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So, you haven’t been staying at home for days drenched in thoughts. And has a feeling as if the ground from beneath your feet has been snatched. This situation of misery makes you wonder: Am I depressed?

While feelings of despair and hopelessness have a way of growing on us, they don’t necessarily mean you have depression. Getting sad and losing interest is a normal reaction when things are difficult. But with time, the sadness fades away. Depression, on the other hand, is an entirely different concept. It is a mood disorder that can produce severe symptoms that may impair your capacity to feel, think, and handle routine tasks like eating, working, sleeping, etc. Depression is also something that specific situations can trigger, or it can be a result of some tragic life events. Nonetheless, depression is treatable only if you can identify it. Recognizing the different signs of depression, you can understand when to seek professional help.

Without further ado, here are a few warning signs of depression:

  1. You’ve started to drown your misery in alcohol and drug abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse occur when there is extreme grief and suffering. If you’re always sad, you may think that drinking and taking drugs are the solutions because they’ll help you forget your miseries for a while. Abuse can result in dependence and overdose, making this potentially deadly.

If you’ve been turning to drugs and alcohol for the same purpose, we suggest you stop now. Diving too deep into these things will only make things worse for you. If you’re having trouble quitting these habits, take solace in the fact that many rehabilitation institutions can help you deal with your problem. The Delphi Behavioral Health Group is an excellent facility that offers individualized treatment for every level of addiction. They provide the level of care you require, whether for detox, residential care, PHP, IOP, or outpatient treatment.

  1. Nothing but sadness and emptiness

A person may appear to have sunken, aimless eyes and a bent or hunched posture when feeling hopeless or depressed. People who are depressed may cry excessively or in fits, frequently feeling guilty, inadequate, and bleak. People who experience depression frequently feel useless, which leads them to withdraw from their loved ones or, in more severe cases, to consider “options” like ending their life.

People who suffer from depression frequently comment that their melancholy is “different this time” since it does not subside in response to attitudes or behaviors that would ordinarily make them feel better. Moreover, sadness frequently accompanies a sense of emptiness, indifference, disinterest, and a lack of drive to do everyday tasks.

  1. Pain and other physical changes

Depression commonly results in headaches because of irregular sleeping habits and emotional swings. Chest tightness and a sense of burden are two additional physical symptoms of depression. Some individuals may also have hair loss, fragile fingernails, and back or abdominal aches due to the hormonal changes linked to melancholy. Also, possible signs of depression include tremors and vomiting, known as “psychosomatic” symptoms.

  1. Vacillation or irritability 

Depression drains both the brain and the body. You might start to have a low threshold for other human situations, which could make you irritated or crabby. Occasionally, you might unintentionally snap at a beloved one and then feel bad about it. Additionally, depression might cause unrest. It might cause you to flirt between ideas or actions. You might not even be aware that you’re fidgety.

  1. You’ve been plagued with remorse or a sense of worthlessness

You can feel guilty like you’ve let people down, like you’re a nuisance to your loved ones or any other negative thoughts. These concepts frequently outweigh the events that gave rise to them. Asking a close family member or friend if they would share your feelings in your position is an excellent technique to determine whether these views are irrational.

  1. Energy deficit and ongoing weariness 

A lack of energy and persistent weariness can make it challenging for someone to carry out daily tasks like eating, cleaning themselves, or getting to school or work. It is frequently an indication of depression.

  1. You’re having trouble focusing

You may find it difficult to focus when studying, watching television, or listening to spoken conversations. It can impair your productivity at work or prevent you from carrying out simple tasks like grocery shopping. If attentiveness has always been a challenge for you, there is minimal cause for concern.

  1. Sleeping patterns 

Depression’s accompanying emotional and physical tiredness may also impact our sleeping habits. A variety of symptoms might appear when sleep patterns change. It can manifest itself in various ways, such as sleeping all day, using sleep to pass the time, or favoring sleep above other everyday activities.

On the other hand, sleep disruptions can also lead to insomnia episodes, making it difficult to get to sleep or remain asleep at night. Lack of restorative, elevated sleep can amplify our emotions of anxiety and misery. Sometimes it can start a vicious loop where our anxious thoughts keep us up at night and prevent us from falling asleep, which results in even more anxiety.

  1. Alterations in appetite 

Depression can also affect our appetite and dietary behaviors. While some people may have an increased appetite, others may have decreased appetites or not even feel like eating. You can notice the changes in your eating habits if you are simultaneously observing changes in your sleep habits. Sleep controls our appetite hormones, preventing us from overeating or skipping meals.

  1. Suicidal and death-related ideas 

Many signs of depression can make a person feel like there is no point in living. Having all the symptoms together can cause someone to think of committing suicide and death. A sad individual may convince themselves that death is the best way to get out of the predicament they find themselves in.

Conclusion

So these are some signs you need to watch out for when identifying if you have depression or not. Furthermore, it is important to understand that not everyone with depression will display the usual signs of despair and sadness. Sometimes, changes in physical appearance, sleeplessness, and fatigue can be the only visible signs. All in all, treatment options are available – from medications to lifestyle changes. Regardless of how you got into this mess in the first place, seeking treatment is the first step to feeling like yourself again.