.png)
Think you know what depression looks like? People sad, crying and wishing not to be here anymore? Think again. Its not always that extreme.
But depression is a complex issue and there are many types of depression. If you haven't been feeling 100% yourself recently, take a look at the list below. Perhaps some of these may be familiar to you. But i'll bet you never would have labelled these as depression symptoms till now.
1. COFFEE HAS STOPPED WORKING.
You can't explain it, but lately you just feel...exhausted. Ill bet you've been trying all sorts of tricks to perk yourself back up. More coffee, going to bed earlier, less screen time before bed ect. But you are still exhausted.
Sometimes it can feel like you are treading through cement, as if everything in you is fatigued. Perhaps even considering getting blood tests done, for them to come back inconclusive or not finding anything.
2. YOUR SLEEP PATTERN IS WEIRD.
You are waking up very early, or can’t fall asleep fast. Or perhaps you wake up several times during the night and toss and turn.
3. YOU FEEL FLOATY, NUMB, EVEN OUT OF YOUR BODY.
Mild depression can sometimes feel as if you are flatlining. You are neither happy or sad, you just…. Are. You are existing with no direction. This can extend to feeling in a somewhat trance state, watching yourself from afar.
4. YOU’VE BEEN RANDOMLY SNAPPING AT PEOPLE.
You’ve had a reputation of being the relaxed level headed one, but lately you've been snapping at people, rolling your eyes or arguing with your partner. This seems unusual compared to the past.
Perhaps you don't know why you feel so moody or short tempered. But you haven't been telling people how you're feeling. You just feel...angry.
5. YOU SOCIAL LIFE ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE.
Social changes can be normal. Sometimes we feel we need to take a break, or sometimes we need to change the pace and get out more. But check in with yourself. Are you going out way more than usual due to restlessness and not wanting to be ‘alone’ in an effort to avoid yourself? If you're staying home more often, are you feeling more numb like time is passing you by?
6. YOU’RE WORKING NON STOP BY CHOICE.
It started as a bit of overtime. But now you are saying no to social events in favour of those extra hours, contracts or business. And you try not to notice that the moment you have to stop working you feel uncomfortable in your own skin.
7. THERE’S SOME SERIOUS OVEREATING HAPPENING.
No need to explain this one. I think we all know and have experienced this. But during phases of depression our appetite can take a turn. For some it's under eating. For others our portion control goes out the window, and we overindulge mindlessly. The truth is that overeating can create numbness that somehow feels better at the end of the day.
8. THERE IS A LOT MORE NETFLIX AND NO MORE CHILL
It started as a half hour when you got home, maybe. Now suddenly you are finding yourself coming out of a Netflix daze at midnight, wondering where you’ve gone. You’ve started watching thing you don’t even like. You might even have sneakily been watching at work. Hours and whole weekends are passing by in front of the TV in a mindless way.
9. THERE IS A LOT MORE OF SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.
Casual sex can be a sign of depression as well if you are using to escape your emotions. The moment you begin aggressively overdoing one thing, and deep down you know you are trying to avoid feeling something? It’s the depression spiral.
Other habits of distraction that are a sign we are falling into a depression can also look like:
overspending our money
hours of online shopping
using too many party drugs
10. A BIT (OR LOT) OF ‘WHY BOTHER’ IS CREEPING IN.
Your ability to care about things is lowering by the day. You're no longer looking after your personal hygiene, you're showing up late to work without caring about the consequences, or maybe you're just arguing with people's suggestions on how to feel better?
11. YOU’VE BEEN TAKING RISKS YOU USUALLY DON’T.
It’s as if something in you is attracting troubles or even danger, and you don’t know why. You never thought of yourself as self destructive, but you can’t seem to stop.. Maybe because it gives you a sense of being alive when you’ve felt so numb lately.
Is this all sounding a little too familiar?
Starting to realise that all your habits might just be depression symptoms? Have they been going on for more than six weeks and seem to be worsening? Then it's time to speak to someone to help investigate things further with you.
Talk to someone you trust about what's going on for you. Perhaps it’s just stress, and there are ways forward. Unfortunately, however, depression tends to lack an exact cause. It can be all sorts of things rolled together, including experiences from long ago. And we can need proper support to navigate our way forward, particularly if we feel ashamed, or uncomfortable talking with friends.
Tell us what you think about these behaviours. Are you surprised by any of them? Have you experienced any of these during a depressed phase in life? Comment below!