It’s normal for people to have days where they feel a bit down or upset. When people are depressed however, these moods can last weeks or even months and can cause distress. In fact, 1 in 6 people will experience depression at some point in their life.
It’s not as simple as ‘cheering up’ or ‘pulling yourself together’. Depression is a medical illness that negatively impacts how we think, feel and behave. Thankfully there is a treatment and depression can get better with time and practice.
In this blog, we look into some of the symptoms of depression that aren’t talked about enough but are important in understanding how depression impacts others.
What are the common symptoms of depression?
Before we look into the less obvious signs of depression, let’s take a look at the symptoms that are often associated with it.
These commonly include:
- Feeling sad or down
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities that were previously enjoyed
- Feeling lethargic with no energy
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Changes in appetite (potentially leading to weight loss)
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Not every person with depression will have all of these symptoms and each symptom can vary from mild to severe.
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Symptoms of depression that aren’t talked about
Whilst the depression we see portrayed in TV and films largely mimics the common symptoms above, the reality is that there are a number of symptoms that aren’t talked about in the mainstream. By raising awareness of these, we can not only understand depression on a deeper level, but how we can support those impacted by it.
1. Self-isolation
Depression can have an impact on our social lives. Feeling like we don’t know how to act or how to act as a result of insecurity can cause us to drift away from our social groups. We may also be conscious that we are a ‘problem’ or that others are ‘putting up’ with us which can make us feel worse. We may then isolate ourselves further to prevent scenarios like these arising.
2. Lack of hygiene
When we’re depressed it can become easy to lose track of basic functions such as showering or brushing our teeth. According to clinical psychologist Melissa A Jones, PhD, HSPP, many people with depression report not having enough energy to do simple self-care tasks. In many cases, those suffering are aware of their situation but struggle to find the motivation to change it.
3. Fall in libido
It’s no surprise that when we aren’t feeling ourselves, then our libido is affected. Those with chronic depression can experience loss in desire, inability/take longer to orgasm and find sex less enjoyable overall. This can also be impacted by use of certain anti-depressants which worsen sex drive.
4. Inability to express ourselves
When going through a depressive episode, we may feel like we can’t express ourselves in the correct way. We may wish to speak but we can’t find the right things to say so we say nothing at all. Or you may be feeling fine but then start crying over something small. It’s like what we want to do and feel isn’t synced up with what we actually do.
5. Sudden withdrawal
Have you ever been at a party then all of a sudden wanted to go home? Depression can have that impact and can cause our bodies to go into ‘shutdown’ or ‘protection’ mode for no reason. Once this happens, it can be difficult to enjoy the situation.
6. Filling the void
A common symptom of depression is feeling empty or like something is missing. Many may choose to fill this with something else such as alcohol, drugs, sex or food. This can cause a range of further complications both on a physical level and psychological level.
7. Inability to make decisions
Another symptom of depression that isn’t talked about is the inability to make decisions. Sometimes depression can make us feel sluggish and cloud our judgment. We may therefore struggle to make even the smallest of decisions or feel upset that we are unable to make a choice.
Depression can often feel like a huge, never-ending weight on our shoulders, yet with the right help, managing it can become easier. Take each step as it comes and be kind to yourself if it takes a while. Healing isn’t linear.
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If you are worried about your own or a loved one’s mental health, check out our Support and Advice Helplines page to get help from a trained, external source.
