By Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

It is impossible to avoid ups and downs in our lives. Feeling sad, angry and frustrated towards disappointments are normal part of human experiences. We often use the word “depressed”, yet, what does it mean when someone is clinically depressed?

Every year, more than one million Canadians are affected by depression. Depression can be an exhausting and incapacitating experience. People suffering from a depressive episode will often display a variety of physical symptoms. A depressed person may complain of feeling sad or blue. However, not everyone can recognize symptoms of depression especially if they have never experienced a depressive episode before.

If you are depressed, you are likely to experience most of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks. You will experience these symptoms for most of the day which impairs your performance at home, at work or at school.

Symptoms of Depression include:

Emotional Symptoms:

  • Feeling sad or blue
  • Withdrawal from friends or family members
  • Lack of motivation and interest in work, hobbies, other activities you used to enjoy
  • Easily annoyed, agitated or irritated
  • Feeling worthless, helpless, useless, hopeless or meaningless
  • Trouble concentrating, focusing or remembering things
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Easily teary, feel like crying or crying spells for no apparent reason
  • Thoughts of dying, hurting oneself or suicide (please see our article on Warning Signs of Suicide)
  • In extreme cases - have delusions or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)

Physical Symptoms:

  • Changes in appetite (either over-eating or not eating enough)
  • Changes in sleep pattern (over-sleeping or insomnia)
  • Headaches, back pain
  • Nausea & lightheadedness
  • Fatigue, easily tried, lack of energy
  • Stomachache, cramps or ulcers
  • Loss of interest in sex
  • Other unexplained physical problems

If you experience most of the above symptoms for more than a few weeks, you should seek professional help immediately. Talk to your family doctor about your condition for options regarding medical treatment. You may also consider seeking professional individual or family counselling support from a professional therapist.

** The Vancouver Wishing Wells Counselling Service provides counselling support for individuals, couples, children, and families in Greater Vancouver. Our office is located in the Vancouver West Side - Oakridge area, accessible by Canada Line. Our counselling services include Individual & Couple Counselling, Children Counselling / Play Therapy, Parent-Child Relationship / Filial Therapy, Child Behaviour Consultation, and Counselling for Adolescents. Should you need to discuss with one of our therapists for consultation, please Contact Us for more information.

<< Back