Depression is a very real condition that affects millions of individuals of all ages and backgrounds. It interferes with daily living, causing tremendous agony and impacting individuals who are suffering from it and everyone around them.
If you think some people you love may be affected by depression, you may be feeling powerless, frustrated, angry, fearful, guilty, and sad. All of these emotions are natural. It is challenging to deal with the despair of a friend or family member. It is important that you understand what depression entails so that you can also know how to properly give support to someone suffering from it.
Depression Physical Symptoms: Know the Warning Signs
An individual suffering from depression may have the following symptoms:
feeling exhausted most of the time
feeling ill and 'run down'
regular headaches,
stomach or muscular pains
churning gut sleep issues
loss or change of appetite
significant weight loss or gain
Inside the Mind of a Depressed Person
Because depression symptoms differ from person to person, the ones listed above may not present concurrently in a depressed individual. Some people attempt to hide these symptoms to keep their loved ones from becoming concerned. Others pretend to be happy because they do not want to be perceived as weak or vulnerable. The best way to overcome this is to see a therapist or take them to a mental health expert for a proper diagnosis and counseling.
Depression Thoughts
A depressed individual may have intrusive thoughts such as:
'I am a failure.'
'It's all my fault.'
'Nothing ever goes right for me.'
'I have no value.'
'In my life, there is nothing nice.'
'Things will never change,'
'Life isn't worth living.'
'People would be better off without me,'
While no two people's experiences are the same, when they suffer a significant depressive episode, the world appears and feels dreadful and hopeless. As a famous quote aptly explains, "Depression is like drowning, except everyone around you is breathing."
If You or Someone You Love Suffers From Depression
If you or someone you care about is exhibiting symptoms of depression, you may be unsure of what measures to take. You can start by studying more about depression, including symptoms, treatment, misconceptions, misunderstandings, and stigma. This gives you a better view of what to expect and helps you be a more educated patient or caregiver.
It's also a good decision to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician to perform a physical exam and order any necessary blood tests to rule out any medical problems that resemble depression. The primary care physician can also recommend you to a mental health specialist to better address your needs.
Conclusion
Depression makes no distinctions. It can have an impact on both the affluent and the poor. It can affect both physically healthy people and those suffering from diseases. Depression doesn't care what you do for a living.
It may harm anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic level. One of the essential things to remember when interacting with people suffering from depression is that they are frightened of being judged.
Depression, most of the time, makes a person feel powerless. Fighting depression is complex, and one method to overcome it is to surround yourself with a supportive and loving group of people.
Hope Seed Support center is an organization that can help you overcome your mental struggles through counseling, nutritional therapy, and many other services. We also provide crisis care services around the clock. Schedule an appointment in our counseling center in Houston today.
