Depression, something we don’t like to think much about and, yet, it’s prevalence in today’s world is a growing issue of concern. This article does not promise to be in any way exhaustive, but I will attempt to outline the some of the more common signs and symptoms of depression and many of their origins.

When most people think of depression, worse case scenario, major depression is what springs to mind. This is a mistake. There are many types and manifestations of depression, caused by a myriad of situations, and these depression are, by far, the more prevalent ones. Most go fully undiagnosed, or worse, misdiagnosed, leaving individual sufferers miserable and confused, often beating themselves up for a frustrating inability to get on top of symptoms, when help could be just around the corner.

First off, there are many different biological causes of depression, from endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism, to various disease states, such as fibromyalgia, to any number of drug interactions, to alternative diagnoses, such as the bipolar disorders or PTSD, to sexual dysfunction or insomnia, and so on. Depression and/or exhaustion are symptoms of many medical disorders and misdiagnoses occur between them all too frequently.

Then, there are situational depressions, ranging from the death of a loved one, to the loss of a job, to burnout. These depressions are the most typically ignored and, yet, the most easily remedied. Due to societal expectations of achievement and “toughness”, though, many individuals struggling with such issues do not seek out help.

Most people believe that if one is depressed, they will, therefore, be really, really sad. This can be often not the case. Depression can and, frequently, does manifest in profound sadness, grief and despondency, but this is, by far, not all that we look for in a depressed individual.

Other common and expected symptom markers for depression include: disordered sleep patterns, either too much or too little or of poor quality; anxious or confused thinking; no enthusiasm for previously enjoyed pastimes; job dissatisfaction; lack of relational enthusiasm; marked decrease in sex drive; difficulty in focus; lack of ambition; a putting off of large projects; decreased sociability; unexplained weight gain or loss; increase or loss of appetite; an increase in drug or alcohol use; less care and attention paid to self; poor decision making. Many of these symptoms can also be the precursors to depression.

Treatments for depression are often multi-faceted, and can include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, nutritional adjustments, drug therapy or nutritional supplementation, grief therapy and lifestyle adjustments, depending on the individual sufferers of depressive symptoms. It is my recommendation that, either before or as any of these processes are undertaken, a full physiological workup be explored to rule out possible biological or medical causes.

Depressive symtomology of all types create dysfunction in our lives. They prevent us from fulfillment and achievement. These symptoms can go on for years or even decades without being diagnosed. It is an awful thing to see oneself or a loved one falling short of expectations or dreams fulfilled. Despite the stigma and fear that can often accompany doing so, pursuing the possibility that one may be suffering depression is, by far, preferable to continuing life in a fog.