Having the Monday blues before heading to work and being depressed are not the same things. Most people often confuse depression with being sad or upset and try to help their family and friends 'snap out of it'. The persistent feeling of being upset and feeling powerless to fight it, is called clinical depression. It is one of the most common psychological conditions which can be treated effectively.
If you have been feeling different than your usual self and are experiencing 4 or more of the following tell-tale signs for more than 2 weeks, it’s time to fix an appointment with the doctor
1. Loss of Motivation
The biggest giveaway of depression is the loss of motivation at work and at home that is accompanied by it. You have this super important project that you were working on rather enthusiastically, but somehow now you seem inclined not to work on it. Losing motivation to do any tasks which were important to you and would’ve helped you in the long run is a classic sign that you might be clinically depressed, especially if it lasts for extended period of times.
2. Losing Interest in Things that you enjoy
Another tell-tale sign that you might be depressed is losing interest in the things that you enjoy, including work. For a lot of people who are undergoing depression, this a common symptom. You lose all interest in the activities that you used to enjoy. Reading doesn’t seem enjoyable; playing a musical instrument becomes a task. Even after trying, all these things seem uninteresting.
3. Loss or an Increase in Appetite
Either everything becomes tasteless or your appetite increases drastically and you find yourself eating tubs of ice-cream just for the sake of it. Clinical depression has a tendency to make all food lose its appeal or it makes you start eating just for the heck of it. You can easily identify this by a sudden increase or decrease in your weight.
4. Changed Sleeping Pattern
A changed sleeping pattern could also suggest depression. Usually, a person undergoing clinical depression would feel very tired and exhausted. This feeling of constant lethargy is also responsible for making you lose interest in the things that you love. The sleeping pattern of a person might increase or decrease. They might keep on sleeping for extended periods of time or not sleep at all and end up with insomnia.
5. Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts
The scariest aspect of depression is its connection with death. For a number of people, the thought of suicide doesn’t directly come to them, but the thought of self harm is ever present. If you have been having thoughts of self-harm or suicide for some time, then it’s time to get up and meet your doctor right away.
Depression is a disorder that affects millions of people every year. If you have been experiencing any of the 4 or more mentioned symptoms for a continuous period of time, then seeing a doctor is the first step towards recovery and feeling like your usual self. Recognizing your depression and getting the right information is crucial in this fight.
