How does a depressed person behave

Sign me up. Your session is about to expire. You have 2 minutes left before being logged out. Please select 'ok' to extend your session and prevent losing any content you are working on from being lost. Advice and information About mental illness Learn more about conditions Depression. Depression This section might be useful to you if you have depression or if you think you might have depression.

If you would like more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service by clicking here. Download Depression factsheet. Share: Contact us:. Overview Some signs of depression are feeling low, feeling bad about yourself and not wanting to do things.

Depression affects different people in different ways. If you think you might have depression you can speak to your GP. Depression may be treated with medication and talking treatments. Self-help techniques, peer support groups and coping strategies can also help. Different things can lead to depression. Your upbringing, stressful events and your lifestyle might all have an effect.

If you feel low, getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods might help. Need more advice? If you need more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service.

Contact us Contact us. About What is depression? Depression is: a mental illness, common - it affects about 1 in 6 of us, something that anyone can get, and treatable. How common is depression? Some symptoms of depression are: low mood, feeling sad, irritable or angry, having less energy to do certain things, losing interest or enjoyment in activities you used to enjoy, reduced concentration, becoming tired more easily, disturbed sleep and losing your appetite, feeling less good about yourself loss of self-confidence , or feeling guilty or worthless.

You may also find that with low mood you: feel less pleasure from things, feel more agitated, lose interest in sex, find your thoughts and movements slow down, and have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. What is clinical depression? What is a depressive episode? What is recurrent depressive disorder? What is reactive depression? What is a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms?

What is dysthymia? What is cyclothymia? What is postnatal depression? What is seasonal affective disorder SAD? What is manic depression? What causes depression? Can depression be inherited? Can my background or current situation cause depression?

Can my hormones or the chemicals in my body cause depression? Changes in your hormones and chemicals in your body may cause depressive symptoms. How can lifestyle factors affect depression? Can drugs and alcohol affect my mental health? Can other illnesses impact my mental health? Some people with brain injuries and dementia may also have changes in their moods.

Treatment How is depression treated? What are talking therapies? These include: cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, problem-solving therapy, interpersonal therapy, behaviour activation, group therapy, relationship counselling, eye movement desensitisation reprocessing, mindfulness based therapy, and counselling. What is Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy cCBT? How can antidepressants help? How can exercise help? What is electroconvulsive therapy ECT? What types of brain stimulation treatments are available for depression?

There are 2 types of brain stimulation treatments available. Please see below. How can complementary or alternative therapies help depression? You can find more information about: Antidepressants by clicking here. Talking Therapies by clicking here. Electroconvulsive Therapy ECT by clicking here.

Complementary and alternative treatments by clicking here. What treatment should I be offered? Step 1: Everyone who may have depression Your doctor should offer you: an assessment of your symptoms, support, such as regular appointments in person or by telephone, information on how to deal with your symptoms, monitoring of your symptoms and follow-up, and referral for further assessment and treatment if needed. Step 2: Mild to moderate depression Your doctor may offer you: low-intensity interventions, such as self-help guided by the doctor or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy cCBT , physical activity programmes, group cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , medication if you have a history of moderate or severe depression, or you have had symptoms for a long time, and referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.

Step 4: Severe and complex depression or if your life is at risk Your doctor may suggest: medication, high-intensity talking therapy, electroconvulsive therapy ECT , crisis services, combinations of different treatments, support from different teams if you need it, and hospital treatment in emergencies.

There is currently no official criteria used to diagnose treatment resistant depression. The new antidepressant you are offered will depend on the first antidepressant you were given. What if I am not happy with my treatment?

If you are not happy with your treatment you can: talk to your doctor to see if they can suggest changes, get an advocate to help you speak your doctor, ask for a second opinion if you feel it would help, contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service PALS and see whether they can help, or make a complaint.

There is more information about these options below. Advocacy An advocate is independent from the NHS. Second opinion Talk to your doctor about your treatment to see if you can resolve the problem with them first.

Complaints It is best to try and solve the problem with the team or doctor first. You can find more information about: Advocacy by clicking here. Second opinions by clicking here. Complaints by clicking here. How can my diet affect my mood? To manage your diet you can: eat regular meals, eat a healthy balance of fat and reduce the amount of trans-fat you eat, eat fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, eat oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring or trout, drink glasses of water per day, limit your caffeine in drinks such as tea, coffee or fizzy drinks, and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

How can exercise help my mood? Going for a walk : You could get a pedometer or an app that counts your steps. Slowly challenge yourself to walk more steps and reach a goal. Some people challenge themselves to walk 10, steps a day. Cycling : Make sure you wear a helmet and high visibility vests or chest strap.

Gardening : There may be a local NHS or charitable gardening scheme in your area. Ask your GP, volunteering services or social services. Their details are in Useful Contacts at the bottom of this page. Jogging : Try jogging around the block to start with. Then slowly increase the amount of time you jog for, or the distance you go.

Playing a sport : Try speaking to friends or family to see if they will join you in a sport. Or join a local club. You could also look at individual sports. Housework : Doing housework in an active way can be good exercise. What risks and complications can depression cause? For example, depression may cause: disturbed sleep, aches and pains, low sex drive, difficulties with work and your hobbies, difficulties keeping contact with friends and families, or suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming.

If you have any of these problems, speak to your GP. Disinterest in activities that a person used to enjoy can be one of the first signs that other people notice when their loved one has depression. Depression is a mental health condition, but it can also have physical consequences. In addition to weight changes and fatigue, other physical symptoms of hidden depression to look out for include:.

Research also indicates that those with major depression are more likely than those without the condition to experience:. Many people do not associate anger and irritability with depression, but these mood changes are not unusual among those with the condition. Instead of appearing sad, some people with hidden depression may display irritability and overt or suppressed anger. According to Dr. Scientists do not yet know the exact cause of depression.

However, many experts think that several factors play a role in its onset, including:. People who believe that they may have hidden depression should speak to their doctor or a mental health professional. These professionals can help make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment.

If a loved one appears to have signs of hidden depression, try to talk to them about their symptoms and offer nonjudgmental support and advice. People looking after someone with depression also need to practice good self-care in order to preserve their own mental well-being.

People with symptoms of depression should consider seeking help from a loved one or a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or psychotherapist. Sometimes, the only signs a person may show are physical, such as fatigue, insomnia, or weight changes. Other signs of hidden depression can include using alcohol or drugs, acting irritable or angry, and losing interest in pleasurable activities such as sex and hobbies.

People concerned that a loved one has hidden depression should try talking to them about their symptoms and offering nonjudgmental support and advice. Individuals who suspect that they have depression should consider discussing it with a friend or mental health professional. Read the article in Spanish. Everyone feels sad or irritable and has trouble sleeping once in a while. But these feelings and troubles usually pass after a couple of days.

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that may cause severe symptoms. Depression affects the ability to feel, think, and handle daily activities. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression , a man must have symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression.

Both men and women get depression but their willingness to talk about their feelings may be very different. This is one of the reasons that depression symptoms for men and women may be very different as well. For example, some men with depression hide their emotions and may seem to be angry, irritable, or aggressive while many women seem sad or express sadness. Men with depression may feel very tired and lose interest in work, family, or hobbies.

They may be more likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have depression. Sometimes mental health symptoms appear to be physical issues.

For example, a racing heart, tightening chest, ongoing headaches, or digestive issues can be signs of a mental health problem. Many men are more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms.

Some men may turn to drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their emotional symptoms. Also, while women with depression are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide because they tend to use more lethal methods. Depression can affect any man at any age. With the right treatment, most men with depression can get better and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.

I didn't have the energy to do anything. I got up because the dog had to be walked and my wife needed to go to work. The day would go by and I didn't know where it went. I wanted to get back to normal.

I just wanted to be myself again. Not every man who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some men experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U. Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of risk factors including:. Men often avoid addressing their feelings and, in many cases, friends and family members are the first to recognize that their loved one is depressed.

It is important that friends and family support their loved one and encourage him to visit a doctor or mental health professional for an evaluation. A health professional can do an exam or lab tests to rule out other conditions that may have symptoms that are like those of depression. He or she also can tell if certain medications are affecting the depression.

The doctor needs to get a complete history of symptoms, such as when they started, how long they have lasted, how bad they are, whether they have occurred before, and if so, how they were treated. A complete history should include information about a family history of depression or other mental disorders.

After a diagnosis, depression is usually treated with medications or psychotherapy , or a combination of the two. Collaborative care involves a team of health care providers and managers, including a primary care doctor and specialists.