It’s natural to feel down or anxious from time to time. What’s not natural, however, is prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair. When these emotions grab hold, and won’t let go, it is likely you may have depression. Depression makes every day a constant challenge. You no longer enjoy life as you once did. Just getting out of bed can feel overwhelming.
But, through education and therapy, you can overcome depression and get back to the life you were meant to live.
If you’re unsure of whether you are suffering from depression, read on to learn 4 common (and quite subtle) signs of the disease.
(Subtle) Signs of Depression
How can you tell if you are depressed? It may seem like an odd question, but a surprising number of people do not recognize that they may be suffering from depression. While some signs are obvious, others can be subtle.
Every individual will manifest symptoms in a different way, so it’s important to recognize any changes in your behavior. With this in mind, here are four signs you might be struggling with depression.
Changes in Weight
Depression can affect individuals in different ways. Some people may find they have no appetite at all and, before long, lose a significant amount of weight. Others may find their desire for food increases and they easily gain weight.
Changes in Sleep Cycles
As with a person’s appetite, the changes to one’s sleep cycle can also go in one of two directions. You may notice you feel lethargic and want nothing more than to sleep all day. Then again, you may find you can’t fall asleep and are restless all night long.
Anger and Irritability
It has been said that anger is depression turned inward. If you suddenly find yourself with a short fuse, and things that used to not bother you now cause you to fly off the handle, it may be a sign you need some help.
Physical Ailments
Many people don’t realize that depression can manifest itself physically. It is common for sufferers to feel sick to their stomach with whole body aches. Some may find they seem to have a cold or flu that won’t go away, while others may notice their chronic conditions, such as arthritis, are exacerbated by depression.
If you, or a loved one, is struggling with these symptoms it doesn’t mean they have depression. However, these can be subtle signs that might be helpful for you to consider as potential indicators you (or your loved one) is struggling with depression. Getting treatment can help keep the depression from getting worse as well as provide you (or your loved one) with helpful tools to help with the healing and get back to your normal self. While depression may feel like a life sentence, reaching out for help will put you on the path toward joy and peace once again.
If you or a loved one is interested in exploring treatment, please contact us today. We would be happy to speak with you about how we may be able to help.
