Most of us have heard about depression, but would you be able to recognize actual depression symptoms? There are so many people in this world struggling with depression, it’s unbelievable. Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. Many people struggle with depression a lot right around the holiday times because they feel lonely. A lot feel forgotten, like they failed or let someone down. And there are many more reasons that can trigger and bring the depression symptoms to the surface.
Anxiety and depression are not the same thing, and often they are being confused. They feel similar, but depression usually lasts a lot longer, and the emotions people feel during that time are stronger. The anxiety and depression symptoms are different though and that’s one way to recognize whether a person struggles with anxiety or depression.
When the Depression Symptoms Reveal Themselves
Oftentimes, depression is being ignored, or overlooked… And oftentimes people don’t realize how badly it can influence a person’s lifestyle if it’s not being dealt with. When thoughts of depression are being ignored, they can even take people to think and feel that life isn’t worth living any longer.
There isn’t just one type of depression either. In the medical field, it is recognized as a ‘mental disorder’. To me, just like the Post Traumatic Stress, I see it more as a natural response of the body to something a person has experienced, and that is not uncommon. Your body and brain are trying to process it, it’s trying to deal with it. But sometimes, the things you’ve seen and been through, can be overwhelming, so your body responds to the best of its capabilities.
Recognizing Depression Symptoms
Depression symptoms are usually recognized when a person feels very sad, or loses complete interest in things that they were interested in before. During depression, a person can feel empty, or lose all their hope. Perhaps they keep tearing up, and don’t know how to explain why. Another depression symptom can be shown in anger outburst, or frustration, even when it’s over small things. When being depressed, it can be really hard to get some sleep, or simply resting.
People dealing with depression often feel tired and have no energy left in their body. Also, another one of the depression symptoms to be recognized is when a person is feeling worthless. And sometimes that person keeps blaming themselves for things they had absolutely no control over. They feel guilty, and keep their eyes focused on past mistakes.
Another symptom that can be recognized, and many people often overlook is people that struggle with depression are having a hard time concentrating. Oftentimes, they are having a hard time remembering things, and even to just think. The decision making for people that deal with depression is a real struggle.
And then of course there is the subject of self-harm. Teenagers and adults wanting to harm themselves oftentimes is connected to depression.
The Causes of Depression
Depression affects the way a person behaves and feels, and if it’s not being taken care of, or treated, it can lead to emotional and physical issues as well.
There is no way to pin depression to one reason. It can come from many things. For some people the cause might be a genetic inheritance (yes, that really can happen). While for another person, it could’ve been a life event. Another cause of the depression symptoms could be certain childhood experiences, but it can also come from physical health problems, recreational drugs, alcohol, and maybe even regular medication. If the diet, sleep and exercise isn’t being watched and done on a regular basis, that can be another cause of depression.
A big cause of depression can be the stressful events we experience throughout life. When a person goes through a divorce, it can cause depression because of the pain, emotions, and stress that can cause. Other people are having a really hard time dealing with bereavement, and that is completely understandable, because that is not easy. I’ve had people in my life dealing with depression after they lost their job. They didn’t have any income for a little while, and that caused so much stress within them where they completely withdrew from friends and family. Trying to deal with the problems on your own definitely increase the chance of depression, so don’t get caught in that trap.
If the Cause is Physical…
There are also regular physical causes our body experiences. Throughout life, we experience hormonal and chemical changes, those can cause depression as well. That’s why it is so important to pay attention to your body.
When dealing with other things such as anxiety, anorexia or bulimia as well as general eating issues, there is a higher chance to see depression symptoms rising up. And that can happen with post-traumatic stress as well, so keep that in mind… the sooner the treatment, the lower the chance.
It’s not always just the negative event that causes depression, but also how it’s being dealt with. And there are so many more causes and reasons… but let’s talk about how to get out of the depression state of mind.
Facing and Dealing with Depression
Depression is serious, and needs to be faced. Please do not allow for it to just be ignored or overlooked. There are so many things that can be done in order for someone struggling with depression to feel better. The best way to start is by talking to someone you trust. Let another person know how you feel, and what you feel during that time. When you have someone support you, and listen to you… that alone can make you feel better by knowing you are not alone. If you feel like you don’t have anyone or would rather not talk to anyone in your circle, then there are many helplines available specifically for that reason.
Just like for people with past addictions, the AA, and other things people deal with, there are support groups for people that struggle with depression. It brings people together in your area that deal with depression, or similar depression symptoms to support each other, gain understanding, and sharing advice what worked for others. It lets you know that you are not alone, and it is okay to deal with it.
Finding Solutions
As with anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, a very good way to deal with depression is being in the present. My therapist called it ‘mindfulness’. Cognitive behavior therapy is an excellent way to get you started on it. But if you’re not ready for therapy, there are many many ways and techniques to get you back into the present. There are things such as simple breathing exercises. An exercise focusing on paying attention to what’s around you in that moment of time. There is the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise that can get you mentally right back to where you are. And these are just very few examples.
I have so much more I could say about that, but right now we just want to take it one step at a time. So with that said, this coming week, pay attention to the signals your body is sending you in your mind. If you start feeling sad, and more down, try to catch it. Start trying to exercise on a regular basis. Start paying attention to your sleeping time. If it’s nowhere close to 7-8 hours, think about some things that can be changed in your schedule in order to get closer to that needed, healthy sleep time. Pay attention to what you eat. If you start noticing a lot of unhealthy foods, start by slowly replacing it with much healthier food.
Value Yourself
Think about ways to get involved, and not be by yourself all the time. Think of things you like to do. If you haven’t done so yet, find out what your passions are. Then find ways to connect with them. Join a group that is connected with something you like to do, or something you always wanted to try. Volunteer somewhere, there are always plenty of opportunities all around us, and we don’t even realize it.
I am ending this blog with this… Don’t overwhelm yourself. When you start setting goals for yourself, set them at a realistic level. Make sure you set the goals to a level where they are achievable. Start by just setting small goals or tasks to reach, and enjoy and celebrate the moment when you reach it. And then move to the next one. One step at a time, remember?
Hey, I can’t wait to hear how it’s all going for you! You got this! You can do this! We’ve given depression way too much power in our life, now it’s time for us to take back what we have every right to have. Joy, love, peace, and happiness in our life. YOU GOT THIS!!!
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