Often people use the term depression to describe a low mood loosely, but the root of depression runs deeper than that. Because depression has multiple symptoms that vary considerably from person to person, depression can be hard to recognize.
Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between depression and general life sadness that we all experience. Not only that but the feelings and behaviors one can experience with depression are complicated. Some people make such strides to conceal their depression symptoms that they struggle to recognize them themselves.
A few of the more well-known depression symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness lasting over two weeks
- Loss of interest or withdrawal from things you once enjoyed and found important
- A loss of self-esteem
- Frequent crying
These symptoms may be easier to recognize and therefore associate with depression than others. Yet greater awareness of the less apparent signs can make the difference between your depression going undiagnosed or getting treated.
Sometimes a lesser-known sign is a sign that we need to familiarize ourselves with it all the more. The following three signs could be signs of depression that you didn’t even know about. They could indicate that your bad mood is something much more serious and in need of your attention:
Irritability
There is a difference between feeling irritated when you’ve run out of patience and feeling that way consistently. If you feel like everything and everyone has been getting on your nerves lately, your outlook may have become more negative overall.
Once your entire mindset shifts, your emotional states become more difficult to track and pinpoint. Persistent irritability can indicate depression because those living with depression are more likely to interpret information and situations negatively and react to them strongly.
Increased fatigue
Fatigue is a prominent symptom of depression characterized by physical, emotional, and cognitive effects. When you experience fatigue, you can experience anything from a lack of energy to apathy and trouble concentrating.
While a withdrawal from things you once enjoyed is a common sign of depression, fatigue is often what drives this. When you feel tired, you might stop doing the things you once deemed important.
Fatigue is an overwhelming feeling of tiredness that makes depression all the more debilitating. Fatigue can contribute to different extremes: excessive sleep or insomnia. It’s also worth noting that a lack of sleep can exacerbate your depression.
Change in appetite and eating habits
If you find that you are either eating too much or not enough, it can be a sign of depression. Understanding this link between appetite fluctuations and depression can help you manage both.
Like fatigue, appetite changes can be related to other depression symptoms such as loss of interest in activities. That said, one can lose interest in eating – not to mention the desire to cook or the energy to prepare food. On the other hand, some people with depression overeat. Persistent feelings of sadness and worthlessness can contribute to this shift in eating habits and even emotional eating.
It is vital to recognize the symptoms of depression before they go undetected and untreated and get worse over time. Though symptoms can vary widely, treatment is always available to help you overcome whatever you are facing.
