Depression is a terrible beast. One moment you think you have it under control with medication.
The next, you’re faced with slowly building symptoms of depression that creep up out of nowhere.
Its a common misconception that depression medication will completely alleviate depression.
However, depression is still there and you’re still susceptible to depressive episodes
Depression is a disorder that’s different for everyone. The symptoms are not the same across the board.
While you may exhibit the typical signs of depression, there are symptoms that are more common than you realize.
Unfortunately, those who suffer these symptoms are too embarrassed to talk about them!
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Self-Care Can Lack
Self-care includes everyday activities like brushing your teeth, showering, combing your hair, making sure your wearing clean clothes.
Unfortunately, depression causes many people to lack in the self-care department.
Many with depression experience self-care issues like not brushing their teeth or showering for days.
But why?
There are two reasons your self-care is lacking:
1. Depression causes a lack of energy and fatigue making simple activities like self-care seem difficult and tiring.
2. Deep down you may be feeling a lack of self-esteem or even hatred toward yourself and your depression. This could cause you to feel like you’re not “worthy” of taking care of yourself.
This symptom of depression is really hard for people to talk about or bring up to loved ones or professions.
It comes with an element of embarrassment.
It’s embarrassing to tell others that because of your depression you didn’t brush your teeth for two days.
Self-care is generally an important aspect to everyone’s life.
But when you tell people your self-care is going down you’re met with a look of disgust and that “What is wrong with you?” look, even from healthcare professionals.
There’s nothing wrong with you! Depression simply steals the little things in life like taking care of yourself properly.
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Suicide Ideation
Let’s be clear: There is a difference between thinking of dying and actively planning of committing suicide.
While they are both serious matters related to depression, thinking of death or feeling like you don’t want to be alive is suicide ideation.
Suicide ideation is often described as the passive thinking of dying.
But it can quickly turn into “active” suicide ideation is your thinking goes from wishing you are dead to planning and talent on committing the act.
Many people with depression are stuck with feelings and suicide ideation thoughts.
Thoughts like wishing you wouldn’t wake up or just wanting to sleep forever are examples of suicide ideation type thoughts.
For many, these thoughts are on repeat like an old record player. They just won’t go away.
Numbness
This feeling is a way to describe how you feel when you feel nothing.
While feeling “numb” is sometimes better than crying all the time, it can also be a bad and troublesome feeling.
No one likes to feel ‘numb’ when they are experiencing life situations that typically should invoke feelings of happiness or overwhelming sadness.
But for those with depression, they may feel ‘numb’ when attending a parent’s anniversary party or when going through a marital dispute.
Those two examples are suppose to make people feel happiness and sadness or worry.
However, one of the most common depression symptoms no one talks about is feeling numb or indifferent toward life in general.
It can be extremely hard to get rid of this feeling of numbness.
Memory Loss
With depression you may notice your memory not being what it use to be. Depression causes a host of memory issues including:
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling like you’re in a “fog”
- Difficulty making decisions
- Forgetfulness
- Short-term memory loss
This little-known depression symptom can actually affect your life negatively.
Work assignments may not meet their deadlines or promises to your children may be forgotten completely like you never remembered making them.
A 2018 study found that depression is linked to short-term memory loss.
In turn, the same study found that those who experienced memory loss were associated with more severe symptoms of depression.
While medications like SSRI’s are prescribed for depression treatment, research has also found that SSRI’s increase the likelihood of memory loss is some people within eight weeks of treatment.
Cycling Between Anxiety And Depression
Believe it or not, depression does cause an increase in mood swings especially between anxiety and depression.
Many people are diagnosed with both an anxiety disorder and clinical depression.
According to Talkspace, depression and anxiety share the three following symptoms in common:
- Negative thinking pattern
- Nervous energy
- Avoidance of social situations
It’s very common for those with depression to also experience excessive worry and display nervous energy as well.
Then, you are left with sinking depression feelings because of the negative self-talk you have.
In other words, cycling between anxiety and depression is hell and both together have the potential to make treatment and life that much harder.
Physical Pain
No, the physical pain you are feeling is NOT “just in your head.” We often think of depression as a type of emotional pain.
But that same emotional pain you experience from depression directly causes physical pain.
Depression is linked to chronic stress. When you experience prolonged stress, you become more sensitive to pain.
Many with depression experience these physical symptoms:
- Fatigue
- All over body ache
- Headaches
- Back pain or aches
- Eye problems like blurry vision
- Stomach pain
- Digestive issues (diarrhea or constipation)
Self-Harm
TRIGGER WARNING!
Self-harm itself is not a mental disorder. Instead, it is often associated with mental disorders like anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, and more.
When someone self-harms they are NOT seeking attention. Self-harming behavior is often done in private and is typically hidden from loved ones.
Self-harm is a way of coping with intensive emotions.
Those who self-harm may feel depressed or even “numb” and self-harm to feel something.
Others may self-harm because of feelings of self-hatred or to escape reality for a moment.
Whatever the reason may be, self-harm is very misunderstood.
Because of this it remains one of the most common depression symptoms no one talks about.
Self-harm is not talked about by those who do it because many people (even healthcare professionals) will judge them harshly, dismiss their emotional/physical pain, and may believe that they intend on commiting suicide.
But many people who self-harm have no intent to commit suicide.
In fact, self-harm is a coping strategy for some to NOT follow through with the act of suicide.
While you may have your own opinions about self-harm, it’s always important to show sensitivity toward someone’s suffering.
Remember- Many people who self-harm are not doing it for attention!
It is instead a coping strategy.
Related Articles: How Social Isolation Increases Your Depression
How To Self-Advocate For Your Mental Health
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Final Thoughts
The whole point in discussing depression symptoms no one talks about is to bring awareness to these lesser talked about signs.
The more awareness there is in the world about these symptoms, the more understanding and sensitivity for those with depression.
Plus, if you are someone who’s suffering with these depression symptoms, talking about them makes you feel less alone in the world.
Many others experience these symptoms, so never feel alone!
Always remember, that your mental health is important and it is your choice on whether or not you want to address the above depression symptoms with loved ones are a health care provider.
What’s most important is for you to be the best version of you because you deserve to be free of depression symptoms, especially if they disrupt your life!