Here are 10 physical and emotional symptoms of depression to watch out for:

1. Sleeping problems

Both insomnia (not being able to sleep or fall asleep again once you wake) and hypersomnia (sleeping too much or having trouble waking) are frequent symptoms of depression.  Some people cannot get their brains over the sleep threshold due to a trap of negative, circular thinking. Some simply don’t want to participate in waking life. Other people oscillate between the two.

2. Headaches and backache

Headaches and backaches can have many causes, but unexplained headaches and back pain are often connected with depression. Emotional pain gets ‘somatized’, or expressed through a physical symptom.

3. Digestive problems

Our digestive system is very sensitive to stress and other hormonal triggers. Diarrhea and constipation, as well as heartburn, may be connected to the changes in body chemistry caused by depression.

4. Lack of focus and motivation

This is one of the major indicators of depression. If you are depressed, you disconnect from living in the present moment (focus) and from your long term goals and dreams in life (motivation).

5. Weight fluctuation

If you are depressed, you may lose your appetite along with your energy, or you may start comfort eating. Considerable fluctuations in weight are always important to check out.

6. Negative thinking

Negative thought patterns are a classic symptom of depression that cause low mood and disconnection. In clinical depression, negative thinking can’t simply be argued away. It requires professional, ongoing treatment strategies. ‘Cheer up!,’ probably won’t work.

7. Avoiding activities that you enjoyed before

This one can be a bit tricky to observe, particularly if the depression is already well established and your self-perception has adapted to the downturn. Try a checklist of favorite activities going back a year or more. What has changed?

8. Exhaustion and fatigue

Both physical and emotional exhaustion are common signs of depression. You lack the energy to engage in activities and when you force yourself, you easily tire and stop, leading to more fatigue. A negative cycle develops.

9. Irritability and inappropriate outbursts of anger

Most people don’t associate anger with depression, but the classic psychoanalytic theory of anger actually suggests that depression is ‘anger pushed inside’. That would explain why your anger may suddenly burst out or feel as though it cannot be controlled.

10. Feelings of worthlessness

This is the deepest depths of depression. If you feel worthless over an extended period of time, seek help. Feelings of worthlessness can lead to suicidal ideas.

Implications of emotional symptoms

You will probably notice the emotional symptoms of depression, but you may not realize that they are connected to being depressed. Feelings of worthlessness, for example, are commonly linked to severe depression, but lack of focus and motivation are often wrongly attributed to ‘laziness.’ Anger may also be misunderstood as a lack of emotional discipline.

This is why it is important to observe your symptoms, record them for your counselor, and resist the temptation to diagnose yourself.

Implications of physical symptoms

Physical symptoms can have many causes and always need to be checked out by a doctor. However, if several of the physical symptoms listed here are ‘unexplained,’ meaning that no medical cause can be found, and they occur in combination with the emotional symptoms, then you should seek the help of a mental health practitioner.

If you suspect you are suffering from depression, seeking help is the first step towards recovery. Finding a good therapist who can meet you exactly where you are emotionally and gently guide you towards wholeness is important. If you live in Silicon Valley and would like help, please schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation to see if I might be the right therapist for you. You can book online through my website at www.GingerMartirePhD.com. Healing is possible. You can feel like yourself again.