What is Clinical Depression and How to Identify It?

Clinical depression – it is changes in the brain, leading to depressed mood, lasting over two weeks. The chemical elements, called neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine, go astray and no longer send signals to nerve cells. As a result, we feel oppression, change in appetite, decreased libido, memory loss and chronic fatigue. In the figure we see a scan of the human brain with depression and a healthy brain.

Comparison of brain activity of a healthy person with a depressed one.

        Symptoms of Depression

Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. It seems that the situation is so hopeless, and that nothing can influence the course of events.

Loss of interest in everyday pursuits. Interesting and enjoyable activities such as work, hobbies, social life, sex are no longer attracted and do not improve the mood.

Change of psychomotor condition. Slowed reaction and movement or conversely nervousness, restlessness and a desire to run somewhere.

Decrease of energy. Feeling tired even when performing simple cases.

Self-flagellation and hatred directed to you. A strong sense of guilt and worthlessness.

Constant self-criticism for apparent deficiencies.

Concentration difficulties. Complicated to concentrate, make decisions andshort-memory impairment.

Identify the physical symptoms of depression

Many of us for years are suffering of unexplained symptoms, not knowing that it is all the manifestations of clinical depression, in other words the symptoms of depression. The irony of this disorder is that it can “make” some parts of the brain to send pain impulses to our body.

The most common physical symptoms of depression, indicating that we are suffering of depression are:

• Back pain. Those who suffer from chronic back pain can feel worsening in periods of depression.
• Headache and Migraine.
• Pain in muscles and joints.
• Chest pain. If you do not have heart problems, but there is a feeling of heaviness or pain in the chest area, check whether you have symptoms of clinical depression.
• Digestive problems. Frequent indigestion, chronic constipation, and nausea.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping). Often, clients with clinical depression cannot sleep at night or waking up early in the morning, feeling tired all day.
• Appetite change. Often depression is manifested by reduction of appetite, desire to eat a muffin or something sweet or outright gluttony.

Dizziness

In most cases, the treatment leads to decrease in physical pain and symptoms of depression. It is true that medical treatment can have side effects. In any case, it is worth trying the common treatments for depression.