Subtle Signs You May Have Depression

Rebecca Lewis November 08, 2016

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses which affect about one in 10 people at some point during their life, according to the NHS. But it is also one of the most misunderstood. Too often, people confuse depression with just being moody. But this mental illness is more than just having mood swings. It is a serious condition that needs professional intervention. There’s a good chance that some people who think they are just moody could be suffering from mild to severe depression. And when they come to realise it, it’s almost too late.

Being aware of what depression is and what its common symptoms are is essential in battling this debilitating mental health condition. Here are the subtle signs you or someone you know has depression:

You always lack energy.

Depression doesn’t just affect a person mentally, but physically as well. Lack of energy, as a symptom of depression, doesn’t only mean that you don’t feel like going out with friends or working out today. It could even affect your daily activities, such as eating, moving around the house, and even going to work. Fatigue is a common sign of depression. When you’re having fatigue you feel like you are so tired to do anything. It also comes with body pain and restlessness.

You have poor sleep.

Changes in sleep pattern can be another subtle sign of depression. Sleep problems that come along with depression can come in two ways. It’s either you can’t sleep - like you spend hours tossing and turning on your bed before you could finally fall asleep, or you easily fall asleep in a long slumber but still feel tired and exhausted the next day (like you haven’t really gotten a good sleep). While there are other factors that could affect your sleep pattern, such as stress, experiencing sleep problems for several days to weeks can be a sign of depression.

You’re always grumpy and you don’t know why.

Do you find yourself snapping out people, especially those who haven’t really done anything wrong to you? Does your fuse get easily blown up by petty nuisances? Being temperamental for no reason can be a sign of depression. Apart from making a person feel hopeless and lonely, it can also make him or her feel angry and irritated.

You’re being your worst enemy.

People with depression often feel like their worlds are tumbling down and there’s nothing good that’s happening in their life. And they blame no one but themselves for all of it. People with depression don’t see their self-worth. They see only their flaws and not their good qualities. If you find yourself beating yourself up, not taking good care of your body, seeing an ugly person in front of the mirror, and being your worst critic, you could be having depression.

You can’t concentrate.

Depression takes a huge toll on your cognitive abilities. People with depression struggle with concentrating and focusing. Their minds are just filled with negative thoughts that prevent them from sticking to the present moment. Thus, they are unable to efficiently do things, even their everyday routines.

Depression is a serious mental health problem. If you have these signs of depression, consider seeing a therapist. There’s nothing wrong with having yourself checked by a mental health professional. Even if you don’t really have depression, having these symptoms can take a huge toll on your mental health and could be caused by many different factors. Therapy is a great avenue to learn ways to develop habits that strengthen your mental and emotional health.

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