Ever feel sad, anxious or bored? Do you find you’re fatigued, or more tired than usual, is everything too much of an effort? Have trouble getting to sleep, or find you oversleep often? Is your thinking slow, your concentration low, are you forgetful or indecisive? Have you lost interest in food, college, or going out? Does your life seem a bit duller than it used to? Do you have low self esteem, or feelings of guilt? Do you suffer from a lot of headaches, chest or other pains that you can’t explain?
There are loads of symptoms of depression, and these are just some of them. Suicidal thoughts are obviously a sign too, but it’s good to be aware of many of the less obvious ones.
We all feel down from time to time, that’s normal. If you have a relationship break up or if a close friend or relative passes away, it is natural to feel sad and sometimes want to withdraw from people for a while.
However, it is when these brief periods turn into extended periods of feeling down that we need to watch out for ourselves and those around us. It is important to be able to recognise the signs of depression so that you can be there for friends or classmates who you think might be feeling low.
However, it is important to realise that many of these symptoms can crop up on their own, or together, but not necessarily mean the person experiencing them is depressed.
If you or someone you know are experiencing some of these symptoms, please talk. Talking is a sign of strength, not of weakness.