of a disorder rampant world over.
So let's begin.
What comes to mind when you hear the word depression?
Are there any typical symptoms you think of?
When we think of depression,
feelings of sadness, hopelessness
and a loss of pleasure
are commonly attributed to it.
What you may not know is that depression
has several other signs
that are less talked about.
To better understand some
of these lesser known signs,
let's take a look at seven signs of depression
you haven't heard of.
Before we begin,
please note that this is for informative purposes only.
It's not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.
If you're struggling,
please reach out to a healthcare provider
or mental health professional for help.
Number one, you experience unexpected aches and pains.
Do you think of depression
as emotionally and mentally painful only?
Did you know it can actually manifest itself
physically as well?
People with depression often report
various aches and pains,
mostly in the back and neck area.
Although stomach pains and headaches
are possible as well.
According to research,
depression interferes with
the body's inflammatory response,
causing these various ailments.
Number two, you are forgetful.
Are you having difficulty recalling everyday details?
Do events seem to be overlapping with each other lately?
Depression affects your memories in drastic ways.
People, especially with more severe forms,
may have difficulties
with short-term memory as well.
You may struggle with concentration and brain fog.
You can also experience difficulty
in recalling life events
and mix up certain events with others
as memories blend together.
These issues may even occur after treatment.
- [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers.
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- [Amanda] Number three, you have increased vision problems.
Does it seem like the world
looks hazier than it should?
Is the world around you
more monochrome than colored lately?
A particular study from the University of Freiburg
showed that depressed patients
have increased difficulties
with contrast perception.
Patients with depression have a harder time
differentiating black from white.
In turn, this leads to a grayer,
hazier looking environment.
This is due to the dramatically lower retinal activity
that depressed patients tend to have.
The severity of this appears to be related
to the severity of the depression.
Number four, you sleep too much or too little.
How's your sleep schedule been lately?
Do you find yourself sleeping
way too much or maybe not at all?
Depression can bring serious
changes to your sleep schedule.
A proper sleep schedule directly impacts
our ability to function.
So having issues with this
leads to problems in other areas.
Sleeping too much or too little
can cause fatigue throughout the day.
That's right, sleeping too much
can make you feel tired.
According to a study,
some people tend to struggle more
with sleep apnea within their depression,
which can impact their ability
to achieve the proper amounts of REM sleep.
Number five, you have reduced sexual desire.
With depression, it's possible to lose your libido.
The increased fatigue, pain
and general loss of pleasure
can take a toll on this sensitive area,
making you less interested.
Instances of reduced sexual desire
are usually temporary,
meaning they can come and go
depending on your current situation.
However, seeking medical advice,
if this is long-term
and doesn't improve with treatment,
is important as it can be a sign
of hormonal issues.
Number six, you have increased risk
and symptoms of other conditions.
Do you feel the symptoms
of your diagnosed conditioning worsening?
Having depression can worsen symptoms
of diagnosed conditions
as well as increase your risk
for other conditions.
With stress hormones
interfering with your body's ability to heal itself,
symptoms of other physical conditions may increase.
Since the immune system is impacted,
you may be more susceptible to infection.
In other cases,
having depression can increase your risk
of developing other conditions down the road.
Such issues include arthritis, heart problems,
and strokes among many others.
And number seven, you experienced digestive problems.
Did you know depression can negatively
impact your digestion too?
As mentioned before,
depression can cause you to have
unexplained aches and pains.
Part of this includes stomach cramps and bloating.
This all, again, relates back
to the body's inflammatory response.
However, digestive problems
can go beyond pain
and may include bathroom problems.
It's possible to have increased irregularity.
And in some cases, instances of diarrhea.
Eating well and taking probiotics
may offer some benefit,
but treating the underlying depression itself
can help tremendously.
While we tend to think of depression
as something that affects our emotions,
research has shown that
this is not always the case.
Depression not only affects us emotionally,
but in some cases physically as well.
But you don't have to fight it on you around.
Don't be afraid to ask for help,
nor let the stigmas attached deter you.
No matter how bad it gets,
there's always hope that things can get better.
It's important to reach out if you're struggling.
Getting in contact
with the right mental health professional
can be a great first step
to getting your life back on track.
We hope we were able to give you insight
into the different telltale signs of depression.
What do you think about the matter?
Are there any more signs that you can think of?
Let us know in the comments.
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