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What Depression Feels Like
You're Not Alone
Depression is a mental illness that effects many people around the world.
And it’s not easy to cope with. It’s a problem that many people don’t know how to deal with and a problem that many people don’t realize is an illness. Depression is a one of several mental health disorders caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It’s like a there’s not enough fuel in the tank — you’re brain isn’t producing enough of the chemicals it needs to in order for you to feel good. It can be caused by a lot of things including genetics, trauma, relationships, and a lot of other things. Depression is a disease that can be easily treated, but a lot of people are
afraid to seek treatment. In this blog post, I will be addressing the physical and mental effects of depression. I will also discuss the things that are commonly thought to cause depression. Depression is not a choice and it’s not something that can just be gotten over. If you want to know what depression is like, read this blog post.
Contents
Symptoms of Depression
As a mental health issue, depression is a common problem. 1 in 10 people will get depressed each year. In fact, depression in adults is predicted to double over the next twenty years as the world population continues to grow. People with depression feel:
- Loss of Interest in Activities You Used to Enjoy
- Changes in Appetite
- Too Much Sleep and Energy or Not Enough
- Feelings of Worthlessness
- Difficulty Thinking
- Suicidal Thoughts or Attempts
Depression does not discriminate. Depression symptoms may be similar for different people, but everyone experiences depression differently. Depression can be triggered by a major life event or loss, such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. Depression can also be brought about by a chemical imbalance in the brain that leads to neurotransmitter imbalances, such as serotonin. Having depression effects your overall health and well-being. As a qualified health care professional I can help.
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Diving Deeper into Depression Signs
Depression affects 350 million people worldwide, and yet it’s still one of the most taboo and misunderstood mental illnesses out there. For every person who suffers from depression, there are several people who have never experienced it or who don’t believe it’s a real condition. Sure, you might know depression as a feeling of being sad and hopeless, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Additional symptoms of depression can vary from person to person including:
- Persistent Sad, Anxious, or “Empty” Mood
- Feelings of Hopelessness or Pessimism
- Feelings of Guilt or Worthlessness
- Loneliness or Isolation
- Decreased Interest or Pleasure in Most Activities
- Loss of Appetite and Weight (or Overeating and Weight Gain)
- Insomnia or Early-Morning Awakening, or Oversleeping
- Fatigue or Loss of Energy
- Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering Details, or Making Decisions
- Not Wanting to Move or Get Up
It isn’t just feeling sad once in a while. Depressive episodes caused by depressive disorder can feel like overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness that can last for weeks, months, or even years. And it is different for everyone. Some people with depressive disorder feel hopeless, like nothing will ever go their way again. Others feel worthless, like they are a burden on everyone around them. Still others feel like they want to die. And some people with depression don’t feel any of these things. It’s important to note there are multiple types of depression and there are many terms to describe it, some of which are listed below.
The Types of Depression
- Dark Depression
- Severe Depression
- Postpartum Depression
- Psychotic Depression
- Bipolar Depression
Daily Life
Depressive disorder can seriously impact your quality of life. Depression is not a one-and-done type of disease. When it hits you, everything you used to enjoy doing seems pointless and uninspiring. You can be having a great time with the people you love, but you’ll be thinking about how you should be doing something else that you actually like. It’s like you’re watching a movie of your life — and you’re just not happy about it. It’s a little like having a split personality. You can see the beauty of everything around you, but you can’t appreciate it. You can go to the beach on a gorgeous summer day, and you can see the beauty of the waves and the sky, but you can’t feel the warmth of the sun on your face. You may also want to sleep more or less than normal. Oversleeping can be a sign of avoiding wanting to feel the uncomfortable feelings associated with depression.
Additionally, accomplishing daily tasks can also be tough given the lack of energy you might experience.
From a Brain Perspective
Clinical Depression affects millions of people of all ages, races, and cultures. It is not caused by a single event in your life, but a combination of events that may include: family history of depression, a genetic predisposition to depression, a chemical imbalance in the brain, or a traumatic event. It isn’t your fault, and it is not something you can control. It is chemical. It is treatable.
From An Energy Body Perspective
I find it important to look at issues through a holistic lens, and not just as mental health issues. Feelings of depression can seem like a heaviness or a total absence of joy in life. Energetically, we could look at this as a lack of vital energy in the root chakra. Additionally, depression can be sadness in the sacral chakra caused by stuck creative energy that’s not being expressed. From this energetic standpoint, strengthening your vital energy by grounding and giving yourself and outlet to express your creativity can be helpful in easing symptoms.
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Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression
Major depression can be big part of bipolar disorder. In addition to the manic phase which is really high energy, severe depression can cause you to feel extremely low energy along with many of the symptoms of depression mentioned above.
Social Activities
Due to the lack of energy and low self-worth often associated with depression, when people are feeling depressed they’re less likely to socialize; serving as a cause for disconnection from family and friends. If you have a healthy relationship with close family members, they can be crucial supports in your healing process. This is ironic because this is when they’re really needing connection most.
Connecting with other people is one of the ways that you can start to feel better.
Suicide
It is the leading cause of disability in the United States and it is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 44. This means that every year, approximately 1 million Americans attempt suicide and approximately 30,000 Americans actually die from suicide. Suicidal thoughts can be part of depression and make it more likely for folks to commit suicide. It is important to recognize this problem and talk about it. Part of that recognition is noticing if you’re having crisis warning signs or severe symptoms. Crisis warning signs can include thoughts of suicide, suicidal ideation, or suicide methods. Depressive episodes can come on unexpectedly. If you’re starting to engage in high-risk activities, that can be a sign of the onset of depression and/or bipolar disorder. If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the appropriate emergency hotline or go to the nearest hospital emergency room so you can the help you need immediately.
Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events—the individual fears that the worst will happen and their anxiety increases. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat, whereas anxiety is the expectation of future threat. Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing. Anxiety can be appropriate, but when experienced regularly the individual may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Like depression, it’s important to notice when stressful life events may be causing your anxiety to ratchet up. Taking time for self-care in those moments is super important.
Treatment
Depression is a mental illness and mood disorder that can be treated through a combination of holistic methods, therapy, and healthy lifestyle changes. Depression can be debilitating, making it difficult to enjoy life. But many people who suffer from depression don’t know where to seek help. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed to see a doctor or therapist, or they may not realize that depression is nothing to be ashamed of. In many cases, depression can be treated with holistic methods and psychotherapy. Treatment for depression varies based on the person, but there is a way to get better. You can get better.
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Holistic Approaches
Daily exercise is shown to be beneficial for treating depression and other mental disorders; even simple exercises like taking a walk. Doing simple exercises to move your body can help ease some of the physical symptoms associated with depression. Other helpful daily activities include noticing dietary triggers for depression. Is there a pattern you can observe between what you eat and the impact it has on how you feel? Social interaction as mentioned above can be helpful especially if you’re creating meaningful connection.
Reach Out for Help
The purpose of this blog is simple – to demonstrate the reality and severity of depression. It is often a misunderstood condition.
You may have been depressed at some point in your life, but if you haven’t, it can be difficult to know how depressed people experience it. I have suffered from depression in the past, and I am writing this to give you an idea of what it is like. This is not a guide to self-diagnose yourself as depressed. But if you are struggling with issues such as feeling down, feeling hopeless, or feeling like life isn’t worth living, you may be depressed. If you are feeling these things and they are getting in the way of your life, you may be depressed. You’re not alone. Depression is a treatable condition. Depression is not something that can be “gotten over” and it’s not something that one simply “grows out
of.” Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is not something
that can be overcome with positive thinking alone. It can be overcome with help, though. Some people go their entire lives suffering and not receiving the care they need. You don’t have to. If you think that you might be depressed and you don’t know where to turn, you can find help here. As a qualified mental health professional I can offer support. I hope this blog has helped you understand what depression feels like. If
you think you might be suffering from depression or would like to learn more, schedule your free call with me today. I would love to help you take the next step towards feeling better.
By David Redbord, MA, MPH, LPCC
#1 International Bestselling Author and Walk and Talk Therapist
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Sources
Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. (mayoclinic.org)
American Psychiatric Association. (mayoclinic.org)
National Institute of Mental Health. (mayoclinic.org)
National Institute of Mental Health. (mayoclinic.org)
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