Depression can have a major impact on your feelings, emotions, and mood. You may feel like you're not your "old self" or may feel emotions that are unfamiliar or that would usually seem illogical to you. And unlike a case of the blues, when you have depression you experience your symptoms most of the day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks.
The table below lists common emotional symptoms and how to spot the symptoms in yourself or someone you know. These are some signs you should look out for, however, you should always consult your doctor for a diagnosis of depression.
| Emotional symptoms of depression |
| Symptom |
What to look for |
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day |
- Expressions of sadness or feeling blue, empty, hopeless, or down in the dumps
- Bad temper, irritability, negativity, impatience, aggression
- Tearfulness, anxiety, or nervousness
|
A decrease in interest in almost everything that you used to enjoy most of the day, nearly every day |
- Abandonment of activities that were once enjoyed
- Avoidance of social activity with friends and family
- Loss of interest in and enjoyment of sex
- Numb or absent emotions
|
Recurrent thoughts or talk of death or suicide |
- Thoughts of death concern more than just the fear of dying
- Persistent thoughts of death or suicide, or attempts to harm oneself
|
Feeling worthless or guilty nearly every day |
- Guilt for things that they cannot control
- Guilt that lasts much longer than normal
- Expressions of being unworthy of good things that happen
- Preoccupation with failure
|
Try the Depression Symptom Checker
to see if you have the most common symptoms of depression. Click here for more information on how a doctor diagnoses depression based on your symptoms.
For more information on depression and its management, visit www.depressionhurts.ca.
