5 Warning Signs & Symptoms You Might Have Severe Depression

A Quick Guide

Depression even when mild is not easy to handle. Because it can lead you to have symptoms like restlessness, anger, fatigue, or irritability. This can also interfere with your day-to-day life. But then there are some cases of depression that are too intense. They may suffer from severe symptoms of depression such as sleep problems, significant weight loss, or weight gain due to increased or decreased appetite or frequent thoughts of death. Hence, this type of depression can be paralyzing in nature. In fact, you may not even be able to get out of bed or leave your house. If you have symptoms of severe depression, there is treatment available for managing your symptoms and ensuring your well-being.

Symptoms

Symptoms of severe depression vary in both intensity and duration. They may include the following: 

Melancholia

A sense of hopelessness and sadness is a typical symptom of depression and may be severe and chronic. Melancholia is depression that progresses to the point where you lose interest in the majority of your life’s activities. According to research, melancholia often worsens in the morning and is characterized by sluggishness, difficulty concentrating, and decreased appetite.

Psychosis

Delusions and hallucinations, which are psychosis symptoms, show a person has lost touch with reality. Symptoms of psychotic depression may include the following: 

• Agitation
• Believing one is sick despite contradictory evidence
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Immobility of the body
• Intellectual disability
• Overwhelming anxiety
• Trouble sleeping

Physiological effects of depression

Depression symptoms that are experienced physically can make an appearance. Depression can have physical symptoms such as disturbed sleep, altered appetite, impaired attention or memory, and decreased interest in sex. Chronic pain, digestive problems, or increased tiredness are also among the symptoms of depression that some people may encounter.

Psychomotor changes

Mental illnesses like depression often cause a visible decrease in both mental and physical activities. Clinically, this is frequently referred to as psychomotor retardation and might involve difficulties with speaking, facial expressions, and fine motor skills (dialing the phone or turning door knobs, etc).

Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors

Talking about wanting to die, planning preparations, or attempting to end one’s own life are all significant indicators of suicide ideation. Suicidal intent can exhibit warning indicators like the following:

• An increase in the usage of drugs and alcohol
• Behaving in a dangerous or detrimental way
• Feeling stuck or helpless in one’s circumstances
• Leaving family and friends as though it were the last time
• Modifications in eating or sleeping patterns
• Mood swings or sharp variations in mood
• Obtaining the tools needed to attempt suicide (acquiring a gun, etc.)
• Severe agitation or worry
• Sorting out one’s affairs (drawing up a will or giving away possessions)
• Speaking a lot about dying, violence, and death
• Speaking about death or wishing they hadn’t been born
• Withdrawal from friends or family 

Some Risk Factors for Suicide

Not everyone at risk for suicide actually commits suicide. Suicide risk factors include the following in addition to depression or other chronic mental conditions:

• A sense of helplessness
• Drug abuse history, either present or past
• Incarceration
• Suicide attempts in the past
• The family has a history of substance abuse or mental illness 
• Weapons in the house

It is important to understand that suicide is impulsive behavior. So if you are having suicidal thoughts, you should contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.