Mental illness is a plague that is rampant in America, and major depression is one of the top culprits nationwide. An estimated 21 million (8.4 percent of all adults) in the country have had one major depressive episode in their lives. But often people suffer from depression long before it takes the shape of a major episode.
Many residential treatment programs for mental illness aim to avoid serious depressive episodes, suicidal tendencies, substance abuse issues, and others through various forms of treatment. While the patients remain living in the treatment center during the process, they’ll perform different methods of therapy and medication to battle some of their more severe symptoms.
The goal is to provide a holistic approach to help patients understand why they’re having these thoughts and feelings, and provide coping solutions, and preventative measures for long-standing and thorough recovery.
In this blog, we’ll break down five common symptoms of (heavy) depression, as well as warning signs to look out for and potential ways to cope at home before opting for a treatment center or other long-term means of recovery. Asking for help is always a good idea; sometimes the world is too much to carry on your own.
If you, your child, or a friend or loved one is experiencing one or more of these common symptoms, it may be time to reach out or offer help. Sometimes just reaching out could be enough to save a person’s life. Don’t ignore any of the following symptoms.
A Sustained Sadness or Feeling of Hopelessness
It can be difficult to tell if a person is simply having a bad day or having a bout of heavy depression. If they are constantly seeming sad, uninspired, hopeless, or defeated, it’s a strong sign of some form of depression.
While everyone feels depressed at one time or another, consistency is key here. When you’re depressed, it can be impossible to be hopeful about the future. This can lead to sustained sadness that permeates into every fiber of a person’s being and weighs them down tremendously.
While this symptom may be obvious, a person might not be around someone enough to determine if they are just moody, or sad because of an isolated event, or if they’re truly depressed and experiencing these symptoms constantly. When in doubt, just reach out and have a conversation. Let them know you’re there for them, and they’ll likely be open to sharing with you.
Mood Swings, Outbursts, Anger
The feelings depression brings you could lead to angry outbursts or massive mood swings. The smallest domino could fall, turning an otherwise fine day into a spiral of depression and hopelessness.
This can be difficult to determine in some age groups, such as teenagers, that experience these moods pretty often. But if you notice a sudden change in one of your loved ones, and an otherwise happy person is quick to anger, frustration, or mood swings, depression could be the main cause.
Loss of Interest in Everyday Activities
A depressed person could quickly become a recluse, increasingly becoming uninterested in things they’ve always cared about or taken part in with pleasure. This could be sex, sports, physical activity, school work, or socializing with friends or family.
Many of those who suffer from depression feel their presence will only bring down those around them. In the worst cases, suicide victims feel the world overall would be a better place without them there. If your friends or family are suddenly uninterested in normal activities in their lives, they could be depressed and need help.
Troubled Sleep or Loss of Appetite
A troubled mind can easily lead to a loss of appetite or sleep troubles. Many depressed individuals will complain of a lack of sleep. They simply can’t turn their mind off and are plagued by thoughts of previous trauma or wrestling with their place in the world. They also may not be interested in food or have irregular eating habits that are quite noticeable.
These symptoms are so common in many different ailments that it’s difficult to simply say a person is depressed because they aren’t eating or aren’t sleeping well, but these symptoms combined with other depression warning signs are worth watching out for when trying to make a diagnosis.
Stunted Performance in Work or School
A depressed mind is hardly a focused mind, though the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Many depressed individuals see their scores in school or work performance drop dramatically. Their minds are plagued with other negative thoughts, so it’s difficult for them to hone in on important daily tasks.
A stellar student who sees test scores drop dramatically is a warning sign something serious is going on; likely it is depression from one source or another. It can be nearly impossible to keep a job you need to report to every day if you can’t even feel hopeful about the world.
At Home Help
While medication, therapy, and other forms of treatment can help a person battle or manage their depression, there are a few ways to boost your mood at home that could have bigger impacts than you might think. To name a few, see below:
- Increase outdoor activities with comfortable and supportive footwear to protect your feet from injuries and ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience
- Confide in friends and family
- Try a new creative outlet, like painting or learning an instrument
- Develop a feasible routine
- Create a list of goals
- Change the colors in your room
- Implement acoustic felt panels for a quiet oasis in your home
- Build a mood board
- See an online therapist
No matter what method you take, it’s important to simply try. Often all it takes is putting yourself in a new environment, whether that means simply going outside or changing your indoor space to bring you more peace.
Conclusion
Depression isn’t something to be taken lightly. If you experienced any of the previously listed symptoms, or know someone close to you that has, it’s important to reach out for help or offer consolation.
While you don’t have the tools a licensed therapist does to deal with such issues, talking helps everyone, and so does knowing that someone cares. Show that care to someone who needs it; it could change, or maybe even save, their life.
