Knowing What To Look For In Your Loved Ones When It Comes To Depression

Recognizing the signs will help you help them

Sometimes we notice changes in close family members or friends, and we don’t know what it means. It can be especially difficult when we try and talk to them about it, and they just kind of brush it off as if there’s nothing wrong, but they’ve suddenly developed gray hair at 30. Here are some signs that someone you love may be suffering from depression.

1. Lethargy

One big sign of depression is lethargy. They’re unmotivated, they move and speak slowly, and even struggle to get out of bed in the morning. It’s almost as if they’re carrying a 100 pound backpack around with them everywhere they go. Talking with your loved ones about how they’re feeling will help tremendously. Sometimes all they need is someone to listen, and they’ll feel much better about things.

2. Procrastination

Those who struggle from depression can often procrastinate, failing to meet their responsibilities. It’s almost a direct consequence of lethargy, but the last thing you want to do is anything you actually need to do. Procrastination is hard to avoid anyways, but if you’re depressed it’s a completely different animal. Working together with someone who is depressed will help them be more motivated.

3. Change in Diet

Changes in diets and eating habits are a sure sign that a person is suffering from depression. People who suffer from depression tend to eat more “comfort food” than a regular, healthy diet. Any time their mood gets down, they reach for something to eat. On the other hand, another symptom of depression is not eating at all. As a person who eats more than I should, I couldn't imagine not having food no matter how terrible I'm feeling. 

4. Pessimism

Pessimism runs rampant among those who are depressed. According to them, nothing is good. You might think of something that could brighten your day, something that could make it even a little better, but pessimism rears its ugly head and convinces you that nothing is really worth it. Share the joy you find in your hobbies and interests with whoever it is that has depression around you, helping them find joy in their lives. 

5. Sleeping Patterns

An estimated 80% of people who have depression experience issues with sleep. Falling asleep at night and getting up too early in the morning are among the problems people face. This particular issue can be scarier than you would think, as poor sleeping habits have extremely detrimental effects on our overall health. Proper amounts of sleep make monumental differences when setting the tone for our daily goals and tasks. 

6. Agitation

Depression is not fun at all, but mix it with restlessness and you’re in big trouble. The resulting whirlwind effect of these two feelings can lead to some serious agitation. When you’re agitated and depressed, there can be some very serious consequences such as suicide, self-harm, or harm to others. Be understanding and gentle towards those seem agitated.

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