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Despite the fact that talking about mental illness and addressing it has become a lot more widely accepted these days, we can still fall into the habit of thinking “Not me.” We can think that it’s not us who could be dealing with issues of mental health, especially nothing like depression. However, if you haven’t been feeling quite right for some time, then it may be worth taking a moment of reflection to ask yourself if you match any of these signs for someone who is living with depression.
You’ve become more pessimistic
It’s easy to feel like there is no hope regarding certain things. We live in a complex time where we get information all the time about conflicts, challenges, and dangers facing us societally and otherwise. However, if you are feeling this sense of hopelessness throughout your life, and you fail to meet any news or opportunity without feeling pessimistic about it, then that is a clear sign that depression is affecting your mindset. Of course, this can be exacerbated by very real problems, with loneliness and isolation becoming increasingly a concern as time goes on, and taking the time to find someone to talk to, and to find your community can greatly help.
You’re becoming a lot more anxious
Anxiety is something that’s typically classified as separate from depression, but the two can very much develop together. You can see if you have some of the symptoms of anxiety, including nervousness, a feeling of tension, a feeling of panic, or that you’re in some form of danger, and physical effects like increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, or trouble focusing on things at the moment. You may even experience panic attacks. When treating depression, you may also want to look at ways to treat anxiety, so that you can have an easier time resting with your thoughts without becoming nervous or panicky. Anxiety disorders may require a different form of treatment than depression alone, so be sure that if you talk to someone about your issues, you describe them comprehensively.
Irritability and mood swings
It is often stated that anger issues are a form of depression turned outwards. Depression can often have us feeling worthless, hopeless, and down on our own place in the world, and when we express this eternally, it can come out as anger towards the world. This can be through misplaced anger, aggressive language, and general irritability. This is typically more common in men than in women, but it can be helped through self-care activities such as meditation. However, if anger issues ever start to lead to risky or harmful behavior, whether it’s towards yourself or someone else, it should be considered a mental health crisis and you should get professional help as soon as possible.
You lose interest in the things that once brought joy or excitement
As mentioned, a loss of joy is a common effect of depression, but it can often be noticed in how you engage with hobbies, hanging out with friends, sports, and other interests. If you find that you have suddenly started to find less interest in something that you felt very strongly about, have become apathetic about it, or have even started withdrawing from it, then this could be a major sign of depression. Sometimes, we do move on from hobbies, interests, and relationships that no longer work for us in the same, but if the drop-off is sudden and concerning, then it’s more likely a symptom than a natural evolution of your interests.
A general sense of apathy
You might just find that it’s not just that you don’t find enjoyment in your hobbies, friends, and interests anymore, you might feel like you simply don’t care about anything. If you feel entirely unaffected by both positive and negative things in your life, then this is one of the clearest signs of depression. In fact, people who feel this are often unaware that they may be in need of mental health treatment, despite how much it may benefit them. This is because depression is often characterized as feeling sad when just as often, it can present like you are feeling nothing at all. This should and can be treated with the help of a professional.
You’re having more difficulty with sleep and energy levels
One of the reasons that you might feel like you don’t have the energy to deal with anything or even to feel with anything is that you are feeling the effects of fatigue. Sleep and mental health have a profoundly interconnected relationship. When you aren’t getting enough sleep, you’re going to feel a lack of energy, which affects you mentally, not just physically. This fatigue can come from not only not getting enough sleep, but excessive sleep, which are both very common signs of depression. As such, having your sleep disorder diagnosed and treating it alongside your depression may be more effective than treating depression alone, since you’re still having those sleep issues.
Physical changes
The impacts of depression can be recognized through changes in physical health and habits, as well. One of the most widely understood is the relationship between depression and weight. This could be either sudden weight gain or weight loss through changes in your appetite. If you’re seeing a change of more than 5% of your body weight in one month, it’s not a healthy change and the root cause should be addressed. Changes in how you manage your moods, such as substance abuse, compulsive behaviors, reckless driving, or engagement in more dangerous sports and activities could be a form of self-medication as well. When we’re faced with the loss of feeling which is often a symptom of depression, some people will go to great and reckless lengths to treat it.
Living with depression can be tough, and many people have gone through the same journey as you. Addressing root causes, when they can be identified, can help, but it’s always worth taking the time to get some help on the way back to good emotional health.
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