Interesting Psychology Team
What does depression look like?
When it comes to a depressed person, Most people would probably picture someone who is so hopeless that they can’t get out of bed or function in their day-to-day life. But the truth is that many people suffer from depression in secret. They look happy, and they seem to be managing their lives. You might even describe them as successful and pleasant to be around.
Some people with depression can seem like they lead a perfect life on the outside, but on the inside, they struggle to cope every day. You might be completely unaware that someone in your life is suffering from depression; and they might be, too. People often brush aside negative feelings and refuse to acknowledge symptoms of depression because they fear being seen as “weak.”
The symptoms and challenges of depression can vary from person to person. But, there are some common signs that someone is secretly suffering. Here are 11 of those signs:
1 – They Wear A Forced ‘Happy Face’ And Always Make Excuses
Everyone has a mask that they put on in certain situations, but some people wear that mask all the time. And the longer you spend with them, the thinner their mask wears. You might catch a glimpse of their true self during an honest conversation or in a moment of silence.
Forced happiness is a difficult mask to wear every day, and so people who are depressed tend to minimize the time they spend with others. They often make excuses to avoid socializing or back out of plans last minute.
2 – They Are Overly Emotional
People with depression have a tendency to bottle up their emotions. But those emotions don’t disappear. Instead, they overflow at the slightest inconvenience. If someone becomes volatile over small things, it could be because depression overwhelms them with emotions. They might cry, become angry, or even have an emotional breakdown in response to something most people would normally brush off.
3 – They Seem Unable To Concentrate
When someone suffers from depression, they’re more likely not to return calls; they miss appointments and feel drained all the time. And if they don’t want you to know about it, they start fabricating cover-ups.
Sometimes, they lie to you because they’re lying to themselves. They might refuse to acknowledge their negative state and attempt to hide it from everyone. This sign of depression isn’t easy to spot. However, if you start to see patterns of flaky or secretive behavior, it’s safe to assume that something is wrong.
5 – They Complain About Unexplained Aches And Pains
Most people think of depression exclusively as a mental illness. But it negatively affects the body, too. Those who suffer from depression are three times more likely to develop chronic pain than those who don’t. That’s because the body often reacts to emotional pain with an immune response that causes chronic inflammation.
Sadly, depression is severely underdiagnosed. Even if someone with depression sees a doctor, their treatment is more likely to focus on the symptoms of aches and pains than the source.
