Things have been different for a while now. Maybe people are asking you “what’s wrong” or if something is bothering you, but you shrug it off and act like everything is fine.
But, deep down, you know better than that. You know that something is going on, you just don’t know what to say that would be more honest.
The signs may point to depression, but you aren’t totally sure if that fits.
Don’t worry, I’m here to help. Here are some helpful tips for recognizing clinical depression.
Changes in Appetite and Eating Habits
Have you ever felt like something sweet or sugary is the only pleasure you have access to? Or maybe when you’re feeling down, you don’t have an appetite at all. Depression can cause changes in someone’s eating habits. Someone struggling with depression may overeat or undereat.
It’s really easy to turn to food as a quick fix to our problems – food often has positive associations and can give us something to enjoy. Sometimes we can find comfort in eating and even turn to food as a coping mechanism. On the other hand, sometimes we don’t even realize we’re hungry due to low mood and energy. We may choose to self-isolate or sleep instead of eating their regular meals during the day.
Changes in Sleep Schedule and Routine
Changes in eating habits aren’t the only area of someone’s life that can be impacted by depression. A change in sleeping habits can also occur. Similar to over or under-eating, sleep can be affected in one of two ways. Depression can cause an individual to have problems falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night. On the other hand, depression can also cause someone to sleep more than normal due to low mood and energy levels. Sometimes sleep feels like an escape from the monotony of the day.
Lack of Interest in Activities
One of the main signs of depression is not having an interest in activities, especially activities that were previously enjoyed. If you used to love hanging out with friends, playing recreational sports, or getting together in other ways and find you’re now opting out, making excuses, or saying you just want to be at home, it could be a sign there’s a larger issue at play.
Memory or Concentration Issues
Depression can also have a negative impact on someone’s concentration and memory. If you notice you’re having a hard time forming or finishing sentences, you may be experiencing problems with memory and concentration. These issues can eventually lead to negatively affecting other areas of a person’s life like school, career, or your relationships with others.
Physical Signs
Although depression is a mental health disorder, physical symptoms can present themselves in individuals struggling with depression. In addition to energy levels and fatigue as well as weight fluctuations and changes, these are some of the most common physical signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Aches and pains
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
- Increased heart rate
- Tight chest
Next Steps
It’s completely possible to experience depression without actually realizing that you have it. It’s important to check in with yourself gently. Have you found yourself identifying with several of the things I wrote about above?
It’s important to know that even if you don’t say “yes” to each one of these issues, struggling in any of these areas means you might benefit from help from a depression therapist. If you think I can be of help, feel free to reach out and set up a consultation today.