Number One: Low motivation Do you find it hard to complete tasks and engage
in activities that you once really enjoyed? Low motivation or anhedonia
sits at the core of depression. When you are depressed, every little
thing may feel draining to do. And it is not that you don’t want to do things,
but it’s just too hard to get up and do it. Unfortunately, low motivation can
cause you to become socially withdrawn, foster negative feelings towards yourself, and
have difficulty adjusting to social situations. Number Two: Hopelessness or helplessness A defining characteristic of depression is
hopelessness. Hopelessness sets in when you feel stuck and you feel like you no longer see a point
in doing anything. Helplessness may then accompany hopelessness and reinforce the idea that there is
no point in anything by making you feel as though you are incapable of doing anything. It’s like a
dark room, and helplessness is the locked door. Sometimes, your brain can trick you into thinking
that things are awful, terrible, and horrible. In these situations, you can try to challenge
these distorted thoughts and argue against it.
Bring up contrary evidence to what it
presents. If you find yourself feeling hopeless, you may want to see if you can identify any
recurring thoughts that keep you feeling that way, and perhaps work with a therapist
to change these thought patterns. Number Three: Fatigue Another common sign of depression is
fatigue. Although there is provisional evidence linking fatigue, sleep hormones, and
depression, most physicians see a lack of sleep as the cause of depression-related fatigue.
However, other factors such as stress, diet, and antidepressants can also cause fatigue.
Yoga, massages, tai chi, and deep breathing exercises can be great alternatives
to restore sleep and improve fatigue. If you believe that your fatigue is related to
lack of sleep, you may want to try to establish a bedtime routine, as it can help you unwind
and signal your brain to produce more melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Consult with a doctor if
your fatigue persists or you have concerns. Number Four: Indecisiveness Do you often find yourself having trouble with
making a choice? Depression can have severe impacts on cognition. It can affect your thinking,
decision-making, memory, cognitive flexibility, and executive functioning, which may make
you appear indecisive or mentally clumsy. Additionally, the lack of hope that is
prevalent during depressive episodes can make the decision-making process even more
difficult as you may always expect a negative outcome. Unfortunately, antidepressants do
not provide any solution for this symptom. Instead, you may want to reach out to a therapist
to learn healthy ways of coping with this symptom.
Number Five: Anxiety The last sign most people with depression
exhibit is anxiety. Anxiety and anxiety disorders are typically comorbid with depression
but can exist on their own. According to the NIH, 45% of people who have been diagnosed with one
mental health condition meet the criteria for two or more disorders. Some common manifestations
of anxiety include feeling like you’re in danger, panic or dread, rapid breathing, and
having trouble focusing or thinking. Although both disorders present similar
symptoms, their causes are distinct. Some things that you can do on your own that
may help alleviate your anxiety include allowing yourself to feel, engaging in simple activities
that make you feel in control like making your bed or taking out the trash, establishing
routines, and doing things that bring you comfort.
Are there other common signs of
depression that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below. If you find
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