Contents
It is quite normal to feel tired, melancholy or discouraged at times, but you should still worry when this state of sadness continues to the point of affecting your daily life.
When the nights become short and the appetite disappears with the joy of living, when dark ideas multiply and we no longer taste for anything, we may be dealing with depression nervous.
Because of its many symptoms and the varying duration of their onset, nervous breakdown is not easy to diagnose. However, some signs do not deceive. Here is a list of 12 symptoms that should alert you.
And if you recognize that you have these symptoms, don’t waste time taking action! The sooner you treat depression, the faster you will get better.
12 symptoms of depression you shouldn’t miss
1 – A prolonged state of sadness
There is a big difference between just a passing blast and a state of sadness accompanied by a feeling of emptiness. Some people with depression describe it as falling into a bottomless pit with no way out.
If this feeling of sadness lasts and puts color in all of your thoughts and emotions, then it is possible that you are suffering from a depressive episode.
2-Loss of interest in daily activities
When the things that you used to love no longer arouse the slightest interest in you, beware. It is very possible that you are suffering from a nervous breakdown.
This disease in fact eliminates the taste and interest in the activities of everyday life. Over time, the notion of pleasure disappears and we no longer have a taste for anything. This loss of interest also affects libido. Sexual desire is no longer or much less felt in depressed people.
This is often one of the first symptoms of depression. Indeed, the mood of a depressed person is extremely volatile.
This can easily go from a state of stress to giggles in a matter of minutes. She is easily distracted, often lost in thought. She can also get angry a little too easily, because it only takes a little to get her into a mad rage.
It is perfectly normal to have mood swings without feeling depressed, but if they are very common and extremely strong, it is a sign to be aware of.
4- eating disorders
A depressed person tends to have eating disorders. While some people completely lose interest in eating and lose weight visibly, others seek comfort in food and gain weight.
Rapid weight loss or gain is another sign to keep in mind.
As you have probably guessed, depression also affects sleep. Here again, this can manifest itself differently from person to person.
For some people, the nights are very short and rather hectic with frequent awakenings. For others, sleep has become a sort of refuge. Suddenly, they sleep a lot. Unfortunately, it is far from restful sleep. Fatigue remains present despite the entire or almost entire days spent in bed.
For my part, I remember having suffered from insomnia when objectively everything “was fine”. I was on vacation, no stress from work, but I spent nights without sleeping. Added to this is a feeling of guilt and quite a strong anxiety. There you have the ingredients for insomnia.
Note that in some people, hypersomnia and drowsiness replace insomnia. It’s like a sort of defense mechanism. When we sleep all our worries we disappear.
6-Lethargy or hyperactivity
A dynamic, even hyperactive person can lose energy overnight when suffering from a nervous breakdown.
The joy of life and hyperactivity give way to lethargy. Conversely, a person who is usually calm and collected can suddenly become super active.
Like other symptoms of depression, one should be careful about the sudden change.
7-Slowing of thought
A nervous breakdown can make it difficult to concentrate, think and think clearly. This is mainly due to the fact that the victim lacks sleep and is tired.
There is also the fact that the levels of neurotransmitter elements such as serotonin and dopamine in the body of a depressed person are dropping.
Loss of memory, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating are among other signs that should alert you to the possible presence of a nervous breakdown.
Vast question of the notion of self-esteem. The loss of self-esteem can be seen as a symptom but also as a cause of the onset of depression.
According to some experts, the loss of self-esteem is actually a consequence of nervous breakdown, rather than a symptom.
Indeed, the depressive state is generally badly perceived in today’s society. It is often seen as a weakness. Suddenly, the person who suffers from it develops a feeling of guilt and loses their self-esteem.
You know, things like, “Don’t worry, it’s gonna be okay” or “But why is it not okay? all is well for you, you have a job, a house… ”often lead to a strong feeling of guilt.
9-Dark thoughts and sugary thoughts
This is the first sign that distinguishes a true nervous breakdown from a state of depression. A person who reaches this stage is at risk of suicide.
In fact, the person is afraid of never finding the joy of living again, of never being cured, so they no longer find any meaning in life. This is how the subject develops dark ideas that are potentially dangerous for his life.
If this is your case, you should go see a doctor and nothing prevents you from starting your own program. But pride in this case is of no use. The most important thing is to act quickly.
10-Permanent state of fatigue
A person with depression feels tired all the time without being able to explain the reasons.
She may even be unaware of her condition, thinking she is dealing with an illness. Sometimes it takes a lot of medical exams to come to the conclusion that the whole problem is depression.
In my case the fatigue was intense and again for no objective reason. I have rarely felt such a state of slowness and fatigue.
11-Psychomotor slowing down
This symptom results in slow speech, difficulty concentrating and thinking.
The depressed individual loses energy, lacks willpower and finds it difficult to accomplish even easy tasks. He tends to indulge in inactivity.
A nervous breakdown can be insidious. It happens that the unconscious is manifested through physical signs such as stomach pain, digestive disorders, back pain and headaches.
Some people with depression talk about feeling like they have a lump in their throat all the time. Others suffer from stomach cramps. The depressive state can also be accompanied by a decrease in immune defenses.
What to know about the symptoms of nervous breakdown
When you experience feelings of sadness for a while and find it difficult to smile again, it is very likely that it is a transient state of depression. Indeed, all states of sadness do not necessarily translate a nervous breakdown.
The possibility of a nervous breakdown is considered when the cockroach hits” install in a sustainable way, to such an extent that it affects the daily life of the person concerned, requiring medical consultation and appropriate treatment.
Know that depression is not a simple fatigue or temporary psychological fragility that can be made disappear with a minimum of will. It is a disease that requires care.
This is why if you observe three or four of the symptoms mentioned above, you must consult a doctor who will carry out examinations.
A diagnosis not always easy
You should know that nervous breakdown is a disease that is not always easy to diagnose. In fact, many people think they know the signs of this disease and feel able to recognize them.
However, the reality is quite different. The proof is that it is very often difficult to realize that one of our relatives is suffering from a nervous breakdown.
In addition, we tend to put depression and nervous breakdown in the same basket. This is because what depressed people feel is quite subjective.
However, some signs are quite recurring and can be easily identified if we carefully observe the behavior of the person concerned.
Real physical symptoms
The first symptom that should trigger your ears is the state of sadness that affects all aspects of life. He sees everything in black, even the most positive things.
For him, the slightest problem is insurmountable. Suddenly, he easily gives way to despair and cultivates a state of lethargy. This depressive state will not disappear without support, unlike the temporary depression which dissipates over time. The depressed person is always in a melancholy mood every day.
Why can a depressed person have a stomach ache?
Because the body tends to turn psychological pain into physical pain. This is how the general state of fatigue appears, which does not disappear after rest.
This type of physical fatigue is often accompanied by intellectual fatigue and the whole pushes the patient to isolate himself and flee reality. This is also why depressed people have little or no social life.
To this we must add loss of interest and desire in the little things in life which in normal times brings joy and motivation.
A vicious circle not easy to stop
What’s most about depression is the damage it does to morale and self-esteem. Insidiously, a feeling of failure sets in gradually in the sick person and his gaze on those around him is darkened by this feeling.
Suddenly, he has a tendency to withdraw into himself and to have dark thoughts. The support that his relatives give him is not enough, because the disease requires treatment. This does not mean that loved ones do not have a major role to play. On the contrary, medical follow-up accompanied by support from loved ones leads to recovery.
Finally, you should know that depression is not without effect on the body of the person who suffers from it. The permanent fatigue she experiences is usually accompanied by a drop in libido.
The almost permanent feeling of stress and anxiety reminds him of his condition. Dark thoughts can develop into a suicidal state, which is to be taken very seriously. We must not forget that depression is a real disease that can be treated, but the intervention of a specialist doctor is still necessary.
Act quickly: implement your anti-depression action plan
One of the keys to recovering quickly from a depressive episode is his ability to act quickly and recognize his symptoms on himself without judging negatively.
Once you agree that you have depression, you can take action. For my part, I favor a multidisciplinary and as natural approach as possible. Of course, drugs can be important to get out of the most difficult places, but they will never solve the cause of the problem.
A good plan of action may include the use of natural anti depressants like St. John’s Wort and Griffonia or 5HTP. The implementation of physical activities, the use of light therapy, social reconnection, relaxation, the use of cognitive therapies or CBT., Meditation.
For an overview of my anti-depression plan: click here