It’s been two years since the Pandemic started and many of us are dealing with the repercussions of change, loss, trauma and anxiety. One of those is depression. Here we look at seven everyday signs of depression to look out for in yourself and others.
Help is out there – you are not alone. We know it may not be easy to speak about, but acknowledging that you may have depression or that you have been experiencing a persistent low mood for a prolonged period, could be the first step in getting help. If you’re not yet ready to speak to a family member or doctor, you can contact the South African Depression And Anxiety Group free hotline counselling services, so that you have someone to consult with, free of charge.
Seven Signs Of Depression
- A loss of interest. This could be a general loss of interest in daily activities or, particularly, a loss of interest in hobbies, work challenges, events or people who would have previously interested you.
- Increased fatigue and sleep problems. Depression often comes with a lack of energy and an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, which can be among the most debilitating symptoms of depression. This could lead to excessive sleeping. If you’re depressed, you might also feel like everything is happening in slow motion, yet you still can’t keep up because of overwhelming mental and physical exhaustion. This is a real physical symptom of depression.
- A loss of sex drive. When you’re depressed, your desire for sex may lessen or even diminish. This may unfortunately lead to feelings of additional guilt and pressure.
- Changes in appetite or eating habits. Often depression can commonly cause changes to your weight and eating habits. This could be weight loss or weight gain, a desire to eat more or eat less.
- Irritability. Being depressed takes a physical, emotional and mental toll on the body and thus people struggling with depression may be quick to anger or have a lower tolerance for everyday annoyances, leading them to act out irrationally. They may appear quick to anger or easily irritable.
- General sense of hopelessness. This often causes people suffering with depression to not seek help. You may experience feelings such as: there’s nothing you can do to feel better or other feelings like worthlessness, self-hate or inappropriate guilt. These may manifest as: “It’s all my fault,” or “What’s the point?”
- Brain fog. You may experience difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions. You may feel like you have a never-ending brain fog or worry you’re losing your ability to “think straight”.
These and other symptoms, such as suicidal throughts, anxiety and uncontrollable emotions may be signs that you – or someone you love / in your family – may be struggling with depression. At Medshield we have a wide network of doctors and psychologists around the country who can help.
Read more on “How To Know When It’s Time To Seek Therapy”. To speak to a SADAG counsellor, contact 011 234 4837 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Sunday or the 24hr Helpline on 0800 456 789.