- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers,
welcome back to another video.
Do you or someone you know suffer from depression?
Depression is a serious mental illness
because of the negative impact it has on people's lives,
but also because it can go unnoticed
for long periods of time.
Lots of the symptoms are hard to recognize.
This results in a large number of people
downplaying their depression
and confusing it for simply having bad days.
And because of this,
people are, more often than not,
battling depression by themselves.
Before we begin, this video is for educational purposes
and is not a substitute for professional advice,
diagnosis, or treatment.
So to shed more light on this topic,
this video will be discussing six habits of depression
you might not know about.
Number one, faking smiles and pretending to be okay.
How often do you think depression is diagnosed
in people who don't appear to have it.
Faking smiles and pretending to be okay
is one of the habits that people with depression have.
People who suffer from depression often work to conceal it.
They'll feel like they're bringing others down
if they let their inner struggles show on the outside.
However, this forced happiness is very hard to maintain.
Eventually, the underlying emotions that are being felt
such as sadness, hopelessness, or loneliness
will show through.
Number two, eating too much or not at all.
Have you noticed yourself
or someone else either eating too much or not at all?
Extreme changes in eating patterns
can suggest the presence of depression in someone.
People with depression that eat too much
are turning to food for comfort,
while others lose their appetite because of a low mood.
Whichever the case, depression will become more severe
the longer that this habit persists.
People's self-esteem will take a hit as well.
Not eating enough
will naturally result in lower energy levels too,
contributing to more depression.
Number three, neglecting personal hygiene.
Have you gradually become less interested
in your personal hygiene?
Neglecting personal hygiene is one of the signs
that suggest someone is suffering from depression.
A lot of people think that good personal hygiene is a given
since it's part of one's daily routine.
However, for people who suffer from depression,
any of these so-called simple tasks
might become a huge burden
because of how depression affects people's energy levels
and mood.
They'll feel like these daily activities
are simply too draining for them and not worth the effort.
Again, depression will feed off the negative impact
this habit results in and become more severe over time.
Number four, in need of constant distraction.
When was the last time
you spent time reflecting on your emotions?
One of the habits of people who have depression
is that they'll constantly try to have something
distracting them.
The main reason for this is that they don't like being alone
with their negative thoughts.
Some people may keep their TVs turned on,
even when they're not watching anything.
Others prefer to be on their phones or social media
every time they're free.
Don't get me wrong,
doing these things does not automatically mean
that you're depressed.
However, doing these things
with the sole purpose of avoiding negative thoughts
can be a very telling sign.
Number five, always thinking of the worst-case scenarios.
Are you or any of your friends
constantly thinking of the worst-case scenarios?
This habit can be a telling sign
that someone is suffering from depression.
Always thinking about the worst-case scenarios
is something that can be useful from time to time
so that you can respond to anything that comes your way.
However, constantly coming up
with the most negative possible outcome
will affect your overall perspective.
This negative cycle of thought
will continue to feed off of depression,
making you feel even worse.
And number six, losing concentration and focus.
Do you struggle with staying focused on work
for long periods of time?
Does it when you know constantly lose their train of thought
during a conversation?
Having the habit of constantly getting distracted
and struggling to focus can be a sign of depression.
Loss of memory and concentration
are common symptoms of depression.
A study conducted in 2014 showed that both of these
will worsen the illness
by making work and personal relationships more challenging.
So do you see any of these habits in yourself
or those around you?
It might be a good idea to try talking with someone
who you trust and will emotionally support you.
Similarly, if you notice a close friend
or a family member showing these signs,
be there for them and offer your support.
Of course, please consult a mental health professional
if you or someone you know suffers from depression.
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Tell us about it in the comments below.
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All the references used are added
in the description box below.
Thanks so much for watching, and we'll see you next time.