Sad Signs That You Might Be Depressed

You find it hard to get out of bed in the morning

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Now, we all find it hard to get out of bed in the morning, especially when we know we have a full day of work ahead of us. However, if this is has been going on for some months, you might be thinking that there's something else going on. Depression not only affects our mind, but can give us aches, pains and fatigue.

Your mood is persistently low

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Sometimes it's hard for us to regulate our emotions and moods. We just feel down for no reason, there's not always a trigger behind it. Also, being in a low mood forces us to forget when we last felt happy. If you feel like your mood is lower most days, try to keep a schedule of how you've been feeling to identify any patterns in your wellbeing.

You often feel empty or numb

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PTSD can cause people to feel empty and numb, as well as a number of other psychological disorders, but quite often depression can be the cause of our numbness. It's easy to think that depression is just "feeling sad" but the condition is so much more complex than that.

You cancel plans at the last minute

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Listen, we sometimes need to cancel plans last minute just to give ourselves some respite, and that's okay. However, if you notice yourself doing this almost every time you have a plan or event coming up, you might be experiencing something more than just a low social battery.

Your screen time has increased dramatically

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The magic of the technological era has blessed us with being able to look at our screen time (and feel guilty about it.) When people are in depressive states it can be hard to get up and do anything, and the easiest thing to do is lie in bed and scroll endlessly through social media trying to reach that hit of dopamine.

You feel lethargic throughout the day

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As mentioned earlier in the article, tiredness is a symptom of depression. Our bodies our in a constant state of stress when we experience depression so naturally they are tired. Often, this fatigue can impact our work lives, social lives and love lives.

You no longer find joy in your hobbies

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When you were a kid you remember how you loved playing the piano, or painting, or writing, but now none of those activities bring you the joy you used to experience. While you might have just grown out of them, you may also be experiencing depression.

You drink excessively

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Socially drinking in moderation is absolutely fine and can do wonders for our mental health... but binge drinking on the other hand can be extremely harmful. Think about it, you're pumping your body full of toxins only to feel hungover and anxious for a few days after.

You struggle to sleep at night

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While it's really hard to wake up in the morning, it's also incredibly hard to fall asleep at night. Between the low humming noise of the AC, the birds tweeting outside and the thoughts spinning around in your head, it can feel unbearable at times. That's depression.

You have a poor appetite

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Depression can affect our appetite in many ways, and one of those is making it difficult to be able to stomach some food. While it's not always clear why depression makes us feel like this, or even if it is depression to blame, it can still make us feel weak and light-headed.

You binge-eat to cope

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On the opposite end to losing your appetite is gaining one. It's no surprise that people find comfort in their coping mechanisms, one of which could be binge-eating. While on the surface it might not sound so bad, depression can cause an unhealthy relationship with food.

Your mind is working overtime

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Overthinking is a curse. We've all been there, where we just can't seem to switch our minds off and retreat. Well, if this is you, don't think that you are alone. Around 1 in every 6 Americans will experience depression once in their lifetimes, one of the highest in the world.

You've had a sudden loss of weight

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It might sound obvious after we mentioned the loss of appetite, but there might be other reasons behind this too. You could be overexerting yourself, forgetting to eat or drink, your body could be losing calories from high stress levels. It's not always depression but, paired with some of the symptoms on this list, is worth considering.

You are extremely irritable

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Some days we are just more grouchy than others, that's fine. But when our irritable moods start to impact our relationships with those around us, that's where things start to get serious. Believe it or not, our genetics can sometimes have to do with our likelihood of developing depression.

You neglect your health

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Someone who is depressed can find life so incapacitating that the only thing they can think to do is lie in bed. So getting up and brushing your hair, cleaning your teeth and taking a shower is the last thing you want to do. Surprisingly, around twice as many females experience depression compared to males.

You find that your brain is running slowly

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Depression can affect our cognitive abilities, so you might find that you're struggling to concentrate in class, or put your ideas into a sentence. If someone asks you a question, you find that it takes you longer than normal to respond. All of these could be signs that you are suffering from depression.

You dread waking up in the morning

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Dreading waking up in the morning is fine, but usually only as long as there's a reason for it. There might be a big interview you've got ahead, a difficult conversation, a long drive, but if you're feeling like this every night, then it's something you might want to address.

You find yourself withdrawing from social settings

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As much as people say that socializing can help with your depression, it's easier said than done. Sometimes, forcing ourselves into social environments can just force our bodies and minds to shut down and withdraw from those around us, making us feel worse.

You find yourself isolating from family and friends

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A bit of me time never hurt anyone, but too much can have different consequences. Depression can come in many forms and is so complex that medical professionals often misdiagnose people. Those without depression can get diagnosed with it and vice versa.

You don't have the energy to clean your home

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As well as neglecting your health, you might also be neglecting your home chores too, which means the dishes have stacked up, the clothes pile has gotten bigger and your bathroom is a mess. Our environments play a massive part in our mental health so living in unclean places can make us feel unsettled.

You're under-performing at work

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Depression infects all manners of our lives and that includes the workplace. You might have noticed that since you've been feeling a little down, your quality of work has started to slip and that it won't be long before your manager takes notice of the change.

You ring in sick to work often

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When a person is depressed, it can make it hard for them to see the consequences of their actions before actually doing it. This means that when they ring in sick for work because they feel like they can't make it in, they don't see how this could result in them being fired.

You think about life without you here

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It's normal to ponder on life in different manners, but thinking too much about the world without you in it is not a good sign. It's probably best if you seek some medical help if you feel like you're experiencing this symptom and talk through your feelings.

You've cute off your friendships

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Friendships are important as it's often those people that pull us through to the other side of depression. Cutting off those friends that you know are important to you is a big sign of depression and can ultimately cause you to feel worse than you did before.

You enjoy spending time in the dark

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While it might sound a little odd, people who are depressed feel at comfort when they are in a dark space. Although it doesn't make much sense, it is a fact, and if you feel like you're always seeking a quiet dark space to relax in, maybe it's something to think about.

You've started taking part in addictive routines

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There are many things in the world that we can become addicted too, such a substances, gambling, sex, lying, stealing... the list goes on. During depression, a person might feel like they need to seek out something to make them feel a little bit more than they feel already.

You find yourself engaging in sad music and TV

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It's a strange thing that people who are depressed gravitate towards sad music, film and TV. These things are almost certainly going to keep you in your depressive state or make you feel worse. Ultimately, if you opt for a more upbeat form of media, you might start to notice a change.

You struggle to do any form of exercise

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Exercise is crucial for releasing endorphins and serotonin, both of which massively impact our mood. If you notice that you haven't been doing much exercise recently, then depression might be a part of it. It's often that these things usually go around in circles together.

You've thought about talking to a therapist

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It's always a good idea to talk things through if you need to, especially with a trained professional. While you can rely on your friends and family for support, they can't always guide you in the right direction like a therapist can. If you think you need to, reach out and ask for help.

You feel ashamed of how you're feeling

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Last but not least, you should never feel ashamed of the way you feel. Depression is a disease that can affect anyone, no matte the experiences they have gone through in life, so don't ever think that you don't have a "proper" reason to be depressed: every reason is a good reason.