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Symptoms of Major Depression
Not all people with depression will show all symptoms or have them to the same degree. If a person has four or more symptoms, for more than two weeks, consult a medical doctor or psychiatrist. While the symptoms specified for the groups below generally characterize major depression, there are other disorders with similar characteristics including: unipolar depression, bipolar illness, anxiety disorder, or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity. Remember that only a medical doctor can diagnose depression.
Signs of Depression: Children
In children, depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as, school phobia or school avoidance, social phobia or social avoidance, excessive separation anxiety, running away, obsessions, compulsions, or everyday rituals, such as having to go to bed at the exact time each night for fear something bad may happen. Chronic illnesses may be present also since depression weakens the immune system.
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Persistent unhappiness, negativity, complaining, chronic boredom, no initiative. |
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Uncontrollable anger with aggressive or destructive behavior, possibly hitting themselves or others, kicking, or self-biting, head banging. Harming animals. |
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Continual disobedience. |
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Easily frustrated, frequent crying, low self-esteem, overly sensitive. |
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Inability to pay attention, remember, or make decisions, easily distracted, mind goes blank. |
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Energy fluctuations from lethargic to frenzied activity, with periods of normalcy. |
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Eating or sleeping problems. |
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Bedwetting, constipation, diarrhea. Impulsiveness, accident-prone. |
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Chronic worry and fear, clingy, panic attacks. |
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Extreme self-consciousness. |
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Slowed speech & body movements. |
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Disorganized speech - hard to follow when telling you a story, etc. |
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Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, arms or legs ache, nail-biting, pulling out hair or eyelashes. (ruling out other medical causes)
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Suicidal talk or attempts |
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