How does Depression Feel

Depression: Not Just Emotional Symptoms 

It's an old cliché that life's a roller coaster. You expect that your moods will take downward dips occasionally: normal daily life comes with a range of stressors, and you are bound to encounter people, situations, and events that trigger anger, sadness, or other negative emotions. With time, though, the car keeps rolling and ascends again. But if the roller coaster of life doesn't seem to be turning back upward again, that may be a signal to give yourself a mental checkup. If you're feeling sad or anxious for a prolonged period—two weeks or more—and you find yourself not wanting to do some of the things you always liked to do, these may be signs of depression.

In addition, if you are constantly burdened with thoughts and feelings of guilt, helplessness, worthlessness, or suicide; or you often feel restless, easily irritated, or frustrated, these too should spur you to consult your doctor. But depression isn't only tied to mental and emotional distress. It can spark a host of physical symptoms that you should keep an eye on as well. Anxiety can interfere with sleep and eating patterns—sometimes in opposite ways. Some people with depression eat a lot to soothe themselves and gain weight, while others lose their appetites. Many people with depression get insomnia and have trouble falling asleep, or they wake up in the middle of the night and cannot help but ruminate on stressful thoughts, which can make it difficult to go back to sleep.

For others, the opposite happens: they can't wake up, and they sleep far longer than usual. Other physical ailments that can arise alongside depression can include muscle tension, headaches, or stomach problems. If you are feeling tired and stressed, you may also have trouble focusing, recalling details, or making decisions

Potential Treatment Options 

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it's possible you may be suffering from depression. While depression can often be successfully treated with therapy and medications, one in three people continue experiencing symptoms of depression even after trying two medications.

If these methods have not been effective for you, another option is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment in which patients sit comfortably in a chair, awake and alert, as a device near their scalp delivers gentle magnetic pulses similar to those of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These pulses stimulate changes in brain chemical signaling that can alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Depression doesn't always feel how you may expect it to. It's important to understand and recognize the symptoms of depression so they can be treated and life can turn upward again. Remember, you're not alone in facing depression, and even if you haven't seen success with medication treatments, there are other options that may work for you.