8 modern-day signs of depression you ought to know

Addicted to Facebook? It could be a sign of depression.

Debjani Arora | Updated: February 22, 2017 5:13 pm

After Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone came out in open and spoke about her depression, many more people flooded their social media timelines with such confessions. But are you sure about your self-diagnosis? Depression is more than just feeling low, dejected or countering loneliness. It is an illness that alters your brain chemistry. Know more about depression – causes, symptoms and treatments.

A condition like depression has a number of causes and is more often than not multifaceted. Its prevalence is more in developing countries like ours and it surpasses the mere feeling of being lonely. ‘There are certain signs and symptoms that indicate that a person is depressed and withdrawn from the world in general. With passing of generations the manifestation of the illness has changed, however, the severity of the condition still remains the same,’ says Syeda Ruksheda, family psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Mumbai.

Here are the modern day signs of depression that one should know about:

1. Social media addiction: Social media has become an inseparable part of our lives, helping us reach out to friends, increase networks, express thoughts, and opinions and is also a medium to vent out pent up emotions. But social media addiction can be harmful too. For people who are depressed this addiction appears to be bit different. ‘A person suffering from depression would feel withdrawn or refuse to interact with people around them, but could be logged on to Facebook or other social media sites for long hours. The alarming sign is that this person refuses to interact even virtually and will not ‘like,’ ‘comment,’ or ‘share’ any posts on the sites. However, it is difficult from him to not stay logged in to the sites for long hours at a stretch,’ says Ruksheda. Here are eight other ways to prevent depression.

2. Oversleeping: There is a fine line that separates oversleeping due to stress and doing the same when you are depressed. ‘In a fast paced life that we all lead, we usually suffer from the lack of sleep. Eight hours of shut-eye (or even less) is usually enough, sometimes sleeping for 10 hours at a stretch when tired is also acceptable. But if oversleeping becomes a habit it is a sign of worry. If someone struggles to stay awake despite having the necessary hours of sleep it could be a subtle sign of depression,’ informs Ruksheda.

3. Physically inactivity: There is a reason why it is said that exercise can help one beat the blues and keep depression at bay. Most depressed people find it difficult to move around or even walk, leading to more inactivity that just aggravates the condition. ‘People suffering from depression often complain of a heaviness in their limbs that retards their pace of work or just makes them feel fatigued,’ says Ruksheda. So even with the best intentions and the lack of any physical problems if one isn’t able to stay physically active, exercise or walk it could be an indication enough to seek help. Here are five health conditions that could lead to depression.

4. Extreme sensitivity to rejection: People suffering from depression also harbour a fear of rejection deep within them. ‘This fear of rejection shows up in many ways. For instance, a person might be too depressed to see that her pictures on Facebook didn’t get the requisite ‘likes’ or ‘comments’ and may start comparing his/her posts with those of others who have more social reach and feel dejected. Also, they may end a series of romantic relationships due to their fear of commitment. All this stems from a deep rooted fear that they might be rejected in the relationship sooner or later. For a person suffering from depression, sustaining a long lasting relationship becomes difficult,’ says Ruksheda. Here are tips to deal with a broken relationship and move on.

5. Subtle substance abuse: It is one thing to go out, socialise, drink and have fun with your friends and it’s totally a different thing to look for that Friday night outing desperately throughout the week. Desperation is what makes you more prone or likely to suffer from depression. ‘One might not resort to substance abuse at the outset, even though they may be suffering from depression, but there would be a constant need to reach out for it. They look for a chance to get into substance abuse on the pretense of socialising or as an excuse to feel better. This kind of substance abuse doesn’t happen every day, but probably once a week with a desperate need to get high/drunk to beat the blues,’ says Ruksheda.

6. Inability to multitask: There are times when one fails to multitask or gain control over their life. Depression often disrupts one’s ability to concentrate, focus and deliver. ‘If a person had been able to concentrate and multitask in the past and feels the pressure now, along with the other subtle signs, it is wise to seek help and get treated the right way,’ says Ruksheda.

7. Feeling fatigueded and feverish: The signs of depression are not always vague; sometimes they do manifest as physical symptoms as well. Fatigue and fever for no particular reason could be a hidden sign of depression. ‘There are times when a person might feel feverish or their blood pressure might drop without any particular explanation or any other health problems. Most of the time popping a pill or sleeping little extra can help one cope with these untimely problems, but it’s best to pay attention to these signs if these episodes happen regularly,’ says Ruksheda. Remember, depression shows up in subtle ways and can be worsened if picked up late.

8. Taking selfies: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has officially confirmed that taking ‘selfies’ is a mental disorder. ‘People who keep clicking selfies and sharing them on social sites have an inner desire to be appreciated and accepted something they aren’t able to do for themselves. However, there are people who might just click the pictures and go through them time and again. If they can’t get people to see them, they will look at them themselves and both these conditions spell danger,’ says Ruksheda.

Note: If you think that any of these signs are similar to what you are going through don’t panic. A single sign or symptom does not mean that you are depressed. In fact, depression is a compilation of various symptoms which can only be ascertained after a thorough evaluation by an expert. If you still feel that you need help and are worried about your mental well being don’t hesitate to seek help.

Image source: Getty Images

Published: April 1, 2015 7:19 pm | Updated:February 22, 2017 5:13 pm

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