Elusive Symptoms

We’re all so alike, yet so paradoxically different. We can each watch the same movie, but we’ll all remember different parts better than others. The same is true of our experiences with depression. Depression affects people all over the world, but no two people will have exactly the same symptoms, experiences or treatment. Diagnosing and treating depression can be especially difficult when the symptoms don’t seem to match what we’re accustomed to here in the United States.

In America, typical symptoms of depression include fatigue, intense sadness, irritability and/or feelings of worthlessness. We’re generally much more in tune with the psychological factors than our Eastern counterparts. Someone from China dealing with depression might be more likely to complain of physical manifestations of depression, such as sleeping too much or too little, having a decreased or increased appetite and frequent headaches. This can pose a challenge to doctors and patients alike; doctors may overlook depression in people of other cultures simply because they don’t match our typical criteria.

Have you noticed your symptoms changing at all? How have you treated these unusual symptoms? [Canadian Press]