What are the symptoms of depression?

The busy and stressful pace of modern life has put many people under tremendous psychological pressure. If their psychological quality is not strong, it may cause psychological trauma. For example, it may induce mental problems such as depression. Moreover, the damage is permanent and very difficult to cure. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms of depression.

1. Depressed mood

The main manifestations are significant and persistent low mood, depression and pessimism. In mild cases, people feel unhappy, have no sense of pleasure, and have a loss of interest. In severe cases, people feel extremely distressed, pessimistic and hopeless, and feel that each day is like a year worse than death. The depressed mood of typical patients has a rhythmic change from heavier in the morning to lighter at night. On the basis of depressed mood, patients will have lowered self-evaluation, and develop feelings of uselessness, hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness, often accompanied by self-blame and guilt. In severe cases, they will have delusions of guilt and hypochondria, and some patients may experience hallucinations.

2. Slow thinking

The patient's thinking and association are slow, his reaction is unsuccessful, his train of thought is blocked, and he feels that his "brain is like a rusty machine" and "his brain is like covered with a layer of paste." Clinically, active speech decreases, speech speed slows down significantly, voice becomes deep, and conversation becomes difficult. In severe cases, communication cannot proceed smoothly.

3. Decreased willpower

The patient's volitional activity was significantly and persistently inhibited. The clinical manifestations are slow behavior, passive and lazy life, unwillingness to do things, unwillingness to contact and interact with people around, often sitting alone, or lying in bed all day, living alone with the door closed, alienating relatives and friends, and avoiding socializing. In severe cases, they even ignore physiological needs such as eating and drinking, as well as personal hygiene, and become unkempt and unkempt, and may even become speechless, motionless, and refusing to eat. This is called "depressive stupor," but upon careful psychiatric examination, the patient still reveals signs of pain and depression. Patients with anxiety may have symptoms such as restlessness, finger grasping, rubbing hands and feet, or pacing up and down. Severe patients often have negative suicidal ideas or behaviors.