WARNING: The following may be triggering to people affected by said disorder(s)

As someone who has been dealing with both anxiety and depression throughout high school and now college, I understand the daily obstacles we face, no matter how small they are. From not being able to get out of bed in the morning to not being able to sleep at night because of constant and rushing thoughts, it follows you everywhere, making daily tasks very hard to accomplish.

However, everyone’s experiences are different and I am also not a professional so the list below is not an end-all. If you or someone you love needs professional help, please contact a helpline or a mental health service near you.

1. Withdrawing from friends and family

The worse my mental health got I began to withdraw from my friends and family even though I usually love to spend time with people. This can come from feeling like they’re a burden to the people around me so they decide to keep to themselves instead. This sort of behavior should not, however, be mistaken for people who generally like spending time alone. This can be differentiated because it would be unusual for that person’s normal behavior.

2. Drastic change in apatite

Whether that is eating even more or eating very less, there

is usually a difference in how much they eat if they’re either anxiety-ridden or depressed. Some people can go days without eating anything or eat a considerate amount in very little time.

3. Sudden & unhealthy weight gain or weight loss

This usually goes with the change in apatite, however, a person can also eat normally and also have a drastic change in their weight.

4. Loss of motivation and energy

Many people become tired and lose energy to do even the simplest of their daily tasks. It can get as bad as staying in bed for weeks on end and barely getting up for necessities like eating or showering. If the person is a student, the effects of this can usually be seen in an unusual drop in their grades.

5. Lack of sleep, resulting in tiredness

This is seen more in people with anxiety, but it really just depends on the person. If they are not getting enough sleep, it can relate to #4 where they just don’t have motivation or energy because they aren’t getting a healthy amount of sleep.

6. When they are around friends, they seem… Happy

This is by far the trickiest symptom to spot. Sometimes when they do spend time with friends, they overcompensate and use humor to mask their true feelings. Sometimes it’s even hard for them to access their own emotions, so they push aside the real issue and laugh it off. This might feel ok for them at first, but in the long term, it can make their situation worse.

7. Self-harm

This isn’t always an issue for people living with depression or anxiety, but it can be a very serious sign that things for this person are going badly and they might need professional help. It can usually be very hard to spot and if you have suspicions, it doesn’t help to invade this person’s privacy, it is best approached by a therapist or counselor.

This list is not meant to be taken as professional help, but to only be used to identify an issue and then further addressed by mental health professionals.

Here is a list of other resources to use if you or a loved one needs professional help:

• Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• https://afsp.org/find-support/

… or for more immediate emergencies, contact 911 or a crisis center near you.