Signs of Depression: Helping Loved Ones Heal
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless, and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” – Robin Williams
We all have friends who seem to always be laughing and making jokes. They light up the room and have everyone in tears of joy and happiness.
But, it is often these friends who are hurting the most inside, living with feelings of hopelessness and pain that cannot be described.
This is depression.
In 2021, almost 8% of adult Floridians reported having at least one major depressive episode. That is almost 2 million residents needing access to mental health care.
Clean Recovery Centers recognizes this need and offers mental health care along the Suncoast. Our blog discussed topics surrounding mental health and substance use. Today, let’s take a look at the signs of depression and what to look for in a loved one.
Beginning Signs of Depression: What to Look Out For
Depression affects many throughout the entire world, taking away focus and desire to accomplish tasks. It is common for depression to set in during the late teens and early 20s, but it can occur at any stage of life. In the beginning, depression may feel like a sense of sadness or fatigue that comes out of nowhere. It is not the same as grief or feeling sad – depression does not have a formal cause. These feelings can last for weeks, being intermittent or present at all times. To be formally diagnosed with depression, symptoms must last for at least 2 weeks.
Emotional and Behavioral Signs that Could Indicate Depression
Some of the most prominent signs of depression involve emotions and behaviors. Changes in mood and reactions are common, and they can make you feel like you are not yourself. These signs can also be noticeable in loved ones who may be living with depression.
Outlook on Life Seems Bleak
A key characteristic of depression is feeling a loss of hope for life and the future. Days can seem bleak and run together, making it difficult to accomplish daily tasks. Some days it may feel impossible to get out of bed. The future can feel daunting and overwhelming and at the same time dreary and pointless.
Loss of Interest in Activities and Hobbies
Depression can cause a loss of interest in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed. This can be temporary or permanent as untreated depression can change the brain over time. Anhedonia is a loss of the ability to feel pleasure or joy and is seen in those living with depression. Participating in a hobby or activity doesn’t produce the same feelings of enjoyment, causing the person to lose interest in what they used to like doing. The person may have a desire for the activity, but it ends up being met with no feelings of happiness.
Concentration Seems to Vanish
Those living with depression have a difficult time concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things. One of the areas of the brain that is affected by depression is the hippocampus. The role of the hippocampus involves storing short and long-term memories and learning. Depression causes disruptions in this region, making it difficult to recall events or situations. The prefrontal cortex is also affected by depression, which is responsible for concentration. Lacking focus during tasks and daily routines is normal because of this.
Reactions and Emotions Seem Haywire
Though the main emotions felt with depression involve sadness and pessimism, some experience a wider range of emotional responses. Irritability and restlessness can cause negative reactions that wouldn’t normally be warranted. Frustration over little things can become frequent and in turn cause even more frustration. Shifts in mood and emotions can come and go in waves. There may be days where the person feels good in between down days, but untreated depression will cause negative feelings to return.
Physical Signs and Changes From Depression
Depression does not just affect the mind, physical signs and changes also occur. These can interfere with daily life and put a strain on relationships and jobs, especially when depression is left untreated.
Lack of Desire for Sex
The desire to have sex – also known as libido – can dwindle from depression. When not depressed, the brain and body respond to desire by releasing chemicals. Depression interferes with these chemicals, creating a lack of balance. This decreases the desire for sex, putting strain on intimate relationships. The ability to have an orgasm is also diminished. In males, depression can cause erectile dysfunction.
Changes in Appetite and Weight
When depression has you feeling down, eating habits can change. For some, appetite will decrease, possibly leading to weight loss. Others may find their appetite increases or the times of day they eat increase. This can lead to weight gain and poor health. Changes in weight can also cause low self-esteem and worsening depression.
Increased Fatigue and Sleep Problems
When we are not feeling our best emotionally, physical aches and pains can manifest. Muscle and joint pain are common in depression and can increase fatigue. Even small tasks can take all of the person’s energy and feel like running a marathon. Sleep patterns are also affected, sometimes sleeping too much or too little. Emotional regulation is not happening properly, resulting in interrupted sleep. Combined with appetite changes, fatigue, and sleep patterns can change negatively and cause depression to become worse.
Difficulties Engaging in Self-Care
Depression can make it difficult to keep up with personal hygiene and cleanliness. Fatigue and lack of sleep contribute to this, and basic needs such as showering and cleaning feel overwhelming. This in turn can make depression worse, causing feelings of dread and disgust from the situation. Self-care is important to maintain mental health but those with depression may have a harder time keeping up.
What to Do If You Notice Depression Signs in a Loved One
If you are starting to see signs of depression in a loved one don’t hesitate to start a conversation. Mental health is crucial to overall well-being. Leaving depression untreated can cause serious decline both physically and emotionally. Encouraging your loved one to seek mental health care can help manage their depression. Therapy and medications can alleviate symptoms, allowing your loved one to live a brighter and fuller life.
How to Handle Suicidal Thoughts or Actions
Depression causes emotions to feel like a roller coaster, and at the bottom of the hill, feelings are at their lowest. Thoughts of suicide, self-harm, and making a plan are all forms of emergency and should be treated as such. If you or a loved one are expressing any of these thoughts or actions, seek medical help. Even if the person is not acting on their thoughts, seeking help can aid in treating their depression.
If a loved one comes to you disclosing suicidal ideation, talk to them about their feelings. Listen as they share and respond respectfully and empathetically. Offer to take them to get help or give them resources for people to talk to. 988 is the national mental health hotline and is open via call or text. They connect callers with local resources in the area and provide a listening ear for those who are in need.
Getting Help for Depression in Hillsborough County, FL
Depression is a life-long condition, but that doesn’t mean the symptoms have to keep plaguing you. Treatment for depression can open the doors to begin feeling better. Medications and therapy will guide you as you learn coping skills and healthy techniques for managing depression. There is hope in the darkness, all it takes is that first step toward the light.
If you or someone you love is living with depression, help is available right now. Clean Recovery Centers specializes in mental health care as well as substance use disorder treatment. Our compassionate staff can help you navigate the path to healing from your depression. Each of our facilities offers housing and meals so you do not have to worry about where you will stay. Call us today at 888-330-2532 to learn more about our program offerings.
Get clean. Live clean. Stay clean.
