Struggling with Depression?
- Anthony Bennett
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
You are not alone!
“It was not Death, for I stood up,” the titular opening line of a poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson on her experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression often manifests these feelings of melancholy that can be likened to feeling dead even though we still wake up in the morning, as Dickinson clearly understood.
Despite our focus on happiness and life satisfaction, depression is among the most common disorders in the U.S. with approximately 21 million Americans having experienced at least one major depressive episode. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021) Of course, feeling depressed is something almost everyone has experienced in life, especially when important plans fall through or we lose someone close to us.
A typical episode of depression is short-lived and we adapt to our circumstances until we feel like things are normal again.
Depression is a disorder, however, and if it persists for longer than two weeks, it can negatively affect important aspects of your life like concentrating on work, feeling joy from hobbies, or feeling worthless.
The 9 Signs:
If you are concerned or a loved one expresses concern that you suffer from depression, here are nine signs and symptoms to look for, according to the American Psychological Association (APA) DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022):
Feeling sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness. A depressed mood is the hallmark of depression and usually possesses a melancholic character. Furthermore, more activating emotions like irritability and agitation can be exhibited by depressed individuals, especially adolescents.
Decreased interest or pleasure in activities. It is typical for us to have bouts of boredom or disinterest in activities every now and then, but when it is happening on a regular basis is when it becomes problematic. This symptom is more apparent when hobbies that usually cause joy are suddenly no longer pleasurable.
Significant weight changes or changes in appetite. Depression can frequently decrease an individual’s appetite as well as increase it, especially if eating food becomes a way of coping with negative feelings. Depression also has an effect on metabolism that can influence weight changes.
Sleeping too much or too little frequently. Similar to other symptoms, sleep disturbances are common for every person to endure occasionally. There could be changes in your work schedule, the development of illness, raising children, or even something as simple as what you ate during the day. Depression, on the other hand, can negatively impact sleep nearly everyday, whether it’s the quantity or quality of your sleep.
Moving too much or too little frequently. Individuals suffering from depression often exhibit symptoms that look like pacing, fidgeting, pulling hair, and wringing hands. Or it can be the opposite, such as slowed movements, lack of facial expressiveness, slumped posture, and or slowed verbal responses.
Low energy and fatigue. Naturally, when a depressed individual feels sadness about their life and feeling little pleasure from their activities, they can feel less energy and drive to do things.
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Depressed individuals who feel worthless or guilty may have thoughts like, “I’m not important, “No one cares about me,” or “I’m not a good person.”
Struggle to concentrate or indecisive. Depression affects more than the emotional state of an individual. It can also negatively affect their cognition by impairing their ability to think clearly and make decisions.
Thoughts of death, thoughts of killing oneself, or attempting suicide. Some depressed individuals contemplate death in a manner of entertaining the thought of being dead, but then there’s some who deliberately think about killing themselves and even attempt to commit suicide.
If you or a loved one are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact a mental health professional or call the suicide hotline 988. If you or a loved one are planning to commit suicide, call 911.
Next Steps: I Think I have Depression, now what?
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, please reach out to your local provider, speak with a trusted friend, seek medical attention, or contact a mental health professional for therapy. These things really can help.
If you are seeking mental health resources, Inland Insight offers treatment for depression and you can contact us through our website at www.inlandinsight.com or give us a call at 509-359-8807. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts please seek help immediately by calling 911 or the suicide hotline 988.
