Depression: When To Seek Treatment
Everyone has good and bad days. Life is hard, and each day is different. There isn't a right or wrong way to do life. It's almost as if you're playing in the game of life, and you're figuring out how to navigate it with every step of the way.
It's normal to experience a variety of emotions day-to-day. You could wake up in a really good mood, but when you arrive at work, an unexpected project with a hard deadline coming up may fill you with anxiety and dread. Maybe you received a call with some not-so-great news, and it left you feeling sad and angry.
When you're feeling down, you may know that a certain situation made you sad. If your depressed state lasts for two weeks or more, it's usually a good indicator that depression is affecting your life. At that point, it may be time to reach out to someone for help.
Here are some other indicators of when it may be time to seek treatment for depression:
Hopelessness
Hopelessness isn't just a feeling of being down or sad. This feeling occurs when you lack the hope that it can and will get better. When you start to feel hopeless, it's hard to feel anything else. Being hopeless will prevent you from thinking about the future or seeing anything beyond your current thoughts and feelings. This feeling can lead to other negative feelings and actions which can pull you into a deeper state of depression.
Scatterbrained
Depression makes it very hard for someone to stay focused or concentrate, even on normal daily tasks. People experiencing depression may make more mistakes during their day. They also have a harder time making decisions. Calling in sick to work is more common in individuals experiencing depression as well.
Physical Pains
Depression may be a mental disorder, but it also can have a huge effect on your physical state as well. Research has shown that 69% of people experiencing signs of depression also showed signs of unexplained aches and pains. Some of the most common physical pains associated with depression are the following:
Fatigue
Decreased pain tolerance
Back pain
Aching muscles
Headaches
Eye problems
Stomach pain
Digestive problems
Joint pain
Lack of Interest
One of the most common red flags for depression is having a lack of interest in things, especially in activities that you previously enjoyed doing. If you have no desire to be involved in things you once loved or if those activities no longer bring you the same joy or notification, it's a good sign that you're experiencing depression.
Substance Abuse
Another study that was conducted found that about 20% of people experiencing depression also struggle with substance abuse. Abusing substances like drugs or alcohol can be a vicious cycle, especially if you're trying to relieve your depression with them. Using drugs or alcohol for your problems is like putting a bandage on them. It may feel like a quick fix, but it's far from a long-term solution.
If you find yourself using drugs or alcohol as a way to attempt to feel better from your thoughts and feelings, it's definitely time to reach out for help.
Changes in Appetite and Sleep Habits
Whether you're eating more or binging on food as a way to make yourself feel better or you have little to no appetite, a change in your appetite or weight can be a sign of depression.
Sleep can also be affected by depression. Similar to eating habits, some people will either over or under sleep when it comes to a state of depression. If you notice your sleep is affected and it's not getting better, it could be a sign of depression.
Harmful Thoughts
If you're wondering when it's time to seek depression counseling, there's a good chance that you already need help. You deserve to be loved and accepted.
While depression might try to convince you otherwise, you are worthy of love and acceptance and you are capable of overcoming your struggles. To begin the healing process, you can contact me for a free 20-minute phone consultation.
