Symptoms of Depression / Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Posted by in Depression
Depression Symptoms

Symptoms of depression can be emotional, social, occupational, or physical.

Signs of depression can be obvious or subtle, but regardless, they often severely impact your quality of life.  For help in addressing your symptoms of depression, seek the assistance of a therapist or psychologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based depression treatment. This will help reduce your symptoms and make you less prone to future relapse.

I am available for consultation and treatment in the Palm Beach (Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton), Fort Lauderdale, and Miami communities.  I also welcome you to read my previous post here on how depression can be easily overlooked in yourself or others.

Below is a list of common symptoms of depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD). These symptoms are grouped by domain.

Symptoms of Depression


    Emotional Symptoms

    • Feelings of sadness, emptiness, loneliness, or pointlessness.
    • Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, hostility, or aggression.
    • Overwhelming feelings of grief, loss, hopelessness, or despair.
    • Frequent explained or unexplained crying episodes.
    • Loss of interest in enjoyable activities (e.g., hobbies, socializing).
    • Recurrent thoughts of self-harm, death, or suicide.


    Social/Occupational Symptoms

    • Becoming overly-apologetic.
    • Getting into frequent fights or disagreements with others.
    • Having a low tolerance for frustration.
    • Skipping events because you don’t want to “bring other people down”.
    • Deteriorating or strained relationships.
    • Disinterest in other people (e.g., ignoring spouse, kids).
    • Social isolation or keeping to yourself because you don’t want to “bother” others (e.g., turning down invitations, making excuses).
    • Impaired work/school performance (e.g., missing deadlines or not meeting responsibilities).


    Self-Neglect / Self-Care Symptoms

    • Erratic or dysregulated schedule, such as not having a consistent sleep schedule (e.g., staying up all night, becoming nocturnal).
    • Neglecting personal needs (e.g., skipping meals, exercise).
    • Caring little or not at all about your physical appearance (e.g., not bathing, shaving, or styling hair).

    Physical Symptoms

    • Difficulty sleeping (i.e., insomnia) or sleeping all the time (i.e., hypersomnia).
    • Waking up early and not being able to go back to sleep.
    • Poor concentration/memory or forgetfulness.
    • Reduced sexual interest and desire.
    • General slowness (e.g., walking slowly, taking a long time to dress or eat).
    • Low energy and fatigue.
    • Headaches, aches and pains, or stomach aches.
    • Noticeable changes in your weight or appetite (e.g., unintentionally gaining or losing weight).

Questions or comments about depression?  Additional symptoms you’ve experienced during a depressive episode?  Sound off below.

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