Am I Depressed?

Am I depressed or not? It is a very difficult question to answer for yourself. We need to look at what constitutes depression and what the determining factors are surrounding the condition. Perhaps a good starting point is that you are actually asking the question – Am I Depressed? Depression is a mixture of psychological and physical conditions and symptoms. Often it can manifest as a low mood level or profound sadness. These symptoms can be associated with a decreased activity level in parts of the brain.

So you are looking for the answers to the question – Am I Depressed?

Here are some of the most common symptoms of depression to lookout for.  It is worth noting that depression may be the result of one or more of these symptoms:

Am I Depressed?  Signs & Signals To Look For.

• Low mood levels or sadness.
• Lack of joy or interest in activities that may well have been joyful or happy before.
• Pessimism or the feelings of pessimism.
• Feelings of guilt without any substantial or reasonable reasons to feel guilty.
• Thought and feelings of inferiority, for no real or appreciable reason.
• Irritability and heightened levels of grumpiness.
• Slowness or perhaps a noticeable slowing down in the thought process.
• Slowness in interpreting and reacting to sensorial stimuli.
• Slowness or lethargy of the digestive system, or other internal physical processes. Slow or laboured physical reactions.

Am I Depressed? How Can This Be?

Depression can present itself in a mild form that causes some annoyance and irritation in your daily life.  In this mild form it is not particularly debilitating but it does have a negative impact on your quality of life and the quality of life of those around you.

Am I Depressed? How Serious is This?

Unfortunately in many cases depression can become a serious matter resulting in that individual becoming unable to function properly at work or to participate in social and family life.  Depression can occur in all age groups, in either of the sexes, in any of the social classes and in any of the various ethnic groups.  This is why the question of Am I Depressed is such an important one to consider.

The Physiological Changes That Can Produce Some of the Symptoms.

It can get a bit complicated when looking at the issue of Am I Depressed?  Technically when describing depression, the experts state that fundamentally there is a decreased amount of neurotransmitters in parts of the central nervous system. The main deficiency is that of serotonin, but also to some extent it includes deficiencies of noradrenalin, acetylcholine, dopamine or gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA). Additionally, depression may be attributed to the nerve cells not reacting properly to stimulation from neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter, in simple terms, is a signal substance that transmits the nerve signal through the junctions between two nerve cells.

Am I Depressed?  How Are Chemicals Involved?

Serotonin and noradrenalin cause nerve cells to send impulses along to other nerve cells, and as a result increase the activity in the brain. Deficiency of these substances causes the slowness in certain parts of the brain, and that again causes the depression symptoms. It becomes a vicious circle.  I’m sure you are beginning to get a flavour of  the complexities in the question of Am I Depressed?

Am I Depressed? What Are The Remedies For Depression?

 

There are, indeed, many causes attributed to depression and the whole subject is very complex. There are, however, a number of actions that can be undertaken to address the problems of depression. Depression is a widespread problem throughout the world. Remedies for depression are readily available for those seeking help for either themselves or perhaps for their loved ones. I hope we have been able to some answers to the question posed – Am I Depressed?