Sign Of Depression Checklist

Recognizing signs of depression is the first step to getting professional help and the ability to overcome it. However, as depression and Attention Deficit syndrome share a a lot of symptoms, distingushing between the two can sometimes be very difficult.

Clinical Depression & Attention Deficit

When noticing a sign of depression, many patients mistake it for an Attention Deficit symptom and therefore pass it off. To add more to the problem, Attention Deficit medications have some side effects that are very similar to depression symptoms.

However, as about 30% of those who suffer from attention deficit also develop depression, it is recommended for all individuals who have been diagnosed with attention deficit to have psychological evaluation for depression as well.

Signs of Depression

While you read through the sign of depression checklist, keep in mind that some read through the clinical depression symptom checklist keeping in mind some of these symptoms may actually be caused by attention deficit.

To suffer from depression, you don't have to notice every single one of these symptoms. Having five or six symptoms for a longer period might be a sign of depression.

• Having a sad, anxious or "empty" feeling almost all the time
• Sleep disorders (sleeping too little or too much).
• Changes in eating behavior (either a decreased appetite and weight loss or a higher appetite and weight gain).
• Decreased interest in activities that you used to enjoyed.
• Agitation or irritability.
• Physical symptoms (such as chronic pain, headaches or digestive disorders) that do not respond to treatment.
• Decreased ability to focus, remember or make decisions 
• Fatigue or low energy level
• Feeling of guilt, worthlessness or hopelessness
• Preoccupation with suicide or death

It is important to distinguish between sadness and clinical depression. Everyone feels sad from time to time in response of unfortunate life events. However, depression is more powerful than a period of sadness or unhappiness.

In depression, the feelings of sadness last for several months or even years, not just for a few days or weeks. If such feelings are not linked to a specific life event and make you feel hopeless and worthless, it might be a sign of depression.

Depression may manifest in various ways. Your house might become a mess, with unfinished chores everywhere. Errands that used to take a few hours can now take several days. Most sufferers avoid being with friends and family and involving in social activities.

Some stop worrying about the way they look and may even skip on personal hygiene. They wear sweat pants and mostly dark clothing. Others even start drinking and using drugs to get rid of the pain.

Depression needs to be treated by a professional. There are treatments for all kinds of depression, whether they consist of psychotherapy, prescription medication or the two combined.

When deciding on a treatment, it is important to be honest and let the psychiatrist know all the particularities and illness history, as well as your personal preferences for one type of treatment or another.