Although many equate female depression with a woman being constantly sad, not all depressed people display overt sadness as depression symptoms. Many women can suffer from depression and never show the outward signs of having the condition. In fact, women are 70% more likely than men to have depression. They put on a brave face and go about their days as if nothing is wrong while inside they are in emotional turmoil. Some women who suffer from depression symptoms might cry or show other signs of sadness, but just because a woman is sad and crying, it does not mean she is depressed, nor does the lack of overt sadness or depression symptoms mean a woman is not depressed. Sadness is typically a short-term emotion that eventually lessens over time; depression, on the other hand, is a condition that should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed.
1) Restlessness and Irritability
The depression symptoms of restlessness and irritability are very common. Women depression often manifests itself in the form of worry, a feeling of constantly being on edge, and the need to move about. Incessant pacing, snippy comments, or nervous movements such as leg shaking or fidgeting can be a depression symptom in women. Some women attempt to work off this nervous energy with crafts that occupy their hands, such as knitting or crocheting. By themselves, these are not definitive signs of depression, but when they are accompanied by other symptoms, depression could be the culprit. In addition, excessive restlessness can make sleeping difficult, which could cause other issues and make the women depression worse. Restlessness is one of those depression symptoms that should not be isolated as the primary symptom for women but needs to be investigated to determine if any other depression symptoms also exist.
2) Loss of Interest or Pleasure in Things You Used to Enjoy
Everyone has become bored with activities from time to time and decided to stop participating in them, but the decision is usually gradual and takes place over a long period. Also, these activities are often replaced by new activities that are more enjoyable. For example, if you have been a runner for years but decide the constant pounding is more than your knees can take and so choose to switch to biking instead, that’s completely understandable. However, the abrupt discontinuance of a former favorite activity without replacing it or the lessened desire to participate in any former activity can be one of the more acute depression symptoms in women. Losing interest in doing everyday activities such as walking the dog, taking your children to the playground, going on a date with your significant other, and even having sex can all be depression symptoms and a warning that an episode is either on its way or in full swing.
Related Article:
4 Ways on How to Avoid Depression
3) Disturbed Sleep Patterns
Everyone needs the restorative benefits of sleep to function properly. The inability to sleep, also referred to as insomnia, can be one of the depression symptoms. It is sometimes overlooked because sleep disturbances caused by women depression aren’t always noticed immediately. If you’re a woman with a career and a family, you are most likely used to functioning on only a few hours of sleep; even if you are depressed, your lack of sleep might not bring the depression to you or your loved ones’ attention. A more telling sign of women depression is if you are used to functioning on a little sleep but suddenly cannot get enough sleep. This depression symptom in women is picked up faster because it is a more obvious change in behavior.
4) Changes in Appetite or Weight
Other depression symptoms are fluctuations in appetite and changes in weight. These two factors are generally treated as one symptom because they tend to go hand in hand. For example, if you suddenly cannot get enough sweets and begin to gain weight because of the overeating, that could be a sign of women depression. Conversely, if you have no desire to eat and start to lose weight, that too can be one of the depression symptoms in women. Neither of these symptoms are enough to diagnose depression, but they could indicate an issue that needs to be addressed.
5) Lack of Concentration, Memory, or the Impaired Ability to Make Decisions
On some days, you can focus better than on others. Sometimes, you’re in the zone and can just plow through your workday with ease, while other days, it’s a struggle just to get from point A to point B. Sometimes, you might even forget where points A and B are. This is something everyone goes through and is not generally anything to worry about. However, if your ability to concentrate is keeping you from completing everyday tasks, one of the depression symptoms might be at play. Women depression in the form of a lack of concentration can be one of the most difficult to deal with, and the inability to make a decision can also make daily living a challenge. However, because of its pervasive nature, it is one of the easier depression symptoms to recognize. Like the other depression symptoms in women, this issue alone is not enough to trigger an immediate women depression diagnosis, but you should check if other depression symptoms also exist.
Related Article:
11 Symptoms of Depression That Can Affect Anyone
6) Feelings of Hopelessness, Worthlessness, and Pessimism
These depression symptoms in women can be the most crippling because they essentially rob you of all the joy in life. You simply cannot get excited or happy about anything. Things that used to make you smile get no reaction, or you immediately look for the downside or expect a negative outcome. These symptoms in women are some of the most well-recognized depression symptoms.
7) Chronic Pain or Illness
If you have an illness or condition that results in chronic pain, this can become a depression symptom. Illnesses such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome can result in long bouts of pain that not only prevent you from enjoying your favorite activities but also disturb your sleep. If pain keeps you awake all night, that is akin to insomnia and means you spend your waking hours fighting to keep going through your day. This can trigger women depression because the depression symptoms feed into each other. Because these issues are interrelated, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether they are isolated events happening concurrently or are truly symptoms in women.
8) Fatigue, Torpidity, or Sluggishness
If you’re not sleeping properly, this can lead to fatigue, or the constant feeling of being tired. This feeling alone could be enough to trigger women depression, but it is also classified as one of the depression symptoms. Feeling like you’re walking through cement can start to wear you down and trigger other depression symptoms, such as the inability to make decisions or hopelessness, so you should have this issue addressed as soon as you recognize it
Related Article:
8 Reasons for Depression in Teens
9) Thoughts of Death and Suicide, or Suicide Attempts
These are the most severe and most dangerous depression symptoms. If you are overwhelmed with thoughts of death, whether it is your own or death in general, or if you have thought of committing suicide, it is important that you seek help quickly. If you have progressed to this depression symptom in women, then you have been in turmoil and possibly suffering in silence. Getting help for your depression symptoms, especially when they’re accompanied by thoughts of death and suicide, is of vital importance and needs to be done immediately
10. They withdraw from things, and are withdrawn…Depression is a personal and social withdraw…they can hide or suppress that, as above…but inside, they have already withdrawn, and you will be the last to know. And they don’t have to HAVE all of these symptoms to be Depressed.