Depression Signs To Lookout For In Your Loved Ones

Depression is a serious deterrent to the mental well-being of an individual. It is a mood disorder which affects people more than they realize. Depression can masquerade as something else such as lack of interest in relationships or at work and therefore the signs of this mental health illness are not always obvious.
For a person suffering from depression, getting by with one day can feel like a struggle. And some people try to hide the obvious signs like sadness and hopelessness because they do not want to draw attention or be pitied or worse, disrupt the mood of family and friends.
The battle with depression can be won effectively only when people suffering from it are given the right and safe environment to acknowledge the problem and slowly recuperate from it. This takes a keen interest and effort from those who are close to the person.
If you are concerned about the mental well-being of your loved on so that you can help them before things go spiralling down, here are a couple of signs which you should be on a lookout for:

Appetite and weight changes

Eating too much or too little can suggest the presence of depression. Some people turn to food for comfort, while others lose their appetite or eat less due to low mood.These changes in food intake can cause a person to start gaining or losing weight.Dramatic weight changes can also exacerbate depression, as they can affect a person’s self-esteem.There may also be physiological factors at play. For example, there is a link between carrying excess fat and increased inflammation in the body. This, in turn, may play a role in the development or increased severity of depressive symptoms.

Changes in Sleep habits

There is a strong link between mood and sleep. A lack of sleep can contribute to depression, and depression can make it more difficult to sleep.According to the National Sleep Foundation, people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to have depression than those without the condition.Sleeping too much can also be a sign that a person may have depression.

Fatigue

Feeling excessively tired is a very common symptom of depression. Some research suggests that over 90% of people with depression experience fatigue.Although everyone feels tired from time to time, people who have severe or persistent tiredness — especially if it accompanies other symptoms — may have hidden depression

Dependence on alcohol or drug
Some people with mood disorders may use alcohol or drugs to cope with their feelings of sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness.The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) report that in the United States, around 1 in 5 people with anxiety or a mood disorder such as depression also have an alcohol or substance use disorder.Conversely, the same number of those with an alcohol or substance use disorder also have a mood disorder.

Lack of optimism and concentration
There is a theory that people with depression may display a trait called “depressive realism,” which means that they may be “more accurate” in their view of events and the control they have over those events than people without depression. People with depression may also be more pessimistic. Studies suggest that those with major depressive disorder often have a more negative view of the future. Being more realistic or pessimistic than others may be one sign of depression, especially if the person has other possible symptoms of depression. At the same time, when a person trails off during conversations or loses their train of thought, it can indicate issues with memory and concentration, which is a common symptom of depression.
A 2014 study suggests that these difficulties with concentration and focus can worsen the social impact of depression by making work life and personal relationships more challenging.