Recognizing Signs Of Depression

Everyone has days where they feel sad, anxious and overwhelmed, but is considered the blues vs depression. 

Some people are able to get out of feeling sad. They can pick themselves up by doing something like going for a walk, working out, talking to someone about it, but for other people, getting out of a sad state is more challenging than just going outside. 

There are things to look out for when it comes to depression and it's something that just doesn't go away after a couple hours. Depression can last for days or weeks and for some people it's hard to get out of it. Depression can affect daily life. 

If you are having trouble getting out of a mood or you find that your mood is affecting you in a negative way. 

Here are some signs to look out for:

• Sadness: Feeling empty, tearful, or hopeless

• Anger: Being easily annoyed, frustrated, or mad over small things

• Guilt: Blaming yourself or feeling worthless 

• Tiredness: Feeling very weak or slow all the time

• Sleep shifts: Trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, or sleeping too much

• Eating shifts: Eating much less or much more than usual, leading to weight changes

• Body pain: Having headaches, stomach aches, or back pain that do not go away 

• Focus trouble: Hard time thinking, remembering, or making choices

• Staying away: Not seeing friends, skipping work or school, or stopping hobbies

• Dark thoughts: Thinking about death or wanting to hurt yourself.

• Losing pleasure in things you used to love

• Feeling worthless, overly guilty, or very irritable 

  
  

When it comes to talking to a professional, be honest. Let them know what you're feeling and thinking. They will help you get the help you need. Medication will help level your moods and thoughts and help you regulate your feelings. 

There’s nothing wrong with being sad and overwhelmed, you learn the tools to take care of it. There are support groups and other people who know what you're going through and can help you understand. You have to speak up and take care of yourself. You don’t want to wait for something to happen before you get help. 

Once you are honest with yourself then it's easy to be able to talk to someone. Anyone that you trust will do anything to help you. All they want is to see you thriving in life. They aren’t going to judge you. They will be happy that you spoke up and had the power to get help no matter how you get it. You're not the only one going through it.