Recognising the Symptoms of Depression: A Comprehensive Guide

Depression is a common mental illness in Australia, affecting 1 in 7 people. If you or a loved one is experiencing a low mood over a prolonged period of time, it’s important to recognise the signs of depression, as well as knowing where to get help.

Thankfully, depression is treatable, and these treatments are widely accessible in Australia. Here, Australia’s leading telehealth team at Medmate outlines a comprehensive guide on recognising the symptoms of depression, and how we can help:

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a prolonged feeling of sadness and loss of interest in major aspects of one’s life – even things one typically enjoys. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, this disorder affects our feelings, thoughts and behaviours and can result in a variety of emotional and physical issues. Patients may experience difficulty doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes may not feel like life is worth living.

Common symptoms of depression

The better we become at recognising depression, the better chance we have at seeking necessary help and treating it. There are several common symptoms of depression:

Low mood and negative feelings
Depression can look like sadness or hopelessness, but it can also manifest as sudden outbursts of anger, feelings of guilt, lack of interest or confidence, and recurring negative thoughts.

Altered behaviours
Depression is known to alter the ‘normal’ behaviour of an individual. This includes a lack of desire to take part in hobbies and activities one normally enjoys, being less productive at work or study, and staying at home rather than socialising with friends. It may also result in more alcohol consumption and losing interest in sex.

Physical symptoms
Depression is often connected to several physical symptoms as well. These include difficulty sleeping and/or tiredness and lethargy throughout the day, feeling run down or sick, and an increase or decrease of appetite – either with or without weight gain. It can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain (like back and neck pain) and nausea.

First steps to treating depression

The first step to treating depression is to seek the right help. Though it may feel uncomfortable or unnatural, speaking with a doctor who can recommend treatments, as well as refer you to a psychologist, is a great start. With Medmate’s team of empathetic and non-judgemental professionals, we make reaching out easy.

Medmate can help you or a loved someone dealing with depression. Our team of doctors and psychologists are dedicated to helping individuals get the treatment they need. Whether it’s the first time experiencing depression or an ongoing management of the illness, Medmate is with you every step of the way. Book a telehealth consultation with one of our doctors today and start feeling your normal self again.