Depression: Here are common signs and symptoms

Mumbai: Do you suffer serious mood swings? Are you always tired and irritable? Are you disinterested in almost everything you do?  Are you having trouble sleeping and feeling angry or aggressive, sad, or worthless? If you are having any of the above-mentioned symptoms for quite sometimes you may be slipping into depression.

After a hectic activity, it is very normal to feel tired. Occasional sleeping trouble or low energy levels are also normal at times. However, when these symptoms persist for long and a person loses enthusiasm and interest in his life, such behaviour is termed as depresion.

Both men and women get depression. But men can experience it differently than women. Men may be more likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest in their work, family, or hobbies. They may be more likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have depression. And although women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide.

Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek help for their depression. But what they don't know is that depression is a curable. It can affect any man at any age. With the right treatment, most men with depression can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.

The most common types of depression are:

Major depression—severe symptoms that interfere with a man's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy most aspects of life. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime. But more often, a person can have several episodes.

Dysthymic disorder, or dysthymia—depressive symptoms that last a long time (2 years or longer) but are less severe than those of major depression.

Minor depression—similar to major depression and dysthymia, but symptoms are less severe and may not last as long.

Some common symptoms of depression are:-

Feeling sad or "empty".

Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or angry.

Loss of interest in work, family, or once-pleasurable activities, including sex.

Feeling very tired.

Not being able to concentrate or remember details.

Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much.

Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all.

Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts.

Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems.

Inability to meet the responsibilities of work, caring for family, or other important activities.