Symptoms of depression usually go unnoticed in people. There are many people under the wrong impression that depressed people are always locked in their rooms, sad and crying. The truth is that there are so many types of depression with different symptoms. This is why we witness a lot of suicide cases of people who seemed to be happy. No one suspected their suicide. This goes back to the fact that many people have practiced putting masks and fake smiles when they are feeling hollow inside.
People who are struggling with high-functioning depression experience a lot of symptoms associated with depression. It’s not a matter of severity, however, unlike low-functioning depression which manifests itself in the inability to commit to going to school or keeping a job, high-functioning depression patients can function almost normally.
To be able to deal with depressed people, you need to leave behind any stigma that the society implanted. Right here you can understand more about depression and how to treat people who are suffering from it.
Understanding Symptoms Of Depression
Besides the fact that depression has a lot of types with different symptoms, the symptoms usually vary from one person to another. This is why it’s important to understand the different signs that you should look out for before approaching the subject of treatment with the person who is suffering.
- Sadness is often the most common symptom among depressed people. However, it’s not always detectable as many people don’t show it.
- Emptiness, hopelessness, tearfulness are other common symptoms.
- Angry outbursts might happen over things that you might view as minor, but not for them.
- Loss of interest which explains why many people with depression don’t have to commit or engage in normal activities.
- Low sex drive.
- Insomnia or sleeping too much.
- Lack of energy that even getting out of bed is too much of an effort.
- Changes in appetite that might result in eating too much or barely eating. This might also happen periodically between episodes of increased appetite, then a complete loss of appetite.
- Anxiety usually accompanies depression and causes people to feel even worse about themselves.
- Problems with thinking, talking that might develop into stuttering or issues with movement.
- Suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
Providing Support
The first thing that you should do to deal with a loved one who is suffering is to be understanding. You should learn how to listen without judging or comparing their feelings to your own experience. You shouldn’t make any assumptions. It’s better to ask your loved one about the help they need. This will show that you are interested to learn more about their feelings and suffering without the need to offer guidance or advice. This approach will make your loved one feel accepted and encourage them to share more about their troubles. This support helps greatly in ensuring that your loved one won’t feel that they are completely alone in this battle. However, words can only do so little. This is why you need to encourage them to get professional treatment.
Getting The Help They Need
Many people fall into the horrible mistake of acting as therapists for people they love who are dealing with mental issues. This might affect you in a bad way. You might end up frustrated and burnt out, which is why you should always take some time out for yourself to practice your favorite hobbies. While you should listen to your loved one, it’s important to remember that you are not, and don’t have enough knowledge, to act as their therapist. This mistake might lead to feelings of helplessness; you might start feeling that you or your love is not enough. However, you need to remember that depression is a serious illness that requires professional treatment. Information on depression on this website allows you to find out more about the different kinds of help that are available for people suffering from their mental health. Many people tend to escape from facing themselves with the issues that they are suffering from. This causes them to abandon therapy. This is when you need to step in and offer your help by reminding them to take prescribed medications or keeping appointments.
Make Plans Together
Sometimes, the best thing that you can offer to someone is time. Take the time to engage together in different activities such as taking walks or even watching a movie. Your loved one might not be excited to even get out of bed. This shouldn’t frustrate you or break your spirit. Spending time together won’t have an immediate magical effect on how they feel. However, this will show how much you love to be around them, which might be what they exactly need to feel better about themselves as people who suffer from depression usually have low self-esteem and a distorted self-image.
Pay Attention To Suicide Risk
There is a big difference between suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Most people who suffer from depression experience occasional and random suicidal thoughts. However, this might develop into something that is far more serious when these thoughts take over their minds. You need to stay alert for the common warning signs of suicide. Your loved one may be constantly talking or even joking about killing themselves, withdrawing from social contact, or being self-destructive.
If your loved one is suicidal, then immediate help must be provided by professionals. There are also actions that you can take to offer help such as talking to them about your concerns, providing a safe environment that is free of any weapons or tools that they might be tempted to use, or you can also ask their psychiatrist for advice on how you should act in these situations.
Depression is a serious illness that shouldn’t be ignored or taken lightly. It’s important to keep your eye on the aforementioned symptoms and signs to know when you need to step in. Understanding and love can do wonders. When your loved one is suffering, you might feel helpless and frustrated, however, this shouldn’t stand in your way of offering help. Still, you nee
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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