Symptoms of Clinical Depression Symptoms of clinical depression (or major depressive disorder) can be widely varied, both between people and in the same person. In fact, one person may have many different symptoms that seem unrelated, but all stem from depression. There are two types of symptoms of major depression : mental and physical: Mental Symptoms of Depression The most common mental symptom is excessive sadness. This can be difficult to recognize in another person, but easy to recognize in yourself. If you’ve been feeling sad for more than a few weeks (especially if there hasn’t been a traumatic event in your life), you should talk to your doctor. This pervasive sadness is one of the characteristic qualities of someone suffering from major depressive disorder. Related to this are feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Other people may find that they don’t feel sad, but are consistently irritable or easily annoyed. Another characteristic of many people suffering f...
An intrusive thought is an unwelcome, involuntary thought, image, or unpleasant idea that may become an obsession, is upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate. (source: Wikipedia ) Common examples of intrusive thoughts include unwanted, intrusive thoughts about the safety of oneself or others, causing distress, and thoughts of performing dangerous actions. These thoughts may lead to negative behaviors, which may increase vulnerability to future experiences of trauma. Intrusive thoughts have been linked to recent life stress, sleep deprivation, prior anxiety, and childhood abuse. The state of depression , suicidal ideation, or anxiety may also be caused by the release of stress hormones. Analysis of studies in subjects who had experienced prolonged periods of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that intrusive thoughts and flashbacks are associated with greater than 50% of symptoms, especially memory fragmentation. Intrusive thoughts often occur ...