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Everyone goes through rough periods now and then. You break up with a significant other, lose a loved one, have a terrible day at work, or something you were looking forward to falls through. It’s normal to feel sad about these types of things. Most people will wallow in their feelings for a day or two and then bounce back. They are able to change their perspective and return to seeing the positives.
However, when you are unable to shake these feelings and they interfere with your day-to-day life, that can indicate there is a problem. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It was estimated that 16 million adults, or approximately 6.9 percent of adults in the United States, suffered from at least one major depressive episode in 2012. If left untreated, depression can have a serious impact on your quality of life and lead to suicidal thoughts or substance misuse.
Recognizing Addiction
Not everyone experiences depression in the same way. It can vary from person to person. However, some of the most common warning signs include:
- Persistent negative thoughts or sadness
This is one of the most commonly recognized symptoms. Even after a few days has passed, you continue to feel sad or hopeless. It can be difficult to see the good in each day because your mind seems to focus on the negatives. You may feel like things won’t or can’t get better and the future looks dismal. If something is going to go wrong, you think it’s sure to happen to you. Even when you try to push away these negative thoughts, they keep coming back and dampen your mood.
- Fatigue or insomnia
You may experience one or both of these conditions. Doing even the most basic tasks can make you feel drained and you find that you’re sleeping more than usual. It takes a lot of effort to make it through the day. Or, perhaps you can’t turn your mind off and sleep is hard to come by. Even when you do sleep, it’s not for long or it may not be rejuvenating. Changes to your sleep patterns can interfere with your whole day.
- Changes in appetite
When you’re not feeling up to par, it can affect your appetite as well. Sometimes this leads people to eat more as a way to try to comfort themselves and numb the pain they’re feeling. They may start gaining weight as a result and it doesn’t do anything to improve their depression. Other people find that they’re eating less because they just don’t feel hungry or it takes too much effort to prepare a meal. They may start losing weight.
- Loss of interest
This is a fairly common sign many people recognize as well. When someone is struggling with depression, they often lose interest in things they once enjoyed. They may become less social and start spending time alone more often. Hobbies they were actively engaged in fall to the wayside and they participate less frequently. Generally this is because they no longer feel the joy and excitement they once did because they can’t shake the sadness they feel.
- Irritability
Although sadness or hopelessness is common, sometimes people are also more irritable and angry. They have a shorter temper than usual and seemingly trivial things can set them off. Things that may not have bothered them as much before are now an annoyance and they have a low tolerance level.
- Substance Misuse
As a way of coping and trying to forget about their problems or feelings, some people turn to drugs or alcohol. This is a temporary fix that may provide some relief. However, it doesn’t change the underlying issues and can cause issues of its own. The more someone begins to drink, the greater risk they have of developing alcoholism. And the effects of drinking can make them feel even worse. It can be a vicious cycle.
- Suicidal thoughts
This a serious issue when it comes to depression. If someone is at the point where they are considering taking their own life, they need help immediately. Their depression has them believing that they have nothing to live for, others would be better off if they were gone, or there is no other way out. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, tell someone immediately and get help.
These are a few of the signs that may indicate depression. They can range in severity from person to person and even from one depressive episode to the next. But recognizing these signs can motivate people to seek help for themselves or others.
Overcoming Depression
There is treatment available to support people in managing or overcoming their depression. Usually a variety of treatment approaches are used for more comprehensive care. Options may include:
- Antidepressants
- Psychotherapy
- Lifestyle changes
- Relaxation techniques
- Stress management
- Coping skills
Therapy can assist people in getting to the root of the problem and recognizing what triggered their depression. The therapist can help to develop a treatment plan that incorporates changes in lifestyle and strategies for turning around negative thoughts. Medication can help to relieve symptoms and boost mood.
Without proper treatment, depression can lead to addiction if the person is using drugs or alcohol as a way to self-treat. If this is the case, seeking treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab center that offers dual diagnosis programs can be beneficial. These programs treat both addiction and mental health issues such as depression simultaneously. Clients are able to better understand how the two conditions affect one another and develop targeted recovery strategies that meet their individual needs.
Chapters Capistrano provides dual diagnosis treatment and can help you or a loved one get on the path to recovery from addition and depression. It is not too late to turn things around and there is hope. Contact Chapters Capistrano at 888-690-4900 to get started today.
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