorder display excessive anxiety or worry for months and face several anxiety-related symptoms.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:

bullet Restlessness or feeling wound-up or on edge
bullet Being easily fatigued
bullet Difficulty concentrating or having their minds go blank
bullet Irritability
bullet Muscle tension
bullet Difficulty controlling the worry
bullet Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Panic Disorder

People with panic disorder have recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate; sweating; trembling or shaking; sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking; and feeling of impending doom.

Panic disorder symptoms include:

bullet Sudden and repeated attacks of intense fear
bullet Feelings of being out of control during a panic attack
bullet Intense worries about when the next attack will happen
bullet Fear or avoidance of places where panic attacks have occurred in the past

Social Anxiety Disorder

People with social anxiety disorder (sometimes called "social phobia") have a marked fear of social or performance situations in which they expect to feel embarrassed, judged, rejected, or fearful of offending others.

Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:

bullet Feeling highly anxious about being with other people and having a hard time talking to them
bullet Feeling very self-conscious in front of other people and worried about feeling humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected, or fearful of offending others
bullet Being very afraid that other people will judge them
bullet Worrying for days or weeks before an event where other people will be
bullet Staying away from places where there are other people
bullet Having a hard time making friends and keeping friends
bullet Blushing, sweating, or trembling around other people
bullet Feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach when other people are around