Some of the symptoms of depression may be the result of a different condition. Low energy level and fatigue may be symptoms of medical conditions, such as low thyroid functioning, which can be diagnosed easily by means of a simple blood test. But there are other conditions as well that can masquerade as depression.

A neighbour of mine, a highly successful scientist and a charming person in his mid-fifties, seemed to undergo a change of personality over the course of about a year. During this time he walked around feeling fatigued and down in the dumps for many months. His sleep was restless and he would frequently wake up during the night. These symptoms might easily have been mistaken for depression. A visit to his doctor and, subsequently, to a sleep laboratory, revealed that he had a condition known as sleep apnoea. He stopped breathing for short intervals numerous times during the course of the night, which would wake him up. As a result of his breathing difficulties, his brain was not receiving sufficient oxygen. Small wonder that he was exhausted during the day, felt miserable and had difficulty concentrating. The problem was entirely corrected by a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine, which ensures that he receives sufficient oxygen throughout the night. He became once more his cheerful self and I would see him tirelessly mowing his lawn and attending to his garden. We would once again chat and share jokes and his mood was completely restored with the help of one critical substance upon which all of our lives depend, namely oxygen.

This same person later developed weakness and tiredness and again lost his usual ability to concentrate and function normally. Another visit to the doctor and some simple blood tests revealed that his blood chemistry was abnormal. This turned out to be due to a rare tumour of the adrenal gland. Removal of the tumour corrected the problem and restored him once again to his previous high level of functioning.

In summary, many of the symptoms of depression are not unique to this condition, but may also be the result of medical conditions, some of which such as low thyroid levels or sleep apnoea are relatively common, while others such as tumours of the adrenal are rather rare. A visit to a competent doctor can often help sort out whether there may be a medical condition masquerading as depression. Even if you choose not to go to a doctor in the first instance but decide instead to try and treat your own depression, it is still worth bearing these other medical conditions in mind in case the symptoms do not resolve within a reasonable amount of time.

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