Signs of Depression
Signs of Depression
Is your mental health a struggle? These signs can help you identify whether you may be dealing with depression.
Depression can sometimes be a term thrown around to describe a bad day or hard week. However, depression is much more complicated. Depression carries specific, persistent symptoms that go beyond normal sadness.
Feeling sad or having a negative outlook
Depression is a mood disorder that affects your mood and how you feel about life. Feeling a deep sadness or having a negative or hopeless outlook on life is often the most common symptom of depression.
Outbursts of anger
Sudden outbursts of anger or inability to regulate your emotions, especially at things that would not normally cause anger, can be a sign of depression.
Feeling irritable
This symptom is especially common in men. Depression can affect men and women differently and has been known to show itself in men as irritable behavior.
Lose of interest
If you feed yourself no longer interested in day-to-day activities or things that would normally bring you joy, this could be a sign of depression. Depression can cause you to lose hope and become numb to things that used to make you happy.
Increased fatigue or low energy
Depression can leave you feeling tired and fatigued. Someone dealing with depression may feel like they have no energy to complete even the most basic tasks.
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
If you have trouble sleeping at night, wake up throughout the night or find yourself sleeping the day away, this could be a red flag of depression.
Nervousness, restlessness, or feeling anxious
Anxiety is often accompanied by depression and can look like nervousness, restlessness, or feeling uncomfortable in social situations. Here is a blog post that talks about finding ways to calm down in the face of restlessness.
Changes in weight or appetite
Rapid weight changes - whether weight gain or weight loss can be symptoms of depression. Eating too much or too little is also a common symptom.
Poor cognitive function
Trouble thinking, concentrating, remembering, and making decisions are all signs that depression can be affecting your cognitive state.
Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or self-blame
These feelings are common for those dealing with depression.
Major mood swings
Inability to control emotions and having mood swings are major signs of depression.
Physical problems
Headaches, stomach aches, or back pain can often show themselves in those who deal with depression.
Suicidal thoughts
Extreme depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
What to Do Next
If you identify with these symptoms and have been dealing with them over time, it’s time to get the help you need and deserve. The good news is depression is treatable, and there are several ways to cope and find support.
Improving your symptoms
Get plenty of rest
While sleep can’t solve all of your problems, and we don’t suggest using sleep as an escape, we recognize that sleep is vital for your physical and mental health.
Sleep is an essential function of the body. It allows your body to rest and heal, your mind to recharge, and you to wake up feeling ready to take on the day. The average adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If you’re not getting the sleep you need, it can lead to increased stress in both your brain and body. Allowing your body to get the sleep you need can help you better cope with the stress of life.
Find ways to relax
Often when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you may feel out of control. Finding intentional ways to relax can help you better manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life!
Create goals
If you struggle with depression, it can be difficult to get out of bed every day and even harder to look towards the future. Creating goals that you’re excited about reaching can give you something to work towards and look forward to.
Live a healthy lifestyle
Consistent exercise and a healthy diet are just as important for your mental health as they are for your physical health.
Focus on relationships
We are not meant to do life alone. Surrounding yourself with positive people can improve your mental health and overall wellbeing. Spending time with others is a great way to distress.
Practice breathing exercises
Breathing exercises or meditation may help ground your thoughts and relax your mind. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or having a difficult time managing your feelings of depression, take a step back and have a moment to yourself and take a few deep breaths.
Create a routine
Creating a healthy routine will help you incorporate these practices and tips, so you can stay on top of your symptoms and get ahead of your mental health struggles. Depression and mental health struggles are not something to take lately. It’s important to care for your body well and utilize the tools necessary to help you feel your best. If your symptoms become too much for you to handle on your own, we recommend reaching out to a mental health professional for additional help and resources.
Professional Help
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health, including depression. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems.
Clinical Psychologist
A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional with highly specialized training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioral, and emotional illnesses. Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication to treat mental illness but rather use psychological techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoanalytic therapy.
Social Worker
Clinically trained social workers are the leading group of mental health service providers in the United States. Social workers are highly trained professionals working to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of others through direct practice, crisis intervention, research, community organizing, policy change, advocacy, and educational programs.
Licensed mental health counselor
A licensed mental health counselor (L.M.H.C.) assesses and treats mental and emotional health disorders, relationship issues, and life challenges. Counselors utilize various methods of psychotherapy to develop meaningful behavioral changes and coping strategies to help you work through your symptoms of depression.
Primary care physician
While you may not consider your primary care physician as a mental health professional, they are equipped to help you in more ways than treating the occasional cold or flu. Your primary care physician is trained to treat a wide range of mental health conditions and can prescribe a variety of psychiatric medications. If you’re dealing with depression, remember that you’re not alone. There are treatment options available, and you can change the course of your life! Getting help is crucial for managing and improving symptoms of depression and overall wellbeing.