Depression is an ailment that drains the soul and hurts the mind. Psychiatrists say that people with depression look at everything through dirty glass, so they unwittingly betray a negative color to any event or phenomenon.
A person who is held captive by this disease usually does not find the strength in itself to admit his condition to others, and even more so - ask them for help. Therefore, it is very important when the first signs of depression appear in your loved one, not to leave them unattended, but to insist on turning to a specialist for help. Indeed, the more advanced the disease, the more difficult it is to treat.
We present 10 pathological signs that will help you suspect depression in yourself or your loved one.
10. Deterioration of concentration and memory
All of us are scattered from time to time. What can we say about people who, due to depression, can not be fully responsible neither for their actions, nor for their words. If a person constantly forgets some important information, often asks you something during a conversation, quickly gets tired of intensive intellectual work, then most likely he is in the grip of depressive thoughts.
9. From one drink to three they switched to lunch
Unfortunately, so many people who are overcome by depression tend to look for the easiest way to treat it. We are, of course, talking about a short-term increase in mood with alcohol. However, embarking on this path, it is better to bear in mind that when the situation is already critical, and he will be forced to ask for specialized help, “alcoholism” or “liver cirrhosis” will join the diagnosis of “depression” in the outpatient card.
8. Changes in body weight
Someone “sinks down” depression, and someone more like “seizing” it. This ailment is characterized by an acute deficit of positive emotions, and food (especially sweets) is an easy way to get your portion of endorphins. In addition, during depression, a person suffers from chronic fatigue, so there can be no talk of any sports or outdoor activities. In total, we get overweight, and in especially difficult cases - obesity, which exacerbate the initial diagnosis, because a person with overweight decreases his self-esteem, and this deteriorates his mood, from which he again starts to eat. It turns out a vicious circle from which only a psychoanalyst can get out.
7. Chronic fatigue and weakness
It is very difficult for a person tormented by depressive thoughts to find motivation for any of his actions. Life seems meaningless, and all sorts of aspirations seem fruitless. Therefore, work or just minimal activity is perceived as conscription. In addition, many people with depression have reduced all vital signs - hence the lack of energy to perform basic tasks.
It may seem to others that the blame for everything is elementary laziness, but this is not so. A depressed person can get very tired even from the easiest job.
6. Hardly accept praises and goodwill gestures
As already mentioned, during depression, a person perceives any information through the prism of negativity and mistrust. Therefore, it is so difficult for him to believe in the truthfulness of kind words about himself, even if they are absolutely sincere. If someone from close people provides a valuable service, then such a gesture is taken for granted or as a manifestation of compassion, which can strike the patient's pride.
5. Laugh and cry from time to time without much reason
Depression is characterized by a shift in emotional balance and a violation of an adequate relationship between a behavioral reaction and its stimulus. This means that a person in this state can very dramatically react to not very significant unpleasant news, however, really bad news can be perceived outwardly absolutely indifferent.
This form of depressive disorder is largely similar to another neurological disease - alexithymia, the essence of which is a violation of the process of determining your own emotions and the emotions of people around you.
4. Low self-esteem and guilt
Complexes built into a cube, and an obsessive guilt in front of the whole world are also considered typical symptoms of depression. People with this disorder tend to focus on their past mistakes. They can also set themselves inflated or obviously impossible goals, and then revel in self-flagellation for a long time.
3. Inability to concentrate
Each of us likes to periodically “fly in the clouds,” however, a person who is depressed, to some extent, loses control of his will. Therefore, they may have minor or major troubles on this soil, connected with the inability to fully concentrate on some task. They begin to have difficulties at work, in communicating with loved ones, and even in solving familiar everyday issues, they may exhibit incompetence previously not characteristic of them.
A similar symptom has rather striking external manifestations, which should be a signal for people around the sick person to provide immediate assistance to him.
2. The lack of joy from the usual activities
The complete lack of interest in social life and communication with friends is another pathological symptom characteristic of depression. In psychiatry, this disorder is called anhedonia. Usually this symptom occurs at the initial stages of the development of depression, so when it appears, you need to convince a person close to you to consult a psychoanalyst.
1. You do not feel anything
Sometimes the subconscious of a person who is constantly tormented by gloomy thoughts finds a peculiar solution to the problem - it begins to block absolutely all emotions. As a result, a patient with depression begins to suffer from complete loss of feelings. Because of this, he may have problems communicating with friends and colleagues, who most often regard the behavior of his loved one as a manifestation of indifference and alienation. From what they themselves begin to move away, not realizing that this thereby reduces his chances of a full recovery.