There are many early warning signals of depression that are usually overlooked or attributed to other causes.
They include:
changes in our speaking patterns
for unipolar depression:
speaking more softly than usual
sighing more frequently
speaking more slowly than usual
speaking less than usual
for the manic phases of bipolar depression:
speaking louder than usual
speaking faster than usual
speaking more than usual
choice of language:
for either:
starting to curse
using stock phrases like "always, never"
for manic phases:
repeating phrases or sentences or ideas
changes in our body movements
for unipolar depression:
slower movements
fewer movements
for the manic phases of bipolar depression:
faster movements or jerky movements
more movements
jiggling legs and feet, biting of lips, chewing fingernails, cracking knuckles
changes in posture
for unipolar depression:
slumped shoulders and back muscles
lowered head and eyes
for the manic phases of bipolar depression:
when angry, puffed up chest, squared shoulders,
jutted out chin, tightened muscles and fists
changes in energy level
for unipolar depression:
feeling like you have "molasses" for blood
chronic fatigue
for manic phases
adrenaline rushes
boundless energy
changes in body aches and pains
for either:
headaches, neck or back pain, jaw pain from night grinding of teeth
emergence of habits
for either:
smoking, drinking, using drugs, out of control spending
annoyance threshold
for either:
faster irritability
out of proportion reactions
snapping at loved ones
handwriting changes
for either:
increased sloppiness or misspelling more than usual
Dr. Moore is a licensed psychologist and Founder and Director of Fall Creek Associates. She is President of the Sacramento Psychological Association, adjunct faculty member in the School of Psychology at the Fielding Graduate Institute, teaches classes through The Learning Exchange, and frequently appear as a guest on public service programs having to do with psychology and emotional wellness. She has also written a newspaper column called Senior Wellness, which focuses on general psychology topics as well as those of special interest to senior readers. In addition to working with private clients, she welcomes the opportunity to disseminate information on psychology and mental health issues to the general public through her PsychPages website.