{"id":11713,"date":"2021-12-15T20:54:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T20:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=11713"},"modified":"2021-12-16T13:51:17","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T13:51:17","slug":"do-you-have-the-blues-or-is-it-more-serious","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2021\/12\/15\/do-you-have-the-blues-or-is-it-more-serious\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Have “The Blues” or Is It More Serious?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Do<\/p>\n

Para leer en Espa\u00f1ol, por favor haga clic aqu\u00ed<\/a><\/p>\n

By Dina Goldstein Silverman, PhD, Psychologist<\/a>, Cooper University Health Care<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Winter is upon us. The days are shorter, the hectic holiday season is here, and the COVID-19 pandemic is still a part of our daily lives. All of these things can add stress to our lives.<\/p>\n

We all experience stress, sadness, and anxiety from time to time, but it\u2019s important to review the signs of clinical depression that would require medical attention.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Depression versus sadness. <\/strong>There are many times throughout our lives when we may feel sad \u2013 and sometimes feeling sad is appropriate. It is normal to feel grief-stricken when a loved one dies, or to be tearful, wistful, and anxious when an important relationship ends. Sadness alone is not enough to constitute a diagnosis of depression. However, when someone is persistently sad, unhappy, listless, tearful or experiencing crying spells, those symptoms may be signs of depression.<\/li>\n
  2. Loss of interest or no longer finding pleasure in activities, particularly those you used to enjoy.<\/strong> Someone who is depressed may no longer look forward to activities and events that they previously enjoyed. Sometimes people describe everything as feeling like a chore or experiencing the world as muted or drained of all color. Others say that everything feels meaningless.<\/li>\n
  3. Extreme fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, and sleep disorders<\/strong>. Someone who is depressed may sleep for many hours, experience constant fatigue, and have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. They may also have a hard time falling asleep because of racing thoughts. Significant sleep problems, including insomnia, frequent awakening, and poor quality sleep, can be signs of depression. These sleep issues could be from depression, but you should visit a primary care doctor to rule out other causes.<\/li>\n
  4. Irritability and frustration, including angry outbursts.<\/strong> Anger, irritability, and extreme frustration, especially over minor matters (e.g., a stain on your shirt, a traffic jam, or a missed appointment), may indicate depression. It is especially important to note when someone who was previously relaxed develops a short fuse.<\/li>\n
  5. Appetite or weight changes.<\/strong> When experiencing depression, some people are unable to eat and may lose weight. Others reach for carbohydrate-rich and high-calorie comfort food and gain weight. It is important to pay attention to changes in appetite and weight.<\/li>\n
  6. Indecisiveness and distractibility.<\/strong> A depressed person might struggle with simple tasks, such as making a phone call for work or deciding what to wear. A routine task may seem overwhelming, and the person may be engaging in negative self-talk. Someone who was previously skilled at checking off all the items on their to-do list might struggle to accomplish their tasks.<\/li>\n
  7. Worsening physical aches and pains.<\/strong> In addition to behavioral symptoms, depression can cause physical pain. Some people with depression may experience back pain, muscle aches, headaches, and digestive problems. There is research that suggests that depression can affect the immune system, making people more susceptible to illness.<\/li>\n
  8. Thoughts of death or suicide.<\/strong> Someone who is profoundly depressed may think and talk a lot about death, dwell on perceived past mistakes, give away their possessions, and avoid making future plans. Death may seem peaceful and comforting to someone who has been suffering for a long time, but ending one\u2019s life is never the answer to life\u2019s problems. If you or someone you know is suicidal, get help immediately by going to your nearest emergency room. Another option is to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. Trained counselors provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.<\/li>\n
  9. Differences in children and adolescents.<\/strong> For children and teens, signs of depression can include tearfulness, anxiety, avoidance of school and social interactions, sullen or angry moods, and deteriorating school performance. In children, depression can occur along with other health conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety disorders, and learning disabilities. Depression can affect the symptoms of other conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What to do if you or someone you know is depressed:<\/strong><\/h4>\n