Many mental health and medical conditions have similar symptoms to depression—such as fatigue and sleep problems—so you may think you have depression when you actually don’t.
Here are the facts about depression, disorders with similar symptoms, and how to tell them apart.
Depression: The Basics
Depression is a common mental health condition that affects the way you feel, think, and behave. You may feel sad and lose interest in activities you normally enjoy. You may have emotional and physical problems that make it difficult to function at home and at work.
Symptoms may include:
- Change in appetite
- fatigue
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Feelings of sadness or low mood
- Loss of interest in activities
- low energy
- Thoughts of suicide or death
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Weight loss or gain
If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor. If they last 2 weeks or longer and limit your ability to function, you may have depression.
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What may look like depression
Here are common mental health and medical conditions that look like depression, and the differences between them.
Anemia
Anemia is when you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your organs. You may experience symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, which are also symptoms of depression. If anemia is not treated, complications may result, including depression.
But anemia can also cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling cold, dizziness, headaches, sore tongue, skin problems and restless legs syndrome. These are not symptoms of depression.
anxiety
There is a link between depression and anxiety. Anxiety is sometimes a symptom of depression. Anxiety can also trigger depression. Many people suffer from both depression and anxiety.
They are different conditions, but they have some overlapping symptoms, such as nervousness, irritability, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. Your doctor can tell you if you have anxiety, depression, or both.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
If you have ADHD and are depressed, you may move, think, and speak more slowly. The stress of having ADHD can lead to depressed feelings. This is called situational depression, which means it occurs due to ADHD challenges. If you treat ADHD, your depressive symptoms may improve.
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Bipolar disorder
When you have bipolar disorder, you alternate between depression and mania, or elevated moods. During depression, you may feel sad, hopeless, and lose interest in activities. But when you feel euphoric, energetic, or irritable, it can turn into a manic phase. These are not symptoms of clinical depression.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Fatigue is a common symptom of depression and a primary symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome. CFS may also interfere with your ability to do the things you normally do. It can also cause memory, concentration and sleep problems. Your doctor or counselor can help you determine whether your symptoms are related to depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Circulation barriers
This mental health condition is similar to bipolar disorder, but milder. You may experience mood swings and changes in energy similar to bipolar disorder and depression. However, cyclothymia is characterized by elevated and rapid changes in mood that are not commonly seen in depression.
diabetes
It’s not entirely clear, but there is a link between depression and diabetes. The stress of having diabetes can lead to depression. Diabetes can also cause other health problems that can worsen symptoms of depression.
Weakness, fatigue, and weight loss are symptoms of both. If you have diabetes, you may also experience thirst, blurred vision, numbness in your hands and feet, ulcers that are slow to heal, frequent urination, infections, or a dry mouth. These are not symptoms of depression.
Fibromyalgia
Many people with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes chronic muscle pain and fatigue, also suffer from depression. Chemical imbalances in the brain that lead to mood changes may also be linked to fibromyalgia. Persistent pain and persistent fatigue may also lead to depression.
If you have fibromyalgia, you may also have other symptoms that are different from depression, such as increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness or spasms, deep aches or burning pain, and numbness and tingling in your hands, arms, and legs Pain.
Hypercalcemia
Drowsiness, depressed mood, memory loss, and irritability are common symptoms of depression. They are also a sign of hypercalcemia, or high levels of calcium in the blood.
Hypercalcemia is caused by many different causes, including disease, medications, and dehydration. If you have these symptoms, your doctor may order a blood test to determine whether you have hypercalcemia.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed as depression. If you have an underactive thyroid, it may affect your mood. You may have symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. While many people with hypothyroidism take antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and sedatives, it is their thyroid that needs treatment.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Emotional struggles, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and anger are all symptoms of depression and PTSD. But PTSD occurs after you experience a traumatic event. Symptoms may begin soon after the event or even years later.
If your symptoms seem to be related to an event and you have strong memories, flashbacks, or nightmares about it, you may have PTSD.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
With PMDD, you may experience symptoms similar to depression, such as low mood, irritability, and sadness. It can interfere with your social and work life. But PMDD is related to your menstrual cycle and may be an extension of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D helps your body function properly. Signs of insufficient vitamin D intake include weakness, pain, fatigue, and mood changes. Even if they are caused by a vitamin D deficiency, they may be mistaken for depression. Your doctor can do a blood test to measure your vitamin D levels to see if this is causing your symptoms.
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