Depression can be defined as a mood disorder, causing a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. This is a very common mood disorder, affecting more than three million people yearly. Though depression requires a medical diagnosis, you may notice signs of your own. Once diagnosed, you can speak with a therapist and began treatment if necessary.
1. Significant Changes in Your Mood
Once you were relatively happy. Now you've noticed a dramatic change in your mood. You feel sad for no reason, anger may be apparent at times, and you lack interest in most things.
2. Sleeping Excessively
Your bed is your favorite spot. You sleep all the time and even when you're out and about, you're still super tired. One can also have the oppsite effect, where they can't get any sleep, because they're consumed in their negative thoughts and feeelings.
3. Lack of Appetite
Your desire to consume any food has decreased.
4. No Motivation
This tends to happen when you're feeling sluggish. Nothing really matters; getting that A+ of getting that raise at work. You feel very lazy.
5. Excessive Alcohol Consumption
People turn to alcoholic beverages because it changes their state of mind. Under the influence, you're able to escape your reality temporarily. So if you do it frequently enough, you'll always escape your reality.
6. Overeating
This is a coping mechanism as well; excessive eating. You may not be happy with your body, you might feel so sad that turning to food makes you feel better. Without realizing it, you might start gaining weight and realize you've created a very unhealthy habit.
7. Controlled Substances
This is another coping mechanism, when you're under the influence, the reality of your pain is blurred.
8. Feeling Unwanted
You feel as though if you no longer existed, the world around you would feel no different. What's your worth? What's your purpose in life? With this mindset of feeling unwanted, there aren't any answers to those questions.
9. Irritability
When you're an irritable person, everything seems to 'irk' your nerves. One tends to get upset frequently, overreact, explode, take things out of context, etc. If you find that you quickly get irritated, you could try speaking with a doctor/psychiatrist and receiving medicine, counting to ten to calm yourself, breathing exercises, taking a walk in the park, etc.
10. Suicidal Thoughts
If you're having thoughts of ending your life, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1 (800) 273-8255! You're worth something and your life matters. Please talk with someone.
11. Self-Harm
Self-harm is deliberately inflicting physical pain onto yourself. The list includes but is not limited to, cutting, burning, biting or hitting various parts of your body.
Everything single thing on this list I have identified within myself. I am here to tell you that you are not alone! There are so many things that can cause someone to become depressed or have symptoms of depression, that you're actually apart of the norm. It is definitely okay to seek help, whether it be from family members, friends, or professionals. Remember my friend, this too shall pass!
