10 Signs of Depression to Watch For | Dr. Pavan Sonar

Depression is one of the most common — and most commonly missed — medical conditions affecting people in Mumbai today. Unlike a broken arm or a fever, depression does not always look the way we expect. Many people live with depression for years without recognising it, dismissing their symptoms as stress, laziness, or simply “being realistic about life.” Dr. Pavan Sonar, a psychiatrist in Mumbai specialising in depression treatment, outlines 10 signs of depression you should not ignore — and explains when to seek help.

10 Signs of Depression You Should Not Miss

1. Persistent Low Mood

Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or “numb” most of the day, nearly every day, for more than two weeks is the defining feature of clinical depression. This is not the same as feeling sad about a specific event — it is a pervasive, persistent state that does not lift with good news or pleasant experiences.

2. Loss of Interest or Pleasure (Anhedonia)

One of the most diagnostically significant signs of depression is anhedonia — the loss of pleasure or interest in activities you previously enjoyed. Hobbies, social activities, favourite foods, intimacy with a partner — nothing feels enjoyable or worthwhile. Many patients describe going through the motions of daily life without experiencing any pleasure from it.

3. Significant Changes in Sleep

Depression reliably disrupts sleep in one of two ways: insomnia (difficulty falling asleep, early morning waking with inability to return to sleep — the most common pattern) or hypersomnia (sleeping significantly more than usual, yet still feeling unrefreshed and fatigued). Waking at 3–4am with racing, negative thoughts is a particularly characteristic pattern of moderate-to-severe depression.

4. Fatigue and Loss of Energy

Profound, persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest is a core depression symptom. Even the simplest tasks — having a shower, replying to a message, preparing a meal — feel exhausting. This physical tiredness has a neurobiological basis in depression and is not “laziness.”

5. Significant Weight or Appetite Changes

Depression typically causes loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss. Some people, however, experience increased appetite — particularly for carbohydrates — and weight gain. A change of more than 5% of body weight within a month without intentional dieting is clinically significant.

6. Feelings of Worthlessness or Excessive Guilt

Depression generates a profoundly distorted, self-critical inner voice. Depressed patients describe feeling like failures, burdens to their families, worthless employees, and bad parents — often with no objective basis for these evaluations. Excessive guilt about minor past events or actions is particularly characteristic.

7. Difficulty Thinking, Concentrating, or Making Decisions

Depression impairs cognitive function. “Brain fog” — difficulty concentrating, poor memory, slowed thinking, and inability to make even simple decisions — is a frequent and often debilitating feature of depression in Mumbai’s working professionals. Many patients notice a significant deterioration in work performance that they attribute to stress but is actually depression.

8. Psychomotor Agitation or Retardation

Severe depression can produce visible physical changes. Psychomotor agitation involves restlessness, inability to sit still, and fidgeting. Psychomotor retardation involves noticeably slowed movements and speech — as if the person is moving through treacle. These changes are observable to others, not just experienced by the patient.

9. Physical Symptoms Without Medical Explanation

Depression frequently “somatises” — presenting as physical symptoms that have no identified medical cause. Headaches, chronic pain, digestive problems, and fatigue that persist despite medical investigation should prompt a depression assessment. In Mumbai, many depressed patients spend months seeing multiple specialists for physical complaints before the underlying depression is identified.

10. Thoughts of Death, Hopelessness, or Suicide

Passive thoughts about death (“I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t wake up”), hopelessness about the future, or active suicidal thoughts are the most urgent depression symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these, seek help immediately. Do not dismiss these thoughts — they are symptoms of a treatable medical condition, not personal failure. Call Dr. Sonar’s clinic at +91 85918 40141 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Depression in Mumbai: Why It Is Missed

Several cultural factors specific to Mumbai’s environment contribute to depression being missed and under-treated: the “keep going” mentality that dismisses emotional distress as weakness; the stigma of mental illness that prevents people from acknowledging symptoms; the high baseline of stress that normalises depression-level fatigue; and the tendency for physical symptoms to prompt multiple medical investigations before depression is considered. Dr. Sonar provides comprehensive depression assessments in Mumbai that avoid these diagnostic pitfalls.

For detailed information on depression treatment options available in Mumbai, visit the depression treatment page. Full services are detailed at the services page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many of these signs do I need to have to be depressed?

A diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder requires at least 5 of the 9 standard criteria (including either depressed mood or anhedonia) present for at least two weeks with functional impairment. However, if any of these signs are causing you distress or affecting your functioning — even fewer than 5 — a professional assessment is worthwhile. Sub-threshold depression (fewer than 5 criteria) also causes significant suffering and can progress without appropriate attention.

Can depression resolve without treatment?

Mild depressive episodes may resolve spontaneously over months. However, without treatment, moderate-to-severe depression rarely resolves on its own and causes lasting harm to relationships, career, physical health, and quality of life. Treatment dramatically shortens the duration of depressive episodes and significantly reduces the risk of future episodes.

Book a Depression Assessment in Mumbai

If you recognise yourself in several of these signs, a psychiatric assessment is the right next step. Dr. Pavan Sonar — MBBS, DNB, DPM — provides expert, confidential depression assessments and treatment in Mumbai. Recognised among Mumbai’s Best Doctors (Outlook Best Doctors Award).

Call +91 85918 40141 to book today. Online consultations available.