What are side effects of excessive depression? It stays for long time. I just want to know in order to compare with my symptoms.

Question

The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say" i'm depressed" when in fact they mean" i'm fed up because i've had a row, or failed an exam, or lost my job" etc. These ups and downs of life are common and normal. Most people recover quite quickly. With true depression, you have a low mood and other symptoms each day for at least two weeks. I ve given the list of symptoms for you to run through, not all may be present in a person,
Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren't your responsibility
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
consult a psychiatrist and get evaluated.

Jagadeesan M.S. · Accepted Answer

The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say" i'm depressed" when in fact they mean" i'm fed up because i've had a row, or failed an exam, or lost my job" etc. These ups and downs of life are common and normal. Most people recover quite quickly. With true depression, you have a low mood and other symptoms each day for at least two weeks. I ve given the list of symptoms for you to run through, not all may be present in a person,
Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren't your responsibility
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
consult a psychiatrist and get evaluated.

Sreenivasan Vazhoor Ramsingh · Answer

Respected Sir,
First of all, I would like to know if your depression is a self/google-assisted diagnosis or have you actually consulted a psychiatrist who has diagnosed depression in you. If its the former, please do consult a psychiatrist to review your symptoms and reach a diagnosis. If you have already been diagnosed with depression, are you taking any form of treatment despite which your symptoms are persisting. The natural course of a depressive episode lasts 9-12 months but in some cases persistent depressive disorder is seen which too is treatable if you get the necessary help.