Do You Have Depression?

Depression can be a debilitating illness that affects not just you, but your loved ones as well. Knowing the symptoms of depression is the key to getting over it. Depression is not something that should be taken lightly , in fact it is an illness that affects millions of people worldwide. There are a wide range of symptoms that can signal depression. Many people that are depressed won’t admit or realize that they have a problem and it is often up to loved ones or friends to notice the symptoms before it is too late. People who say depression isn’t serious is misinformed or is overlooking the symptoms, as depression can lead to serious illness or even death in some cases. A person who seems depressed doesn’t often realize symptoms of this illness. Depression isn’t usually linked to just one area, it could be combination of stress, trauma or psychology.

• One symptom of depression can be irregular sleep patterns, or oversleeping. This is one of the more common symptoms of depression.

• Another common symptom of depression is the feeling of worthlessness. This is something that could be very dangerous as it could lead to the individual hurting themselves.

• Thoughts of suicide is a symptom that only the individual can know for sure. Unless they share this symptom with someone, there is no way of knowing for sure what the person could be thinking.

• Changes in the way you eat, whether it be overeating or not eating much at all is a clear symptom that someone could be depressed. This is usually combined with the irregular sleep patterns and throws your whole eating habits off.

• The inability to concentrate when reading, watching television, or even when someone is trying to have a conversation with you is a symptom of depression.

• Not being energetic or having excessive fatigue affects your daily routine and could be directly linked with depression. Just another symptom of the illness.

• One big symptom is losing interest or joy in activities that you one enjoyed. This could be something that friends notice right away.

• Another big symptom would be drinking excessively or drug use.
People often go this route to get away from reality.

• With some people, depression becomes unbearable. Getting help from a professional is something that needs to be done before the depression completely takes over. If you are a friend of someone that you think is depressed, and is showing some or all of these symptoms it is time to get them some help.

• If you feel that these symptoms are a clear indicator that you are depressed, you should try and open up to someone you are close to. Denying it will only do further damage.

• To try and beat depression, you should try and eat healthier and exercise. Your mental health is connected to your physical health. The symptoms of depression should not be overlooked as it could lead to long term health problems.

The symptoms of depression are clear and can help you determine if you or a loved one is suffering from this. It is imperative that you recognize any of these symptoms and act accordingly as soon as possible.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent issue among many people. Realizing the symptoms is the key to getting over it and getting the right amount of sleep to be functional during the day. The symptoms vary from person to person just like many other illness or disorders. Insomnia is often dealt with sleeping medicine like Nyquil or other sleep aids. Symptoms should be written down to see if you have a pattern of insomnia, and this could also be helpful when describing symptoms to your doctor.

• One symptom of insomnia is having trouble falling asleep. This all happens to us occasionally, but when it starts becoming a pattern is when you have an issue. Tossing and turning is also a big symptom.

• Another clear symptom is waking up too early in the morning. This is something that is common among people that have insomnia. Your body needs sufficient rest, and would never wake up unless there is something irregular.

• When you do wake up, you still feel tired. This symptom is one of the clearest indicators that an individual is suffering from this disorder. Once again, the body likes to get enough rest before awaking.

• Waking up and then having trouble falling back asleep. Waking up at a reasonable hour after 6-8 hours of sleep is normal. It’s when you wake up in the middle of the night when it becomes an issue, and a huge symptom.

• The number of hours varies from person to person as far as how much sleep you need to get through the day. Only you know what you need to function. A clear symptom is when you do sleep 6-8 hours or more and you still feel grouchy or irritable. The symptoms of being irritable can lead to anxiety and depression.

• Acid reflux can be a symptom as crazy as that may seem. Lying down can cause the acid to come up easier causing you to awake.

• If you feel that you are stressed out due to family or work, that in itself could be a symptom. Without knowing it, this could lead insomnia. Bottling things up inside can indirectly lead to insomnia as well, a little know symptom.

• Being dependent on caffeine to stay awake in the morning is seen as normal, but many people drink coffee and tea at night to stay awake. This is by far one of the more obvious symptoms.

• Noise can affect you more than you think and is another little known symptom. It gets to the point where you need noise to fall asleep, and when it isn’t noisy, you can’t sleep. Psychologically, you adapt to your surroundings even during the sleeping process.

• There are so many symptoms to insomnia that it is possible we haven’t discovered them all. Many sleep studies have been conducted for many of years to research more and more symptoms.

It goes without saying that insomnia is a serious issue and can really affect your mental and physical health. It is important to notice these symptoms right away and not dismiss them. Symptoms of insomnia come in all shapes and sizes so to speak. Find out what is affecting you directly and speak to your doctor to try and get the correct medication.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord where the brain attacks the central nervous system. There are many different symptoms that are unpredictable and varied concerning multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis destroys the protective tissues around the brain thus leaving it susceptible to more disease. It also attacks the spinal cord and optic nerves. The symptoms may be hard to detect, but with enough information you can locate these symptoms before the condition worsens. The most basic threat of multiple sclerosis is that it hinders the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. Any neurological symptom can appear with multiple sclerosis and can often progress to be much worse. The more symptoms you get acclimated with, the better you will get at recognizing if anyone is suffering from multiple sclerosis.

• Symptoms of multiple sclerosis are varied and come in all different sizes so to speak. One symptom to look out for is Nystagmus, which is involuntary eye movements. As vague as that sounds, it could mean that someone is suffering from the disease.

• Fatigue is a big problem with people that have multiple sclerosis. It is a huge symptom that someone could have this disease. Fatigue is also associated with many other diseases, so it doesn’t necessarily mean you have multiple sclerosis.

• Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis can also be mental. People can develop depression and anxiety and not know why. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that can attack you from all different angles, and it is imperative that you take notes of all the symptoms.

• Because many of the symptoms are so vague and don’t paint a clear picture of what is wrong, it is easy to dismiss any little symptom that may be bothering you. But if you gather all the symptoms you may be suffering from, it could help you determine if you have multiple sclerosis.

• One neurological symptom is muscle weakness, muscle spasms or difficulty in moving. Another symptom is having trouble swallowing or trouble with speech.

• Having a multiple sclerosis attack once doesn’t mean it won’t come back. Symptoms often occur between attacks or slowly accumulates over time.

• One symptom of multiple sclerosis deals with the sensory part of the body. Tingling, numbness, or a electrical sensations moving down the back and legs. Another symptom category for multiple sclerosis is visual. There are visual symptoms such as hazy vision, eyeball pain or double vision.

• Another symptom of multiple sclerosis includes the inability to hold urine or completely empty the bladder. These are less common symptoms but are still prevalent.

Multiple sclerosis is a serious condition that can be debilitating. One symptom might not be enough to be completely sure that you or someone you know has multiple sclerosis. Contact your doctor if you feel you are suffering from this disease.

Erectile Dysfunction

For many men, erectile dysfunction can be embarrassing as well as unhealthy. Erectile dysfunction is a sexual dysfunction among men that doesn’t allow for sufficient erection of the penis for sexual intercourse. There are a few symptoms of erectile dysfunction other than the obvious being unable to get erect. While having erectile dysfunction isn’t deadly it can affect your psychological health and your relationship with your partner. In this article I will go over the few symptoms that you can look for to determine if you suffer from this. Erectile dysfunction is can have many different causes, one being psychological impotence. This symptom is where erection fails to occur due to thoughts or feelings rather than the physical impossibility. Symptoms of erectile dysfunction aren’t as clear cut as everyone may think. There are many symptoms that can cause erectile dysfunction and can also lead to further serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological problems. Men that suffer from erectile dysfunction are very embarrassed to come out and say that they have a problem even though about 1 in 10 men suffer from recurring impotence at some point in their lives. The symptoms of erectile dysfunction are clear and are not usually related to any other matter.

• One symptom of erectile dysfunction is getting full erections at some times like when you are asleep. Nocturnal erections are considered normal and are not a symptom of erectile dysfunction.

• Another symptom of erectile dysfunction is obtaining erections which are not fully rigid, or also known as lazy erections. This symptom could be a significant problem as it suggests the failure in the mechanism that holds blood in the penis. This could be stemmed from a cardiovascular problem and should be checked out by your doctor.

• Being unable to stay erect during sexual intercourse is also a symptom. This is unique because you were initially able to achieve erection but then lost it during intercourse. If you happen to experience this symptom repeatedly then you could have erectile dysfunction.

• Some men start experiencing erectile dysfunction after quitting smoking or losing excessive weight. If you are having erectile dysfunction symptoms after doing either of these things, then it is possible you could have erectile dysfunction.

• Taking drugs such as Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis will only suppress the symptoms rather than cure it.

• It is possible to cure the symptom of erectile dysfunction by having an operation. The operation is in implant that allows the penis to get erect by altering arteries to increase the blood flow.

• Although there aren’t many symptoms for erectile dysfunction, it is easy to know when you have it. The symptom of ejaculatory problems, whether it be emission or orgasm, is also a telltale symptom erectile dysfunction.

It is important to recognize the symptoms of erectile dysfunction so that you can contact your doctor. As mentioned above erectile dysfunction can often lead to other more serious problems. The sooner you go to the doctor and describe the symptoms, the better off you will be for you and your partner.

Heart Attack

Heart attacks is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Just like many other diseases, there a multitude of symptoms that could cause this. Heart attacks, or Myocardial infarction is the interruption of blood supply to the heart. The symptoms of a heart attack is the key to saving someone’s life as there isn’t much of a window. Everyone should know the symptoms of heart attacks because you never know when it will happen, and you could be the difference between life or death. Heart attacks to this day are still the leading cause of death of women and men all around the world. While a heart attack is rarely instantaneous, the symptoms do not occur for long. You usually have only a few minutes to act if you recognize symptoms occurring.

• One symptom of a heart attack is chest pain. The pain usually comes from the chest and could be an on and off thing or a sustained pain over a few minutes. This is a very common symptom among older men and women.

• An uncommon symptom of a heart attack is stomach sickness like nausea or having an upset stomach. Many people do not associate this as a symptom of suffering from a heart attack. Knowing this information could be essential to saving someone’s life.

• Shooting pains is a common symptom of an impending heart attack. These pains usually shoot to the rest of the body. Starting from the chest, the main makes its way throughout the extremities. The pain can also be felt in the stomach. When talking about this symptom, some people think that the pain goes through just one arm, but really the pain could be going through both arms at the same time.

• The biggest symptom of an impending heart attack is shortness of breath. If you ask any person for information on heart attacks, they will probably tell you this symptom first. This is usually the beginning of a heart attack.

• Of course there are other symptoms that go along with heart attacks are the cold sweats, feeling lightheaded, and blacking out.

• One symptom that is probably not well known is unconsciousness. Falling unconsciousness is not usually related to heart attacks, but in all actuality it could very well be linked.

• It is possible to suffer a heart attack without experiencing any symptoms at all. This is called a silent heart attack and is very rare.

• Finally, feeling your heart beat rapidly or irregularly is one symptom that many heart attack victims experience before actually suffering from it.

It goes without saying that suffering from a heart attack is a very serious affair. The symptoms are clear and are usually directly linked to heart attacks. If you notice any of these symptoms you should seek immediate help as soon as possible. A few of the symptoms mentioned above don’t directly relate to heart attacks, but should still be deemed as serious. Learning about all the symptoms can help save someone’s life.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is not something that should be taken lightly. This occurs in mostly women after childbirth, and to a lesser extent, some men. Postpartum depression is a form of clinical depression and there are many telltale symptoms that you can look for. The first person that should recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression is usually the mother, as this can be mostly mental. It is imperative that loved ones take care of the birth giver and look out for any symptoms of postpartum even if they are acting normal. It is not uncommon for the women to suppress or cover up the symptoms because they are in denial. Understanding and recognizing the symptoms is the key to helping your loved one recover from this. The symptoms can be a mixed bag and obviously differ with each individual. But here are some symptoms that have been linked to postpartum depression and that should help you.

• One major symptom is having any ill will towards your newborn. Unless you share this symptom with someone, only you will know if you have postpartum depression.

• Any irrational behavior that seemingly comes out of nowhere is a clear symptom, that you or a loved one could have postpartum depression. Getting frustrated or upset easily can be hormonal and thus is one of the more common symptoms among women.

• Losing interest in activities is much like regular depression, and it applies to those who have postpartum depression also. This symptom can be easily discovered if you or a loved one isn’t enjoying the things that she used to.

• Being tired all the time or not being energetic at all can be a symptom of postpartum.

• A clear symptom would be loss of appetite. If you or a loved one is eating less and less, then this could be a symptom of postpartum depression.

• Not going out, or even talking to people you used to talk to all the time is one symptom that is more common than you think.

• The one symptom that would worry me the most is anything that is affecting you or your loved one mentally. Feeling sad or guilty all the time, or even having feelings of emptiness or hopelessness could be dangerous to you or your child. Some women have thoughts of hurting their child or themselves after giving birth.

Postpartum is something that can be fixed through counseling. Noticing any symptom is obviously the first step to getting better. From there you should see your doctor and express all the feelings that you have been having as well as any physical symptoms. Postpartum depression is common among postnatal mothers, around 10-15% suffer from it. It is imperative that you are open with your family about this as they will guide you through this and get you the proper help. Letting this linger, and thinking that it will just go away is a dangerous way to pursue it.

Anxiety Disorder

Millions of people are affected by social anxiety disorder around the world. There are various symptoms that you can look for when trying to figure out if you or a loved one is suffering from this. Social anxiety disorder should not be confused with general shyness or even stage fright. The symptoms are far different than that. Social anxiety is emotional discomfort, or worry regarding social situations. Interacting with others becomes a challenge. There are physical symptoms, behavioral symptoms, and cognitive symptoms that you can try and spot.

• One physical symptom of social anxiety disorder would be sweating or blushing. Uncontrollable sweating during social events is often a symptom that something is not right.
• Another physical symptom is shaking or weeping. Intense fear comes into play, and it often leads to the person leaving or getting away from the social event. This is a clear cut symptom of social anxiety disorder.

• Feeling sick, like vomiting or nausea when a social event is taking place is considered a strong symptom of social anxiety disorder. Again this is much more serious than regular social anxiety.

• If you don’t recognize any physical symptoms, perhaps some behavioral symptoms would be easier to see. Eye contact with strangers is something you can look for, as the person suffering from this disorder likely will avoid making eye contact with strangers.

• Some people will go to extreme lengths to escape a situation. Making up an obvious lie to leave a gathering is another symptom or social anxiety disorder.

• Avoidance is an obvious symptom that someone could be suffering from social anxiety disorder. If someone you know is continually avoiding coming out to a social gathering, then they are just trying to avoid dealing with the anxiety all together.

• Now that we have some of the physical symptoms and behavioral symptoms covered, it’s time to move on to cognitive symptoms.

• One cognitive symptom of social anxiety disorder could be when someone takes conversations out of context often. A joke could be made, and everyone laughing could be taken as making fun of the person suffering from social anxiety disorder.

• Another cognitive symptom is someone expressing their feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem.

It isn’t easy to recognize sometimes that someone could be dealing with this disorder. People go to far lengths to try and conceal this from friends and family. Any physical symptom that you notice should be worrying because this is a sign that they have social anxiety disorder as opposed to regular social anxiety. For some people, however, it could be very obvious they have this disorder because it has got to the point where it controls them. So take note and be extra observant if you think a friend or relative has this, because the sooner they get help, the sooner they will be freed of this debilitating disorder.

Etymology

We speak of symptoms all of the time in general speech and with our doctors, but where does the word come from and what does it really mean? We can have a symptom or symptoms but by themselves they mean nothing, as symptoms are only indicative of an underlying condition. The word symptom comes from the ancient Greek word “symptoma” meaning an accident, misfortune or that which befalls. Symptoms are purely subjective things, not objective, as they can rarely be measured except through description by the experiencing agent.

As one can see from that short description, symptoms are hard to describe on their own. Basically a symptom is a sign of some underlying problem making itself known by a departure from normal healthy life, such as a cough, which has befallen you. Some examples of common symptoms include a cough, nausea, headache, fever and body aches.

The word symptom is also used outside of the sphere of health to describe an indirect result or indicating factor of another state of being. For example, one might say that a growing crime rate is a symptom of an increased rate of poverty, or that mass extinctions and changes in global temperature are symptoms of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

General Types of Symptoms

Diseases can be asymptomatic, meaning that the disease is present but presents no symptoms or signs of its presence or symptomatic meaning the disease is showing characteristic symptoms. In the medical world there are many general varieties of symptom. Chronic, relapsing and remitting are three categories of symptom; the first being a symptom or group of symptoms that lasts a long period of time, the second being a symptom or group of symptoms that comes and goes and the third being a distinct absence of symptoms where they should be there, such as with cancer that is in remission.

One interesting facet of the word “symptom” is its relation to the word “sign” in medical language. A symptom is defined strictly by its subjective nature, as observed by the person experiencing it such as pain, while a sign is a symptom that is visible to others also, such as a loud cough or a visible rash. A feature of a disease may be both a symptom and a sign, as in the case of a rash visible to an onlooker, as opposed to simply itchy skin. An example of a sign that is not also a symptom is something only observable, such as a reduced blood cell count, which must be measured in a laboratory.

Finally there is the constitutional symptom. These symptoms include fatigue, nausea, weight loss and generally include nonspecific symptoms that encompass the entire body, showing systemic illness. Many cancers present with constitutional symptoms.

Video Game Addiction

Addiction is often defined as the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something. Especially when it comes to psychological addiction which does not involved the physical symptom of withdrawal caused by physically addictive substances. Computer and video game addiction is a very serious disease that affects many millions of people in the world today, destroying their personal lives and even the lives of those nearest to them. Symptoms of video game addiction are not unlike those of other psychological obsessions (such as with sex, cars, music) and could be fit neatly under the category of obsession. Often people who exhibit the full suite of symptoms of video game addiction remain unaware of their condition despite its increasing acceptance by doctors and psychologists as a legitimate psychological illness with its own set of causes and symptoms.

Video game addiction becomes an addiction when the affected person is spending so much time using the computer or their video games that major life disruptions ensue. These major life disruptions can be the most obvious of symptoms. For example, when one stays home all day, refuses to shower or interact with others in favor of remaining on the computer, it can be a symptom of serious video game addiction.

Ironically, the very first symptom of video game addiction is the personal recognition by the addicted person that they are spending too much time playing video games. While they may note the fact consciously, even out loud, the full weight of what this symptom and the addiction it implies means is rarely accepted. Much like with other addictions a person is more likely to deny that they have a problem, and the most important first step remains an acknowledgment of the symptoms and their cause. In children it may be sufficient for a parent to recognize the symptoms in their child and proceed with limiting their time with the games and attempting to provide them attractive alternatives.

Symptoms

The primary psychological symptoms of video game addiction are as follows.
• Euphoria while using the computer / video game
• An inability to discontinue use despite a desire to do so
• No such thing as enough time at the computer for the affected person
• Limited contact with loved ones
• Extended use that contributes to problems at school or work
• Lying about time spent on the computer

The primary physical symptoms of video game addiction are as follows.
• Carpal tunnel
• Dry eyes
• Back and neck problems
• skipping meals
• failure to bathe

As one may well guess the most distinctive symptom from the above list is the inability to stop despite having a desire to do so. This symptom of the inability to stop, in itself, leads to all of the other symptoms both physical and psychological. For example, each physical symptom is caused exclusively by extended computer use. Carpal tunnel is a symptom developed as a result of injuring the tendons in the wrist, over using them when using a computer mouse. Back and neck problems are symptoms of extended time spent sitting hunched forward in a computer chair. Although, no one symptom on its own means a guaranteed diagnosis of video game addiction. The addiction itself may be a symptom of a deeper disorder such as depression or anxiety. As unpleasant feelings crowd in on a person they seek more and more an avenue of escape, generating further symptoms, as they become more and more deeply involved.

Child Abuse

Child abuse is endemic throughout the world and in order to help any of them, one must be able to recognize the symptoms, both emotional and physical, of child abuse. Children are abused in a variety of ways, sexually, emotionally, physically and through neglect. Each of these has an indicating symptom or set of symptoms that one can recognize. Any of these signs do not necessarily indicate child abuse, but in enough quantity or frequency they can be symptoms of a severe and chronic problem with which the child needs help.

Symptoms of Sexual Abuse

1. Sexually knowledgeable in an age inappropriate fashion

This can be a primary symptom of sexual abuse as it indicates that somehow has dealt sexually inappropriately with the child.

2. Child has problem sitting or standing

Another strong symptom of inappropriate sexual conduct, the child may also have torn or bloody clothes.

3. Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease under the age of 14

This is a particular strong symptom of sexual abuse and is usually found to coincide with other symptoms of sexual abuse listed here.

4. Fear of being alone with an adult they know well

As yet another symptom of an extremely broken trust this is one of those most common symptoms. Children who are sexually abused are far less likely to trust superiors to fairly treat them and an over reaction to criticism is paired with this as one of the most common symptoms of sexual abuse.

Symptoms of Physical Abuse

1. Refusing to explain injuries

This is a common symptom as the child has likely been threatened by the offending adult or is being held emotionally hostage. As with many symptoms of child abuse, it is a warning sign that despite physical danger to themselves, the child protects the person who harms them.

2. Caregiver has strong need for control

Including this symptom, other symptoms likely displayed by the caregiver include a lack of concern or acknowledgment of the child’s current troubles. An especially strong symptom of abuse is the caregiver giving a slightly different story from an older child, or the affected child.

Symptoms of Neglect

1. Child is consistently dirty or smelly

One of the more obvious symptoms of neglect, the child is acting like a child, and no parent is intervening to maintain order. The main symptoms of neglect tend to be a lack of will to maintain order for the child by the parent.

2. Lacks weather appropriate clothing

Yet another obvious symptom of child abuse when combined with the others. A caregiver who lets their child go out in the winter without a jacket probably exhibits many more symptoms of possible neglect and abuse.

3. Begging or stealing food and money

This primary symptom shows that the child is uncharacteristically (for a child) used to caring for themselves. Though they can’t get the care they need at home, it is much easier to locate in school, using the skills they’ve learned at home.