We have all experienced sadness, but usually, our sadness does fade over time and gets better. Depression goes beyond normal sadness, it can become an all-encompassing disorder. There are different types of depression, but the most common is known as Major Depressive Disorder. It is important to know the major signs of depression. This is important so that you can spot if your friend or even you are suffering from this disorder.
Neglecting Friends and Hobbies
Another frustrating symptom of depression is something known as Anhedonia. This means the loss of pleasure from activities which would usually be fun. It leads to neglecting activities in people as they no longer give the person with depression any sense of pleasure or fun. So, if your friend no longer seems interested in their hobbies, it may be a good time to check in with them.
Changes in Sleep Patterns
Our sleep pattern is incredibly important for our mental health. Often changes to our sleep pattern are one of the signs of depression. This is particularly an issue, as an irregular sleep pattern can make depression worse. Depression can cause insomnia, too little sleep or hypersomnia, sleeping too much. These changes in sleep pattern also tend to result in a decrease in overall energy. This symptom is very common. Studies have found that 75% of depressed patients reported insomnia and 40% reported hypersomnia. So if you notice a change to your sleep pattern, it might be a sign you are depressed.
Change in Appetite
Another thing that depression can influence is our appetite. Some people with depression find their appetite is much lower, feeling unable to eat. Conversely, some people with depression have an increased appetite and may turn to food to comfort eat. Therefore, if you notice your friend’s appetite seems to have changed drastically, that might be sign they are suffering from depression.
Low Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is something that is often majorly affected by depression. Depression can make you only see the negative things about yourself and downplay your achievements. This is a serious symptom of depression as it can lead to people feeling worthless. It is even been shown in studies that low self-esteem as an adolescence is a risk factor for depression as an adult. If you feel like there is nothing positive about you or you have friends who always seem to put themselves down, it could be due to depression.
Decrease in Hygiene
One way the lack of energy from depression can manifest is a decrease in someone’s hygiene. Often those with depression struggle to shower, clean their teeth or other self grooming habits we take for granted. This is due to their fatigue and lack of motivation to complete tasks.
Irritability
Irritability is one of the signs of depression. When you feel so negative about everything, it can make even little things feel incredibly annoying. Depression causes dysfunction in mood regulation, meaning anger is more likely to be displayed. So if you notice you or a friend have a shorter fuse than usual, it might be worth looking into the same.
Flat Emotions
There is a misconception that depression is all about feeling sad all the time. This however is not the case. One other symptom of depression is known as Flat Mood. This is where a person’s mood is dull. Often people say they feel numb or like they cannot feel anything at all. They do not feel sad, but they also cannot feel happy either. If this feeling is something you have experienced, you might want to seek help as you may be suffering from depression.