22 Nov What Does Living With Depression Look Like?

What is Depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions that interfere with all aspects of an individual’s life. Feeling sad is something that we all experience from time to time. For most of us, this feeling is temporary and will pass. However, for some, this constant feeling of unhappiness, emptiness, and hopelessness will go on to become a regular part of their day for more than 2 weeks. Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way one feels, manages daily activities, and thinks. It can lead to long-lasting and profound feelings of sadness, irritability, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. Sometimes, it can also contribute to self-harm and suicide at its worst. 

Depression is different from the short-lived emotional responses and mood fluctuations experienced while facing everyday challenges. When left unaddressed, it can become a serious health condition that can translate to functioning poorly at school, work, and other spheres of life. According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally. 

 

What Depression may feel like?

The most prevalent myths around depression are that it isn’t real and that it’s a choice resulting from the lack of a positive outlook. Even though many people with depression feel sad, their feelings are much more severe and long-lasting than fleeting emotions such as sadness in response to some life events. Those who suffer from depression cannot simply decide to stop feeling that way or to suddenly start thinking positively. 

Many people believe that in order to seek help, depression needs to cause significant difficulties or needs to be debilitating. However, they don’t realize that some of the more subtle signs or symptoms of this disorder can serve as the first indicators. It can be difficult to explain how depression feels to someone who hasn’t experienced it themselves. But here are some instances of what living with depression feels like- 

There is no joy or pleasure in life: Depression is so much more than just being sad. A person with depression may stop enjoying things or activities that they once loved and which made them happy. They may also feel that nothing will ever be able to bring them joy again. 

 

Difficulty concentrating and focusing: Concentration and paying attention become more challenging, which hampers the process of decision-making. The individual may be unable to follow what is happening around them. Even tasks like selecting what to watch on the television or reading can prove to be taxing due to a lack of clear thinking. 

 

Difficulty sleeping: Depression can have a significant impact on sleep. This can manifest in several ways – difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, feeling tired when waking up despite sleeping for an adequate amount of time, frequent waking up during the night or sleeping more than usual. All of which can lead to the individual feeling exhausted and unrested the next day.

 

Maintaining Personal Hygiene: When we think about depression, personal hygiene isn’t the first thing that comes to one’s mind. For most of us, hygiene includes every day and second nature tasks like brushing our teeth, combing and washing our hair, shaving, and getting dressed. However, for those struggling with depression, these tasks can prove to be challenging and some of the most difficult things to do on a daily basis.

 

Meeting deadlines: For the most part, people struggling with depression have trouble meeting deadlines. This is mostly accompanied with anxiety that looms larger with each passing day. Other difficulties they might face include procrastination, diminished productivity, increase in errors, subpar performance while doing tasks, or difficulty making decisions that can have an impact on completing a task or meeting a deadline.

 

Feeling Depressed For No Particular Reason: Sometimes people with depression don’t know why they are feeling the way they are. They may feel like they don’t have a good enough reason to feel depressed, especially if they perceive their life as ‘easy’ or ‘good’ as compared to others. Depression can have many different causes, some of which are complex and can be difficult to understand. 

Low energy and motivation levels: It can be challenging for some people with depression to get out of bed. Despite getting enough hours of sleep, they feel exhausted at all times. They may also feel too tired to do their daily activities or other simple tasks too. 

Changes in appetite: Some people with depression may feel like not wanting to eat anything and force themselves to eat. Food may not seem appetizing to them anymore, which can lead to significant weight loss. On the other hand, some people might use food as a coping tool or a medium to comfort themselves. They may overeat or eat unhealthy foods, which can result in weight gain. 

Depression can also be physically painful: It is also common for people with depression to suffer from headaches, body aches, nausea, or muscle tension.

Many people with depression may feel like there is no way out and that everything feels hopeless. These maladaptive thoughts can result in feelings of worthlessness and failure and perpetuate a negative cycle. In more severe cases, this can lead to suicidal ideations or actions too.
The symptoms of depression can vary in different individuals depending on the severity and gender, among many other factors. If you or someone you know are experiencing a few symptoms of depression it is highly recommended to schedule an appointment with our AtEase expert.