Not all the signs of depression are easy to spot, and people may try and hide their depression from other people. Some may not even realise they have depression. The easy signs to spot are sadness and feelings of hopelessness, but what do people hide from us?
1. Changes in sleeping habits. There is a strong connection between our mood and our sleep. A lack of sleep can contribute to depression, and depression can make it more difficult to sleep.
Chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to depression. This may be due to neurochemical changes in the brain.
And, sleeping more than usual can also be a sign that a person may have depression.
2. Appetite and weight changes. If someone eats too much or too little can show they may have depression. It may be that they eat emotionally and turn to food for comfort, or may lose their appetite or eat less due to low mood.
These changes in food intake can cause a person to gain or lose weight. They can also affect mood and energy levels.
3. Fatigue. Constantly feeling tired is a very common symptom of depression. Some research suggests that more than 90% of people with depression experience fatigue.
We all feel tired from time to time,but people who have severe or persistent tiredness — especially if it accompanies other symptoms — may have hidden depression.
4. Loss of Concentration. When someone trails off during conversations or loses their train of thought, this can indicate issues with memory and concentration. These issues are a common symptom of depression.
Difficulties with concentration and focus can worsen the social impact of depression by making work life and personal relationships more challenging.
5. Negative self talk. This is an inner dialogue that is self-critical and very damaging. Many people with depression experience negative self-talk and default to harmful, critical thoughts toward themselves. This is hidden behavior as they aren’t speaking out loud so is extremely difficult to spot.
6. Forced happiness. People who hide their symptoms may ensure that their face appears happy while with other people.
But, it can be difficult and tiring to keep up this forced happiness and Over time, the mask may slip, and a person may show signs of sadness, hopelessness, or loneliness. This is also known as “smiling depression”.
7. Anger or irritability. If someone is normally calm and patient and they start getting angry and more irritable, sometimes over trivial things that wouldn’t normally affect them can be a sign of depression. This is because their tolerance levels are low and things get on top of them quickly.
8. Less optimistic than others. Being more realistic or pessimistic than others may be one sign of depression, especially if the person has other possible symptoms of depression.
9. Reckless behaviour. A sign of depression may be when people engage in reckless behaviour like compulsive gambling, reckless driving or dangerous sports.
10. Alcohol and drugs use. Some people with mood disorders may use alcohol or drugs to help them cope with negative emotions, such as sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness.
11. Disinterest in hobbies. A tell tale sign of depression that people may first notice is a disinterest in activities and hobbies that a person used to enjoy.
12. Low sex drive. Changes in sex drive can be a key indicator when diagnosing episodes of depressive symptoms. More severe depression was associated with trouble with sexual function, desire, and satisfaction.
There are several reasons why a person’s libido might decrease when they have depression. These include:
- loss of interest in pleasurable activities, such as sex
- fatigue and low energy levels
- low self-esteem
13. Physical pain and health disorders.Depression is a mental health condition, but it can also have physical consequences. In addition to weight changes and fatigue, other physical symptoms of hidden depression to look out for include:
- backache
- chronic pain conditions
- digestive problems
- headache
Many people do not associate anger and irritability with depression, but these mood changes are not unusual among those with the condition. Instead of appearing sad, some people with hidden depression may display irritability and overt or suppressed anger.
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