- Hey, Psych2Goers, welcome back to another video.
Do you consider yourself knowledgeable enough
to spot the signs of depression in someone?
If you're someone who often reads our articles,
watches our videos and frequents other
psychology related self-help websites or journals,
then you might answer yes.
And while we're certainly grateful
for the recent mental health awareness movement
that's been happening all over the world,
there might still be a lot left for us to learn
about the true nature of depression.
Please remember this video is for educational purposes
and is not a substitute for professional advice.
And with that said, here are seven surprising habits
you might develop when you have depression.
Number one, having irregular sleeping and eating habits.
The most prominent symptom of a depressive episode
is a significant disturbance
in someone's sleeping and eating patterns.
And yes, while the most common manifestations for this
would be insomnia, weight loss, and lack of appetite,
some people struggling with depression may do the opposite
and end up oversleeping or overeating.
This is called atypical depression,
and those who have this specific type of depression
are at greater risk of being undiagnosed, dismissed,
and mislabeled as simply being lazy.
Number two, having mood swings or outbursts.
Have you noticed yourself having more difficulty
controlling your emotions lately?
Do you often get upset, angry, irritated,
or hurt about the things you never used to before?
Even though we might picture someone who's depressed
as being emotionally numb, empty and apathetic,
depression can also make us moodier
and more emotionally volatile.
Having frequent uncharacteristic outbursts,
like suddenly crying for no reason
or snapping at someone out of the blue,
can actually be taken as a sign
that someone's mental health is falling apart.
Number three, making muted cries for help.
Do you struggle with asking for help?
As much we might want to not need anyone else,
there's no shame in asking for help when we need it.
The problem is people with depression
often find this painfully difficult to do,
for fear that they might be seen as a burden
by their loved ones, or that their struggles
might be invalidated and misunderstood,
so they resort to making muted cries for help instead.
some examples include, denying that anything's wrong,
even when they're already crying or breaking down,
making self-deprecating jokes,
or having a dark sense of humor,
or coming up with cover stories that are lies.
Number four, overspending or impulse buying.
Has your shopping or spending
been out of control lately?
Do you often find yourself buying lots of things on impulse,
when you used to be frugal and financially savvy?
For some people suffering from depression,
this kind of behavior is not uncommon.
Buying things to make you feel better
and treating yourself to luxury goods
to serve as a distraction or a self-esteem booster
is most likely a maladaptive coping mechanism.
Number five, constantly searching for meaning.
Searching for meaning is something
that's inherent to human nature.
All of us are looking for our reason for being,
wondering what our purpose is,
but unlike people struggling with depression,
it's not usually at the forefront of our minds.
Depression, however, has a way of making us feel
like we're constantly wasting our time and potential
when we're not chasing greatness or success.
Have you heard that famous quote
written by Louisa May Alcott,
"I wanna be great or nothing"?
Well, this is exactly the reason
why people who are depressed are more vulnerable
to feelings of nihilism and inadequacy.
But in reality, even if you don't accomplish amazing goals
or gain fame and riches,
your life would still be worth living
because existence in and of itself
is already so beautiful and meaningful.
Number six, pondering about life and death.
Are you or someone around you
frequently very philosophical?
Something you might notice if you ever find yourself
around people struggling with depression
is that they can be very insightful,
perspective and wise beyond their years.
This is because they spend a lot of their time
thinking and pondering about matters like life and death.
Indeed, depression can make even the most
easygoing and extroverted of us more introspective,
deep, philosophical, and intense.
And number seven, being more creative.
Last, but certainly not least,
something that what surprised you about depression
is just how much it can fuel creativity and self-expression.
Sylvia Plath, Ernest Hemingway,
Frida Kahlo, Kurt Cobain, and Vincent van Gogh,
what do they all have in common?
Well, it's possible that they inspired
the tortured artist trope,
the idea that artistic genius and mental illness
often go hand in hand.
We certainly aren't romanticizing depression
or mental illness,
but it is worth noting that having a creative outlet
to better express ourselves can make a world of difference
in helping us deal with such painful and powerful
thoughts and feelings.
So, did you learn something new
about the habits of depression?
Remember, if you or anyone you know
is struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety,
please don't hesitate to reach out
to a mental health care professional
and get the help you need.
Did you find this video insightful?
Tell us 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.