It is common to feel the symptoms of anxiety or feel you have depression symptoms. Depression and anxiety is a common feeling most people suffer from with the loss or a friend or family member, work stress, financial worries and even low self-esteem.
However if the signs of anxiety or depression fail to fade away, you may in-fact have clinical depression – a very common and treatable medical condition.
According to the DSM-IV, depression is identified when you have at least five of the following nine symptoms at the same time:
- a depressed mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning
- fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
- impaired concentration, indecisiveness
- insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
- markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day
- recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)
- a sense of restlessness — known as psychomotor agitation — or being slowed down – retardation
- significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)
One of the main signs of anxiety or depression is either a depressed mood or loss of interest. For a diagnosis of depression, these moody or depressed feelings should be present most of the day either daily or nearly daily for at least two weeks.
Depression can only be diagnosed if the mood or depressed state is not a reaction to the direct effects of a substance, for example, a drug or medication. Nor can they be the result of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism.
One other thing to note is if the depression symptoms or feelings of anxiety occur within two months of the loss of a loved one, they will not be diagnosed as depression.
Common symptoms of anxiety and depression are:
- difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- fatigue and decreased energy
- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
- feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
- insomnia, early morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
- irritability, restlessness
- loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
- no pleasure left in life any more
- overeating or appetite loss
- persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
- persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
- thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
At the Counselling Melbourne helpline, we aim to assist you with care, compassion and complete discreteness. Our counsellors in melbourne assist by proving a solution focused approach to the treatment of depression, anxiety, postnatal depression, severe depression, and help cure anxiety with a holistic approach.
Our counselling melbourne offices are located in Melbourne CBD Victoria, as well as outlets available in the Eastern Suburbs of Victoria including Caulfield, Preston, McKinnon, Brighton, Newport, Sunshine, Vermont, Ringwood, Ferntree Gully, Knoxfield, Glen Waverley, and Boronia
Call to get help between 12pm to 10pm, 7 days a week.
