Depression is sometimes abused to describe the feelings that accompany a poor day, a terrible week, or going through a difficult time. However, depression is much more complex than generic unhappiness. There is no single cause of depression, but there are certain common signs and symptoms that can help you determine whether you or someone you know is sad.
Depressive symptoms
Aside from intense sadness or loneliness, depression can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including the following symptoms:
Hopelessness
Depression has a general negative impact on your mood. Sadness, unexplained guilt, worthlessness, and loneliness can all combine to create a bleak attitude on life.
Uninterested
Losing interest in your hobbies or day-to-day activities might be another indicator of depression, causing you to retreat from the things that used to bring you joy and happiness.
Excessive or lost sleep
Depression and its effects on sleep habits can vary from person to person. This symptom can appear as greater fatigue to some, but it can also manifest as insomnia and substantial sleep disruptions. Excessive sleeping can leave you feeling drained and is a common indicator of depression. Insomnia can keep you awake all night, and lack of sleep leads to an increase in depression-related anxiety.
Anxiety
This involves emotions of anxiousness, danger or fear, quick breathing, and increased sweating,, and difficulty concentrating.
Irritability
Depression does not necessarily manifest as melancholy. Especially in guys. Irritability and anger are prominent symptoms of depression, making it difficult for those who experience them to recognize the condition.
Uncontrollable emotions
Feeling great one minute, only to be followed by crushing melancholy and fatigue? This is what depression looks like for some people. Uncontrollable emotions might make it difficult to regulate your feelings and seek help.
Is there a difference between men and women when it comes to depression?
The short answer is yes. Depression can manifest differently in men and women, and it can also be treated differently. Women are more inclined than males to dwell on their despair, which means that they overanalyze the bad feelings they have about themselves. For a woman suffering from depression, this can manifest as negative self-talk, uncontrollable sobbing, and self-blame.
Men are more prone to turn to substances to alleviate their despair, which can lead to substance abuse and persistent symptoms of depression. Drugs and alcohol can enhance anxiety, exacerbating depressive symptoms. Men are also more likely to disguise their sadness through irrational acts and decisions, such as gambling, carelessness, and dangerous activities.