What is Depression
Feeling low from ti,e to time is a normal happening in every one's life.
But when emotions such as hopelessness and despair dominate for a longer time, you may have depression.
More than just sadness in response to life's challenges, struggles and setbacks, depression drives your changes in thinking, feeling, functioning in day-to-day activities. It can simply interfere with your ability to work, study,eat,sleep and enjoy normal life. Just trying to get through the day can be really challenging and overwhelming.
Signs of Depression
(a) Compulsive shopping
For some people , who are in the beginning stages of depression, it is not uncommon for compulsive buying - in stores - or on the Internet to serve as a distraction or self-esteem booster. Contrary to the fact, that "Retail (Buying)Therapy", is highly short-lived, because it does not address underlying depression. Also need to exercise caution that non-required shopping sprees could also be a sign of a mania, in bipolar disorder.
(b) Dependence on Alcohol
Nearly a third of people with major depression abuse alcohol.
Although, a drink may see, like it provides a life when you are down, alcohol is a depressant, so overdoing it can make depression episodes worse and more frequent.
(c) Short-term memory Loss / Forgetfulness
Depression could be one reason for feeling fogging or forgetful. Studies show that prolonged depression or stress can raise the body's levels of cortisol. This can shrink or weaken the part of the brain associated with memory and learning. Depression-linked memory loss seems to be worse for older people.
(d) Excessive Internet use or Online presence
Entering regularly into depressive moods prefer virtual social interactions to real life ones!
Being present in Internet for excessive hours have shown a link between high levels of depression and excessive internet usage. People who overuse the internet tend to spend their time on pornography, online community and gaming sites.
(e) Binge Eating
A 2010 study by Alabama University revealed that young adults who report being depressed tended to gain weight more around their waist - a risk for heart disease. Various other studies have linked depression with binge eating, particularly in middle-age people.
(f) Shoplifting
About a third of shoplifters are victims of depression. For some people who feel powerless and insignificant from depression, shoplifting provides feelings of power and importance. It can also provide a rush to counter depressiopn "numbness". For people who shoplift because they are depressed, these feelings are more important than the item they are stealing.
(g) Back Pain
If one has a constant back pain not giving up in spite of medications and it won't quit, Studies show that depression may be a risk factor for chronic lower back pain. One study showed that up to 42% people with chronic lower back pain experienced depression before their back pain started. Yet depression can often go ignored or undiagnosed because people don't associate it with aches and pains. On a similar note, having chronic pain puts you at risk for depression.
(h) Risky Sexual behavior
Depression is more commonly associated with lost libido than with an increased interest in sex. But some people use sex to cope with depression or stress. Increased promiscuity, infidelity, sexual obsession and high-risk behavior such as unsafe sex can all be signs of depression. It can also reflect problems with impulse control or be a sign of mania in bipolar disorder. And all these can have a serious, negative impacts on health and in personal life.
(i) Exaggerated display of emotions
Often people who are depressed show little emotional expression. Other times, they show too much. They can be suddenly irritable or explosive. They may express exaggerated feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worry or fear. Some are caught up in a sense of worthlessness or a feeling of excessive or inappropriate guilt. The key is a sudden change in behvior.
(j) Smoking
Having trouble quitting smoking?
Being depressed, doubles your risk of smoking.
Heavy smoking - some days more than a pack a day. Having a cigarette in hand within five minutes of waking up are common habits among smokers who are depressed. While depressed smokers are less likely to quilt, they can.
(h) Not taking care of yourself
What does fastening your seat belt have to do with depression? Suddenly neglecting basic self-care can be a sign of depression and low self esteem. The signs may be as small as not buckling up or brushing your teeth or as big as skipping physical exams or not tending to chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
Get help for your depression and you will likely begin to take care of yourself again.
Content courtesy: WebMD
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