Depression is associated with some major signs like a cloud of extreme sadness and not feeling hopeful about anything in life but there are other signs which can also be indicators of depression including weight gain and feeling nothing at all. Awareness of these symptoms is necessary in order to consider oneself as affected by depression. Many people don’t consider that they may be suffering from depression because they don’t want to appear weak but for many other people lack of awareness of symptoms also hinders diagnosis of depression.
Correct and timely diagnosis of depression is essential because depression can be life threatening and also timely diagnosis makes it easier for people to be treated and to return to their normal life.
Here are some symptoms that can be caused by depression:
1. Recurring Pain
The neural pathways and transmitters of physical pain and depression are the same thus people suffering from mental illness or depression are also faced with repeated and persistent pain.
A recent research shows that patients of depression report feeling extreme back and neck pain four times more than those without any depression. This generally happens because people with low mood are more sensitive to their body and thus feel pain more intensely. Issues like headaches and pain in stomach or general pain in body become more intense.
A research done in 2008 corroborated this research by finding out that when people who already feel sad are faced with the possibility of pain they show higher levels of emotion and less of coping mechanism and hence their ability to handle pain is significantly reduced.
2. Increase in Weight
Emotional eating is a common occurrence during depression and can lead to weight gain. Many people faced with depression resort to late night snacking or even impulsive eating when they don’t feel like carrying out daily activities.
Eating our favorite food releases serotonin our mood balancing hormone. Even though this hormone resists depression but eating too much of our favorite food can lead to putting on those extra pounds. This extra weight can also lead to body image issues and guilt without treating the actual cause of depression.
Interestingly weight loss can also be caused by depression as some people lose their appetite when faced with depression. Depression also makes it difficult for people to lose weight in the long term or to stick to their diet.
3. Being in a Constant Negative Mood
Getting irritated on the slightest issues and being in a bad mood throughout the day is also a symptom of depression.
In 2013, a study was published in JAMA Psychiatry in which it was discovered that more than half of the people facing depression also had other negative moods including hostility, irritability and a bad temper.
Once a person is affected by a negative state of mind other similar moods also become easy to catch on.
4. Feeling of Nothingness
Implicit or explicit every person has something to look forward to which makes them motivated and ready to face the day. These can include various things: for many people it is their work for others its family or even their exercise routines or socializing with friends but those affected by depression lose the meaning in their life. This results in the person feeling nothing and being impartial and neutral towards everything.
Thing which used to evoke emotions barely ring any bell now. This is one of the most significant signs of depression and makes the patient seem distracted and distance.
5. Increase in Alcohol Consumption
An increase in the amount of alcohol consumption may also be a sign of depression. A significant number of people who have depression also start drinking alcohol excessively.
A recent study reports this to be nearly one third of the people suffering from depression. A drink or two are good for relaxing and getting away from tensions but excessive drinking can make you feel negative emotions more strongly. This is why the recommended daily consumption of alcohol is one glass for women and double this amount for men.
6. Addiction to Social Media
If you have started using social media excessively or are getting addicted to online shopping or gambling then this may also be a symptom of depression. Many people suffering from depression are reported to excessively use Facebook. This is because it provides them with a good distraction and they can get away from their feeling and emotions for some time.
People undergoing depression sometimes lack companionship in their real life and they seek to overcome this shortcoming by creating online lives for themselves
Does pain cause depression?
Want to see my life changing