Tag Archives: depression

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle

9 Habits of People Who Are Trying To Conceal Their Depression

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For a condition that affects millions of people, depression remains one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. It can disguise itself in ways that make it difficult to recognize, even to the trained eye. There are many treatment options for depression, including an outpatient treatment center.

What people who don’t have experience with depression may not understand is that those who do go above and beyond to hide their depression. Here are nine habits that are commonly used to conceal depression.

Habit 1: Overcompensating Happiness

People hiding their depression may project an image of exaggerated happiness. They go to great lengths to appear joyful and content. They might constantly have a smile on their face in an attempt to convince others – and themselves – that they are okay. This type of overcompensation can be evident in person or on their social media accounts.

Habit 2: Withdrawal from Social Interactions

An individual living with depression may avoid social gatherings and hangouts, preferring to spend time alone. This isolation can be a way to express their feelings of sadness and depression from others.

Habit 3: Neglecting Personal Care

Depression may sometimes cause people to not care about their cleanliness or how they look. An example of this is neglecting daily grooming habits like bathing, brushing teeth, or changing into clean clothes. House chores and other responsibilities can also fall by the wayside during an episode of depression.

Habit 4: Changes in Sleep Patterns

Depression can disrupt a person’s sleep patterns. Some may experience insomnia, finding it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Others may sleep excessively, using sleep as an escape from their feelings.

Habit 5: Using Humor to Deflect

Individuals masking their depression frequently use humor as a defense mechanism. They make light of serious situations or consistently turn conversations into jokes. This deflective humor works as a shield, preventing others from noticing their pain.

Habit 6: Change in Eating Habits

Changes in eating habits can often indicate hidden depression. Some individuals may experience a decrease in hunger, leading to weight loss. Others may start overeating as a form of comfort, resulting in weight gain.

Habit 7: Increased Use of Alcohol or Drugs

Some individuals coping with depression might resort to alcohol or drugs as a form of self-medication. Engaging in such behavior can be a dangerous habit, leading to addiction and worsening the symptoms of depression.

Habit 8: Excessive Fatigue

Those trying to hide their depression might attribute their constant tiredness to physical exertion or lack of sleep instead of discussing their emotional struggles. Depression can also cause unexplained physical aches and pains.

Habit 9: Avoiding Conversations About Their Feelings

People trying to hide their depression may deliberately avoid conversations about their feelings or emotional state. They might change the topic or become defensive when their emotions are brought up.

Recognizing these habits can be crucial in identifying and supporting those who may be dealing with hidden depression. However, it’s important not to jump to conclusions or diagnose someone based on these habits alone. If you see these behaviors in someone you care about, kindly talk to them without judging. Suggest they get expert help if needed.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

Depression vs. Sadness: How Not To Confuse the Two

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It’s normal to feel sad from time to time. It’s a normal human emotion that can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, sadness is meant to be temporary, which makes it very different from depression. Depression is a long-term illness that can impair the normal functioning of a person’s life. To further distinguish sadness and depression from each other, here’s more about what you should know.

Symptoms Of Sadness And Depression

Although you might feel sad from time to time, you should be able to laugh and feel comforted once those moments are over. Depression is much different from this and can make it very impossible for you to ever feel happy for a long period of time. To find out if you have depression, here are some of the most common symptoms:

● constant feelings of sadness

● irritability

● fatigue

● changes in sleeping or eating patterns

● difficulty concentrating

● loss of interest in things that used to provide pleasure

● feelings of deep, unwarranted guilt

● physical symptoms, such as headaches or body aches that do not have a specific cause

● feelings of worthlessness

● constant thoughts about death

● suicidal thoughts or actions

The DSM-5 Criteria

Mental health professionals tend to use the DSM-5 criteria to determine if a person has depression or not. There are nine potential symptoms, the severity of which can differ from person to person.

1. feeling depressed throughout each day on most or all days

2. lack of interest and enjoyment in activities you used to find pleasurable

3. lack of sleep or sleeping too much

4. lack of appetite or eating too much

5. irritability, restlessness, or agitation

6. extreme fatigue

7. unwarranted or exaggerated feelings of guilt or worthlessness

8. inability to concentrate or make decisions

9. suicidal thoughts or actions, or thinking a lot about death and dying

The Risk Factors Of Depression

Although depression occurs in both men and women of any age and any socioeconomic background, some factors come into play that increase the risk for depression.

● low self-esteem

● trauma that takes place early in childhood

● history of alcohol and/or drug abuse

● family history of mental illness

● trouble adjusting to a serious medical condition

● lack of a support system, such as friends, family, or coworkers

Medical Causes of Depression

Depression could also be a side effect of some medications that can alter a person’s mood. Some of these medications include:

● corticosteroids

● beta-blockers

● statins to treat high cholesterol

● hormonal medications

You should always speak to your doctor if you’ve been prescribed any of these medications and start to notice a change in your overall mood. Your doctor might be able to find an alternative or alter your dosage to reduce these side effects.

It is recommended that you speak to a medical professional if you start to experience sadness for longer than two weeks. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, then you should seek immediate medical help. You can start receiving professional help, such as therapy and medication, so that can get you back to feeling like yourself again.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Tips

Seasonal Depression: What Is It And How Can You Help

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Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, is often referred to as “winter depression” because a lot of the symptoms people experience worsen over the winter months. Many people report that the change in weather and the darkness of the sky can have serious effects on their mental health and can leave them feeling depressed and unmotivated. Often, people who experience seasonal depression also experience depression throughout the year too, it’s just that their symptoms become much more severe during wintertime. The change of seasons from the bright sunny days to dreary grey mornings can leave people feeling very low and it can affect their whole life. A lot of people tend to dismiss seasonal depression as they feel as if it isn’t a real disorder, but there is a lot of scientific evidence to back the effects seasonal change can have on our minds.

So, now that we have established what seasonal depression is, it is time to have a discussion about what methods you can use to help ease some of the feelings. Of course, depression is a very serious illness, and it is unlikely that any of the tips will cure depression, but they may be helpful even in just the smallest way. When you are feeling depressed, it is important to appreciate the little things and if even something small brings you joy, then focus on that and keep on doing it. This article will discuss a few things you can do help cope with your seasonal depression. As mentioned above, not all of them will be effective for everyone, but perhaps give them a try and see if they work for you.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you know that you suffer from seasonal depression every year or even if you have only just started to notice the effects, then it is always best to talk to your doctor. It is very reasonable to have stress during the holidays as there is an enormous amount of pressure to go to events or just to feel happy. The holiday season is synonymous with parties, presents, and happiness, which is why if you do not feel happy, you can suddenly take a sharp turn and start feeling as if you are missing out or ruining other people’s experiences. Feeling like this is a fairly common experience, so it is important to know that you are not alone in this and there are other people who feel the same way. Talking to your doctor will give you a good outlet as you can explain your feelings and they can give you ways to help. It could be that they recommend you see a therapist, or they may offer medication as another potential treatment.

Make Plans With Friends

One big part of seasonal depression can leave people feeling very isolated and removed from their loved ones. During the summer months, it is a lot easier to hand out and see people as the weather is so nice, so you just want to spend it at home. If you know that during the winter you start to feel isolated, then it could be a good idea to start making plans now. Get together with your friends and start organizing the different trips you can all do together in the winter. It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant plans. It could just be something as simple as having a movie night together or watching your favorite shows. It is likely that during the winter, you won’t want to explore outside the house too much anyway, so planning some cozy nights in could be the way to go. You could even host the movie nights at a different person’s house each week, to make it a bit more interesting.

Light Therapy

Another good tip that could help with seasonal depression is light therapy. One of the big causes of seasonal depression is that there is a distinct lack of natural sunlight as the days are now much shorter. Sunlight is very important for people as it gives us Vitamin D and can help release serotonin. So, if you are starting to feel depressed during the summer months, then it would be a good idea to first try and get as much natural sunlight as you can. If you have a lunch break at work, then take that time to go out and just sit in natural light for half an hour or so. Another alternative to this is light therapy as this is a good way to get the effects of sunlight when there isn’t any in the sky. Light therapy involved sitting by a special lamp that is designed to mimic the effects of sunlight. Most people do light therapy for around 30 minutes every morning, to start their day off right.