Depression is one such physical and mental health condition, which if neglected for long, can ruin the entire life of a person. It happens due to complicated interactions between certain chemicals in our body and the brain. The adverse effects of depression touches every aspects of our life, starting from lifestyle, relationships, performances at the workplace, and so on. About ten percent of people suffer from depression at least once in their lifetime. However, very few people seek medical attention to cure the problem. This is mainly because most of them fail to identify these warning signs. Warning Signs of Major Depression Depression cannot be diagnosed with the help of any physical examination or blood tests. You have to rely on the warning signs to detect it. Here we have mainly discussed the most common warning signs of depression. Prolonged Sadness Though happiness and sorrow are part and parcel of life, people who are suffering from some type of depression find it difficult to snap out of their despair. Bouts of crying, reckless behavior, guilt, and self-loathing are a few of the emotional responses of people in depression. Their self-esteem dips really low during an episode. This disorder is said to be the manifestation of passive aggression and people who are feeling a bit blue find themselves obsessing over their failures. Their perceived inadequacies make them feel angry and their rage is projected inwardly. Increased agitation and restlessness is also a common occurrence in this state. Lack of Interest in Daily Activities One of the most early warning signs of depression is losing interest in all such activities which were thoroughly enjoyed at one point of time in life. It could be a hobby, or some social activities, meeting friends, etc. They start withdrawing from active participation of any social interaction. It is very difficult to identify as the concerned person refuses to admit it as a sign of depression. If such people take medical help at this stage, then they are asked to socialize more and more. It has been found that with the increase in social interaction, a certain type of chemical is released which helps in stabilization of the moods, and they get back the sense of happiness. Sleep Disorders People in depression find it difficult to fall asleep. This problem is known as insomnia and in certain cases, people fail to sleep the whole night. As a result, they feel sleepy and fatigued all through the day which in turn increases irritability and other behavioral problems. Other sleep disorders include excessive sleeping, frequent waking up from sleep during the night, getting up too early in the morning, etc. Sleep disorders aggravate the depression very much as the brain fails to renew the supply of those essential chemicals that are required for its normal functioning. Change in sleeping habits is a part of the treatment of depression. Suicidal Thoughts This is the most apparent sign of serious depression. Such people often talk about hopelessness, killing themselves, or harming themselves in some way. Such a condition arises when the person feel helpless. Actually, most of the people in such a state do not want to die but they desperately want to get rid of their pain. If you know anyone who has a tendency to harm himself / herself, you should extend your helping hand towards that person and assist him / her seek professional help without any delay. Counseling is the best treatment for this condition. Change in Appetite Depression brings about drastic change in the eating habits of the concerned person. Some people stop eating anything, and others often indulge in overeating. This leads to excessive weight loss or weight gain. It has been observed in many people that they are more keen to eat snacks and junk food than any healthy diet. As proper nutrition is a must for maintaining both the physical as well as the mental health of a person, improper eating habits can aggravate depression. In such cases, intake of a healthy diet helps to get rid of the condition of depression. Physical Ailments Depression not only affects our mental health but it badly affects our physical health as well. Frequent occurrence of headaches, stomach aches, digestive problems, muscle pain, etc., are common depression symptoms. This happens because when our mind is in a depressed state, some irregularity occurs in the process of releasing chemicals from the brain. As a result of this imbalance, a person in depression experiences various types of pain. Improvement can be seen in the health condition after the treatment for depression has been started. People of any age group can suffer from depression. It can affect both adult men or women. However, research studies suggest that women are more prone to depression than men. Depression among teens is also very common these days. In all the cases of depression, one or more of these warning signs become visible. Most of the time, we fail to notice these subtle signs in our friend or family member because of our busy lives. Going undetected, this disorder manages to manifest itself in an extreme or prominent way. That's why, it's better to reach out to professional help immediately and discuss these symptoms with a counselor. Generally, depression is the result of emotional pain because of someone's death, relationship breakup, loss of job, health, a traumatic event, etc. It is also believed to be genetically linked. With the help of proper counseling, depression medications, change in lifestyle, and support from family and friends, depression can be cured completely.