6 signs of depression you must not ignore

Depression is often brought up casually over upsetting life events or a challenging phase. While it is the innate nature of humans to experience grief or sadness, lingering in that phase for a long period may be associated with depression. Depression is not just about sadness. It drains you of energy and makes it tedious to go through everyday activities. It interferes with your basic life activities, trapping you in a hamster wheel with no way out.

Here are 6 signs of depression to keep in check:

• A decline in concentration: You must have experienced forgetfulness at some point in time. People experiencing depression often suffer from intensified concentration issues, so much so that the person is incapable of performing everyday tasks. They also find it difficult to make simple decisions and suffer from confusion concerning basic activities.

• Change in appetite: Depression can affect your appetite tremendously. It can lead to weight reduction due to loss of appetite. Such weight loss is unhealthy and interrupts physical well-being. Some other people may gain weight due to increased appetite.
• Low self-esteem and guilt: Self-esteem is the opinion of oneself. It determines how you view the aspects of your personality and characteristics. Low-self esteem refers to the feeling of not being good enough, of ineptitude, and of inferiority. Your opinion of yourself influences your mental well-being. Oftentimes it is seen among people suffering from depression.

• Extreme anxiety and panic attacks: Anxiety is one of the significant symptoms and warning signs of depression. Extreme cases of anxiety can lead to panic attacks — causing excessive sweating, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, and feeling of detachment. It forces you to overthink basic activities. To avoid anxiety, people often seek shelter in recreational activities like smoking and alcohol consumption. Instead, these activities worsen the condition even further.
• Disrupted sleep patterns: Depression interferes with your sleep patterns. Research has shown strong connections between depression and sleep disorders. You may end up sleeping too little or too much. This further leads to mood disruption, severe stress, and suicidal thoughts.

• Irritation and mood disorder: People express mood changes or irritation on a regular basis. When these mood changes are frequent and rattle your day, it may be an underlying sign of depression. Such regular mood swings can affect your mental health and many bother those around you.

Millions of people across the world are affected by depression. If you experience the above-mentioned symptoms for over a fortnight, you must seek professional help. The treatment usually comprises counseling and medications. Favorable changes in one’s lifestyle can also bring a positive impact on the affected individual. It is essential to seek professional help as soon as you discover depression-like symptoms.