{"id":397,"date":"2019-11-28T14:40:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T14:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejorni.com\/blog\/?p=397"},"modified":"2019-12-06T15:14:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-06T15:14:58","slug":"10-depression-symptoms-out-of-left-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thejorni.com\/blog\/10-depression-symptoms-out-of-left-field\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Depression Symptoms Out of Left Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Round<\/span><\/p>\n

Who decides on your depression symptoms?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Depression symptoms diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Just a reminder that I am writing this blog from my own experience. I am not a doctor or psychiatrist. Always speak with your doctor or health care professional about your depression symptoms for a depression diagnosis and recommended treatment.<\/p>\n

So, without further ado…<\/p>\n

Whenever I talk to people about how they perceive depression they usually tell me they expect someone to be sad. A very common picture of depression is a person sitting at home, staring off into space. This person might be crying, but generally it’s just that they look sad and lost.<\/p>\n

\"Depression<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s pretty safe to say that the majority of people believe depression to be an emotional state, sadness, that will go away if the person just does something to make them happy. And it is true that some common depression symptoms can include sadness and a persistent low mood. <\/p>\n

But, it would be completely inaccurate to think that’s all there is to depression. Depression symptoms can be the same for different people in some aspects and also entirely different. For instance, some people experience a lack of energy that makes it impossible to function; however, others stay so busy they nearly have a breakdown from exhaustion because that is how their depression manifests.<\/p>\n

And yes, many depressed people “look” happy to outsiders.<\/p>\n

The tiring game of masks<\/h3>\n

I don’t know if you ever watched Game of Thrones. If you did, you will already know about Arya Stark and how she can eventually take on the face of anyone she wishes. That’s exactly how I felt at times. Depression was a lot about hiding what was really going on. That meant I had to be a “character” facing outward and even that would change, depending on who I was with.<\/p>\n

A lot of other people battling depression face the same situation. They might have small kids and don’t want them to know they are dealing with depression. So, they put on a happy face and try to function like always.<\/p>\n

Others might be in a management position at work and feel like speaking about their depression would get them fired. They show up to work every day, smile, make small talk with their colleagues, and nobody knows what is truly going on inside.<\/p>\n

This is what makes defining depression symptoms so difficult. Every person might have varying symptoms, on top of or instead of the clinical definition. That also adds a stumbling block for your doctor, who has to decide whether your depression symptoms fall under a clinical depression diagnosis or not. <\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colors and shades I knew existed.\u201d                                                     – Katie McGarry<\/p>\n

The DSM-5 and depression symptoms<\/h3>\n

Depending on where you live, your doctor will likely use something like the DSM-5 as a guideline on depression symptoms. In short, it’s the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and contains guidelines on diagnosing mental disorders.<\/p>\n

The manual outlines the commonly accepted symptoms that arise for people suffering from depression. It’s a good place to mention here that the DSM-5 has received its share of criticism from around the world. As a person suffering from depression, you will easily understand why. <\/p>\n

Trying to diagnose mental disorders based on a set list of symptoms does not recognize the wide variety of symptoms out there. That’s especially true when two people battling depression could experience two entirely different sets of symptoms. <\/p>\n

\"DSM5<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that the symptoms considered normal for depression are just a guideline to assist your doctor with arriving at a label, so she or he can start helping you. It is by no means an exhaustive list of what people with depression experience, or a judgement that your symptoms are not valid because they are not listed.  <\/p>\n

\"Round<\/span><\/p>\n

Which depression symptoms are “normal”?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before we get into the 10 depression symptoms that hit me completely out of left field, let’s talk about the symptoms that are generally accepted as normal. And by normal I don’t mean that it’s normal for you to battle depression. These are some standard symptoms that your doctor would expect you to have, when you are depressed. <\/p>\n

My doctor told me it was “normal” to have suicidal thoughts when I was depressed.<\/p>\n

That did not make my diagnosis any easier, but it gave me the feeling that there were other people out there, suffering from suicidal thoughts as well. I was not alone. <\/p>\n

How do you even start sorting out all the things you are feeling and experiencing when you are depressed? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s easiest to sort the symptoms into logical categories, for instance. One way is to look at symptoms through how you are experiencing them.<\/p>\n

Mental Symptoms<\/h3>\n

This is anything you are feeling, but you are not physically experiencing it.<\/p>\n

General depression symptoms can include:<\/p>\n