Depression symptoms come in many forms, unique to each individual and their experience. Some may experience paranoia, melancholy, and overwhelming thoughts. Others may feel a general sense of not feeling like themselves or not finding joy in once pleasurable activities. While women are 3 times more likely to experience any type depression, men are more likely to take their own lives from it.
Major depression, also called clinical depression, is a wellness issue marked by a constant sense of hopelessness and despair.
With major depression, it may be difficult to work, study, sleep, eat. Even enjoying friends and activities may become challenging. Some people have major depression only once in their life, while others have it several times in a lifetime.
Between 20% and 25% of adults may suffer an episode of major depression at some point during their lifetime.
Almost twice as many women as men have major or clinical depression. Hormonal changes may increase the risk during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause.
Depression in men is significantly underreported. Men who suffer from clinical depression are less likely to seek help or even talk about their experience.
While major depression symptoms can differ slightly between men and women, common symptoms include:
- Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
- Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (anhedonia.) Significant others and friends are great sources of information.
- Restlessness or feeling slowed down
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Irritability
- Anger
Major or clinical depression is a serious but treatable illness. Depending on the severity of symptoms, your doctor may recommend treatment with an antidepressant medication. He or she may also suggest psychotherapy, or talk therapy, in which you address your emotional state.
Walking depression is a nickname for the experience of those who are able to go on walking, talking, and even smiling while feeling depressed and profoundly unhappy.
Walking depression symptoms can be hard to recognize because they don’t fit the more common picture of severe depression, such as someone frequently bursting into tears, gloominess, and lethargy. But it can be just as dangerous to our well-being when left unacknowledged.
People who suffer from this type of depression manage to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities all while suffering from low moods and anxiety. You still get up in the morning, go to work, put on a happy face and act like everything is ok. And you do so with a general sense of unhappiness.
The symptoms associated with major depression, such as low energy, hopelessness, and difficulty concentrating, are also experienced with walking depression.
The main difference between these types of depression is the outward effects of the experience. Major depression impacts one’s ability to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities, while with walking depression, which is also a very serious condition, you’re still able to function in daily life while quietly suffering.