If you are having a bad month, sadness has invaded you during the last weeks and you are no longer encouraged to carry out any activity, there is a probability that you are facing a depressive picture.
Depression is generally silent, since most people do not realize that the symptoms are more than feeling deeply sad. On the other hand, depression has the peculiarity that it manifests itself differently in each person, causing some to have more symptoms than others.
If you are one of those who has been in a sensitive emotional situation or have had to face difficult situations to the point where you cannot find the solution, we invite you to know 8 signs that you have depression .
8 signs that will indicate if you are depressed
1. Anger and irritability
Being agitated and sensitive can be some symptoms that indicate that we are depressed , especially when any situation bothers us and causes us to lose control of ourselves. If anger is not dealt with in time, it can lead us to aggressive reactions towards others, which also damages our interpersonal relationships.
Therefore, if at any time you have felt irritated or angry, it is better that you talk with others about that problem, and if it does not work, turn to therapists or counselors who can really help you improve through constructive solutions that improve your character.
2. Excessive self-criticism
Did you know that excessive self-criticism is a symptom of depression ? Well yes, we all have an inner voice that tells us what is right or wrong; However, the problem is generated when that inner voice acquires a solid, strong and negative influence on our mind.
In 2009, it was determined through a psychiatric investigation carried out on 109 adults that those who were self-critical were more likely to become depressed during the following 4 years.
To control that inner voice, try to focus on it in a positive way, always looking for the positive side and avoiding giving importance to the mistakes made and failures.
3. Despair
When we have patience and hope, goals and dreams seem easier to achieve; However, stumbling along the way leads to despair.
Hopelessness is a clear symptom that you are suffering from depression . When you believe that there is no way or way to feel better, you will know that you are facing hopelessness. On the other hand, for some people who experience recurrent depression, it is because in their life history they have constantly encountered a series of failures. These errors or failures can even be imaginary, and in these cases self-criticism has a lot to do with influence.
4. Discouragement
Do you see all the activities as boring and pointless? Then you are probably bummed. We can also qualify discouragement as a lack of motivation or lack of interest to carry out your daily tasks. Laziness and loss of interest are symptoms that you should not ignore. In addition, you can also suffer from disinterest in activities for which you previously had them, a symptom known as anhedonia.
Unfortunately, these phenomena end up taking you to isolation until they become a self-destructive cycle from which you cannot escape.
5. Drastic weight changes
Each head is a world, so each person responds differently to each stimulus they receive. An unexpected news, a shocking event or a job change can be stimuli that lead you directly to reactions such as loss of appetite or, on the contrary, unleash a voracious appetite that you have never had, in turn producing a considerable weight gain.
According to a 2003 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, It was concluded that the consumption of carbohydrates can promote the synthesis of serotonin , the hormone responsible for your feeling of well-being.
Undoubtedly this leads to an imbalance in metabolism causing you to gain or lose weight abruptly without having planned it.
6. Irregular sleep
Do you no longer sleep thinking about what disturbs you? Perhaps we are on difficult terrain, since sleep loss can be attributed to different causes (such as inhibition of melatonin due to excessive use of screens), but, if lack of sleep is added fear or anxiety, there will be no doubt that we are facing an imminent sign of a depressive picture.
However, just as there are those who flee to sleep out of fear or worry (which only makes the situation worse), there are others who find an escape or exit in the dream, depending on the situation they are going through. This was determined by a study carried out in 2008 by experts in neurology from the journal ” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience “, in which the results showed that 40% of young adults prefer to sleep long hours to feel better.
7. Tiredness
Fatigue is not just the product of a grinding routine or hard work during the week; It can also be a clear sign that you are depressed . But why do I get tired if I’m depressed?
Believe it or not, depression brings with it periods of stress that make you more tired. In this sense, fatigue is directly related to irregular sleep, since by not being able to sleep or recover the energy necessary for daily activities, certain symptoms that indicate a depressive condition are aggravated, such as insomnia and fatigue.
8. Body aches
You have probably heard that many of the pains are psychological, that everything is in the mind and that the sentimental / emotional condition determines (to a large extent) your physical well-being.
In part, this is true, due to the potential influence of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine (which generally influence mood) on the biological and neurological processes that can result in pain.
On the other hand, depression can affect the way in which the brain perceives pain , making it more intense due to a greater concentration of the person on the negative aspects of his life.
Conclution
Being attentive to emotional and mental health is as important as taking care of the body with healthy diet and exercise. It is vitally important to seek help to overcome those problems that as people we may have in our lives, and thus also improve interpersonal relationships with those around you.
Reference
- K. Aleisha Fetters. “8 Warning Signs Of Depression You Shouldn’t Ignore.” For Livestrong [Revised January 2017]