Identifying Signs of Depression

Depression is a complex mood disorder that few people truly understand, even when they are experiencing it firsthand. Sometimes, it is linked to other disorders such as bipolar, ADHD, or OCD, but depression can also be a standalone medical issue or simply a result of life experiences like grief or overwork. The first step to effectively managing this condition is to identify the signs of depression, which often proves to be a difficult task.

Running On Empty

Most people who claim to feel drained, tired, or overwhelmed are often actually in the depths of depression. We endure demanding conditions in life because we have no other choice until, eventually, those difficulties become normal.

For example, a person working two jobs while also looking after a family has to maintain a busy schedule whether they want to or not. They’ll likely admit to feeling “burned out” or even “at the end of their tether,” but with no choice to change their lifestyle. They have to cope and continue.

Many people would rather ignore depression in their lives because they feel like that would be one more issue to deal with. They simply put their heads down and continue as best they can, being like a car driving on flat tires and running out of gas. We can only give out of what we have, and if life is demanding our energy, time, and focus, we will have nothing left for our children, loved ones, friends, and hobbies.

Times are tough. We might often feel like we are simply treading water, trying not to drown. This feeling is often the first indicator that we will have to deal with depression soon if it hasn’t already manifested.

Identifying Signs of Depression

Just as depression stems from a variety of sources, so does it look different for different people. This is one of the reasons why it can be hard to identify or diagnose: what looks normal for one person might be signs of depression for another. Even when we think we know what signs of depression look like, it might be worth our time to consider if we are more than simply tired.

Sadness

Depression most commonly feels like persistent sadness and a heavy mood. People often liken the physical feeling of depression to having a body that suddenly feels heavy and hard to move. It’s like having no vigor or enthusiasm for anything, even the things that once energized you and brought you happiness.

Numbness

Depression can also feel like not being able to feel anything good or bad. It’s a numbness that seems to cling like a wet blanket, draping itself over our thoughts and feelings. For some, this is a worse experience than sadness because it has the effect of making us feel disconnected from life. If you find yourself suddenly disinterested in everything, even the things that once excited you, it may be a sign that your nervous system is overloaded and in need of recharge.

Struggling to complete everyday tasks

Depression often feels like a combination of “I’m too tired to care” and “Why should I even bother?” Tasks like cooking, eating, cleaning, laundry, and brushing your teeth can feel overwhelming in depression.

Sadly, when we neglect self-care, hygiene, a healthy diet, and cleanliness, it often contributes to depression. It creates a loop. We don’t do tasks because of depression and feeling anxious. We then are more depressed because we haven’t completed any of these tasks.

Risky or addictive behavior

Many people cope with depression with binge behavior, substance abuse, and poor decisions. There is some logic behind these destructive coping methods. For example, if work has been weighing us down and draining our energy, we might choose to blow off steam and have fun by partying hard. It can be difficult to stop.

Some people try to battle the numbness and sadness of depression by engaging in dopamine-rich activities, many of which can be addictive and risky. Damaging coping habits often end up adding another complicated layer to dealing with depression.

Irritability and anger

Depression primarily affects our mood, and it is our emotions that help us most when we try to identify depression. Many people, even those who are normally mild-mannered or sweet-natured, often become short-tempered and aggressive when depressed. The mood swings can be jarring and often result in conflict with those around them, occasionally feeding into depression as they regret lashing out at others.

Isolation

It can be hard to express what we’re feeling, and sometimes, we’d rather keep things to ourselves. Depression often comes with a feeling of self-consciousness and shame. We know that something is not quite right about us, but we don’t want others to see it. It’s just easier being alone in our own company than having to explain things. Unfortunately, though, the isolation we experience after withdrawing from friendships and relationships often feeds into depression and can cause anxiety.

Exhaustion from faking it

Sometimes, we just have no choice, and we have to leave the house and wear our best mask for social events. If you are unaware of your depression, you might start feeling exhausted after spending time with others. If you have always been social and extroverted but now find that crowds or even certain friends are making you feel drained or irritable, you might be depressed.

Suicidal ideation

Suicidal ideation can be active, where people actively try to harm themselves or end their lives, or passive, where they simply fantasize about ending things. When a person’s situation has become so overwhelming that they can’t see any way out besides taking their own life or imagining doing that, they have likely been depressed for a long time.

This is one of the most important reasons why we need to identify depression in our lives and take action. Depression results in hundreds of lives being lost every hour, and that number climbs at certain points in the year. It can be hard to talk about depression and even harder to open up about suicidal ideation, but certain thoughts take root in the dark, and their fruit can be devastating for loved ones left behind. If you have thought of ending your life recently, allow that to be the alarm you need to take action and find someone to talk to about your mental health.

Hope for Coping with Depression

Signs of depression can be overwhelming and exhausting to deal with, but this condition is treatable. You might choose to speak with a counselor or therapist about it or go the route of getting a medical diagnosis, but either way, you can lessen the weight of depression.

Some people cope by creating routines and rhythms in their lives. They balance seclusion with social outings, pay attention to their diet, enjoy treats, and make sure they get plenty of exercise and rest. These things might not target the root of their depression, but it does make it manageable.

There are so many things in life that cause anxiety and depression. You are not weak for feeling either, nor should you feel afraid. When sickness is making its rounds at work, you try to avoid it, but you wouldn’t be shocked if you caught the germs.

Depression can be like this, too; it’s not shocking or shameful to get depressed in today’s climate. However, just as you take care of yourself and take time off from work when you are physically sick, so also do you need to take care of your mental health.

Depression often feels like a burden that we carry alone, either because we don’t have anyone to share it with or because we don’t know how to share it. A good place to start is with a counselor because they know how to draw conversations out of people. There is no agenda in counseling other than to help people with their mental health. If you are ready for this step, please contact our office today. A counselor from our practice will be available to help you.