4 Signs That You Might Be Depressed
Everyone feels blue from time to time— particularly during a pandemic where people are moving less, seeing each other less, and experiencing general feelings of isolation more than ever. However, sometimes your blues may be something more serious. In many cases, you may be experiencing something more along the lines of depression, which statistics show as many as two out of five people suffer from. Sadly, a large majority of these people don’t even realize what’s going on.
The great news is that there is hope for you. By learning the right signs to look out for, you can seek the help that you need to find your way to a path to better mental health. Here are some of the most important signs to keep an eye out for.
Your Emotions Are Up and Down
A common misconception about depression is that people must feel sad all the time. The truth is that depression is a whole range of emotions— usually unpleasant ones. Depression can leave you feeling hopeless one minute and extremely angry the next. Before you know it, you’re crying and wondering what’s going on. If you notice that you’re having an extremely hard time regulating your emotions, then this could be a sign of a pretty big problem that may require medication.
You’re Always Tired
It’s possible that you may be genuinely tired because of whatever you have going on in your life. However, some people who are suffering from depression feel fatigued regardless of how much they sleep. Depression is so exhausting that it can make you feel like you’ve hardly slept even when you have. Apart from that, it can keep you up at night, resulting in a poor night’s sleep. Pay attention to your sleep patterns. If you’re sleeping either too much or too little, it could be a result of how you’re feeling emotionally.
You Focus on the Negative
Once upon a time, you may have been a pretty positive person and imagined that the best possible scenarios were possible. However, as depression sets in people tend to assume that the worst is coming. If you find yourself always dwelling on the worst possible scenario, then it’s likely a sign that you might need professional help.
If your conversations are so negative that they start gearing towards things like death or suicide, then it’s a pretty big red flag, and you should talk to a professional as soon as possible.
You Don’t Want to Do Things That Once Made You Happy
When depression takes over your life, nothing makes you happy anymore. Depressed people find it difficult to enjoy things that were once quite important to them. If you notice that the activities that you once loved now seem like a bore, then you may very well be depressed.
If you notice at least several of the above examples apply to you, then you should talk to a professional as soon as possible. The great news is that depression is easily managed if you equip yourself with the right resources.