10 Depression Indicators

10 Depression Indicators

Sadly in this current world there is a sharp increase in depression, and Lockdown is front and centre of the reason, currently. Iv compiled a list of 10 Depression Indicators that you may find helpful in explaining your current mood.

1/ Sleeping Patterns Irregular
2/ Perpetually Tired
3/ Lacking Energy
4/ Anxiety
5/ Totally Stressed Out and Unable to Cope
6/ Change in Appetite
7/ Lack of Concentration
8/ Lack of Motivation
9/ Isolation
10/ More Emotional

One of the key signs that you are depressed is a change in your sleep. You may notice you are more restless throughout the night, and unable to get a good night’s sleep, despite how tired you may feel. Or you may be sleeping too much. You may find yourself sleeping in too long, or desperate to spend any downtime asleep. A healthy sleep pattern is essential in maintaining your mental health:
Establish a nightly routine and stick with it. Try being in bed and waking up at a specific time each day. This process may take some trial and error before you’ve found what works best for you.
Keep the room as dark as possible.
If you feel cold, try wearing socks to bed.
Restrict your alcohol intake. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep patterns and reduce the quality of your sleep, which may lead to oversleeping
Practice relaxation before bed to help calm the mind, such as meditation, yoga, muscle contraction and relaxation.
Limit drinking for at least two hours before bed.
Make sure to speak with your doctor if you are concerned about unusual sleep patterns.

When depressed, your mind will be on overdrive causing you to feel exhausted all the time. This tiredness may persist even after you have slept:
Eat healthy foods that give you energy, avoiding processed or prepacked foods.
Exercise will not only provide mental health benefits but will also tire you out physically, helping you to get a better, more restful sleep.

You may feel a lack of energy when suffering from depression, and generally getting more tired each day:
Exercising and healthy eating coupled with a good sleep will help with a lack of energy.
Try not to allow yourself to get taken over by the feeling of no energy. If you are fine don’t stress over it.

You may be feeling anxious, with the inability to calm down or relax.
Take small breaks throughout the day to help ease your nerves. Try going for a walk or grabbing a healthy snack throughout the day
Limit or avoid caffeine and alcohol. None of us drinks enough water, internally we trick ourselves to believing that coffee or tea or energy drinks are good substitutes for fresh clean water.
Get active. Exercise will help relieve your stress and generally improve your mental health.

When you are overwhelmed, you may notice your stress levels increasing, and things that once seemed minor may be leading to stress:
At work try speaking with your manager to ask for additional time for tasks that have been stressing you out.
Take a Mental Health Day off work, in other words, take a holiday and devote it to your mental well being.
Break large tasks down into smaller ones, and focus on completing the small ones linearly instead.
Establish more balance in your life, work rest and pray (rest includes playtime, exercise and sleep whilst praying can be just that or depending on your spiritual inclination, taking time out in nature, meditation or yoga).

You may notice a change in your appetite, by under or over-eating when you are depressed:
Try establishing an eating routine, by eating at regular times each day, and sticking to it.
With a loss of appetite, try eating smaller snacks throughout the day, and eating a bigger meal when you’re feeling hungriest.
Eat healthy foods that give you the most nutrition and energy.
Limit caffeine intake as this will result in a loss of appetite.
Exercising and reducing your anxiety will also help you establish and maintain healthy eating habits.

Because you’re depressed and your mind is on other things you will struggle with concentrating for long periods and paying attention, even in short interactions with peers:
Break down big tasks into smaller ones.
Establish a plan of action and write your plan down in a to-do-list. When things are written down, they can become easier to follow. Check off completed items as you go.
Take short breaks throughout your day.

You may feel less motivated to do things, and procrastination will become your watchword. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to get things done.
Don’t be hard on yourself. Depression is an illness based on a chemical reaction in your body usually caused by external factors in your environment.

You may notice you are being withdrawn and spending less time with others. Being around others may begin to feel like too much effort or a chore. This is entirely independent of Lockdown. Although you will notice an increase in cases of depression due to this isolation.
Be selfish in taking time for yourself. Use this time to improve your well-being by doing activities you enjoy, such as reading a book, watching a film, or going for a walk.

You may feel more emotional than usual and moodier. You’ll be on edge emotionally, less patient, and will lash out much more readily.

Make sure to speak with your doctor if you think you are feeling depressed. Or call a help-line near you, especially if that depression has slipped into suicidal feelings.
Try talking to a good friend, but make sure they are listening and not just paying lip service. Lots of people will offer to listen, but very few will actually hear.
Your doctor could refer you for counselling or your could go independently, in my experience, there seems to be a stigma attached to this process. In truth, it is very beneficial in getting to the root of your issues, and is definitely something I would recommend.

If you have something I have missed from my list of 10 Depression Indicators then I would be happy to see them in the comments, and thank you for your efforts. Love you xxx