MISDIAGNOSED: CONDITIONS THAT MIMIC CLINICAL DEPRESSION

Clinical depression is a serious disease, marked by some classic symptoms, such as guilt, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, anxiety, sadness, and often thoughts of suicide. While many doctors are apt to prescribe medications like Zoloft right off the bat when a patient presents with these symptoms, the person could very well be suffering from something else entirely.

The same symptoms present in clinical depression are actually present in a variety of other medical conditions that require treatments other than antidepressants or therapy. Some disorders and conditions that can mimic clinical depression include a vitamin D deficiency, hypothyroidism, low blood sugar, dehydration, food intolerance, or even caffeine withdrawal. If you are concerned about a loved one who exhibits symptoms of clinical depression, ask your doctor if one of these could be the culprit.

Take a look at this article on six conditions that feel like clinical depression, but aren’t.