hey psych2goers and welcome back to
another video
your love and support have enabled us to
send your way another wealth of everyday
psychology
so let's explore having depression
is nothing to be ashamed of and it
doesn't make you weak or faulty
even though depression is a prevalent
mental illness it still carries its
stigmas the world over
causing not only less awareness but also
fewer people seeking proper treatment
of depression depression that goes
untreated can have some pretty
detrimental mental and physical
side effects making its treatment
paramount
untreated does not just mean not having
seen a therapist for it
but more so that the depression still
requires attention in spite of seeking
help
also it's important to restate this
video should not be used to
self-diagnose
rather its purpose is to inform and
create awareness
if you find yourself relating to the
signs mentioned please ensure to seek
professional help
instead of self-diagnosing here are 9
signs to look out for
suggesting untreated depression 1.
memory impairments research shows memory
impairments due to depression
can be of the same nature as in dementia
though it isn't a heartbringer of it
according to a 2003 study long-term
untreated depression
is strongly associated with volume loss
in the hippocampus
what does this mean well the hippocampus
is a part of the brain largely involved
in sustaining your memories
so volume loss in this area could mean
that you have a smaller capacity for a
long-term memory and could start to
forget more than normal
2. substance abuse depression often
makes you fall prey to addiction
if untreated it can lead to severe
substance abuse regardless of age or
gender
experts agree to the two being co-morbid
and likely to occur together more often
than not
so if you find yourself more vulnerable
to substances in the wake of depression
it is so important to heal properly so
that these conditions don't feed off
each other for the worse
3. inadequate sleep do you find yourself
dozing off more often
or does sleep completely evade you
either way
sleep disturbances are now considered to
be fundamental in diagnosing depression
a 2008 study shows that these sleep
disturbances can look different for
everyone
and have lasting effects throughout the
day many patients in the study said that
they lack concentration during the day
and feel lethargic
while it may make more sense for these
sleep-related disturbances to occur at
night
remember to monitor your energy levels
during the day as well
they can tell you just as much 4.
impulsivity are you drawn to
out-of-character risky behaviors lately
self-destructive behavior is not only to
numb the pain
but also to publicly cry for help while
it may seem logical at the time
it can negatively impact both the body
and the mind
physically risky behavior can lead to
harmful infection and damage throughout
the body
psychologically its numbing effect of
the body can be a hindrance to coping in
a healthy way
depression can bring about feelings of
hopelessness and despair
but remember that no matter what you are
worthy of love
and healing five appetite changes
have you noticed a change in the way you
eat are you overeating or have you lost
your appetite completely
eating differently than normal can be an
underlying sign of untreated depression
psychologically appetite changes and
increased unhealthy cravings are types
of coping mechanisms and can indicate
that there may be something larger
worth paying attention to 6.
frequent migraines migraines and
depression
commonly coexist but when depression
goes untreated
the intensity of these migraines can
skyrocket
the migraines run the risk of going from
episodic to chronic
which means they go from happening less
than 15 times a month
to more although the reason for this
occurrence is not fully understood
it's important to not let depression go
untreated so that migraines don't
develop or become worse
7. social isolation do you feel a
constant urge to stay under your covers
all day does interacting with friends
and family sound
draining you may be isolating yourself
as a result of untreated depression
you may develop low motivation and
disinterest in everyday activities
isolating yourself because of depression
can actually bring about loneliness and
worsen symptoms that are already there
even your routine seems an impossible
feat as depression drains you of
yourself
8. increased somatic pain
aches and pains are common symptoms of
untreated depression
fibromyalgia is commonly concurrent with
depression
it's muscle pain throughout the body and
it can produce many psychological
effects
similar to those of depression number
nine
gastrointestinal problems
gastrointestinal problems are a common
subset
of issues around the body that
depression can bring out these refer to
problems like indigestion
nausea vomiting or any other problem in
or around your stomach
according to 2016 study there's a
hormonal link in depression patients and
gastrointestinal problems
we hope we were able to give you a
little insight into some of the signs of
untreated depression
do any of these apply to you let us know
in the comments below
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and we'll see you soon