What you see on the surface is not always what it seems. Emotions and mental problems can manifest in a lot of things. When you have a tough week at work or school, the term depression is often used informally to describe how you feel.
However, major depressive disorder is a far more sophisticated kind of depression. There are unique signs that distinguish depression from the sadness you experience from time to time.
Determining whether persistent, unwavering gloomy feelings are caused by depression is the first step toward healing and recovery.
Check out these warning signals to discover whether you should get help from a mental health expert.
You’ve Developed a Shopping Addiction
Care to assess if your buying habit is out of hand or if you tend to conceal your spending. Whether in stores or online, compulsive shopping can serve as a distraction or a self-esteem booster for certain depressed people.
However, because retail therapy does not address underlying sadness, it is only a temporary high. Also, shopping binges can sometimes be a sign of mania in people with bipolar illness.
You’re Heavy Drinking
Alcohol is abused by nearly a third of those who suffer from serious depression. You could be one of them if you feel the urge to drink to cope with worry and despair.
Although a drink may seem like a good way to cheer yourself up when you’re sad, alcohol is a depressive, so drinking too much of it can make depression episodes worse and more frequent.
You’ve Become Forgetful
Feeling fuzzy or forgetful could be due to depression. Long-term depression or stress has been shown in studies to increase cortisol levels in the body. This can cause memory and learning areas of the brain to shrink or deteriorate.
Memory loss connected to depression appears to be worse in older persons. Fortunately, treating depression may also help with memory issues.
You’re Always Online
It can be a red flag if you prefer virtual over real-life social interactions. If you’re wasting a lot of time online, it could be a symptom of depression.
Excessive internet use has been linked to high levels of depression. Also, people who are online all the time are more likely to get hooked on pornographic websites, online communities, and gaming websites.
You’re Always Binge Eating
Studies show that young individuals who reported being depressed gained extra weight around their waist, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Depression has been associated with binge eating in other research, particularly in middle-aged persons.
Depression treatment can aid in the relief of these issues.
You’ve Developed a Gambling Addiction
Gambling might make you feel pumped up and energized. However, if you bet for reasons other than fun, you may develop a gambling addiction illness.
Many people claim to have been nervous and depressed before they began gambling. This is a reason why problem gamblers are far more likely to be depressive and abuse alcohol than the general population.
Unfortunately, gambling will not deliver the major prize — alleviation from depression — no matter how much of a high it provides.
You’ve Taken Up Smoking
When you’re depressed, you’re twice as likely to start smoking. According to the CDC, heavy smoking is a prevalent habit among smokers who are depressed.
They are less likely to quit, but they can if they put their mind to it. Quit-smoking programs are most likely effective if they employ strategies comparable to those used to treat depression, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or antidepressant medicines.
Conclusion
Depression is a serious mental health problem. In worst cases, you may even end up neglecting yourself. The indicators can range from not brushing your teeth to skipping physical tests or failing to treat chronic problems. If you get therapy for your depression, you’ll be able to start taking care of yourself again.
If you need a depression helpline, Hope Seed Support Center is prepared to conduct counseling sessions in-person and online. We provide services to the community through counseling, nutritional therapy, and many more. Schedule an appointment with our counselors today.
