You’ve noticed some changes in your loved one. They may seem sad a lot or more irritable than usual. They may not maintain their appearance and hygiene to their normal standards. Or, they’ve stopped eating and sleeping like they used to. These are all signs of depression.
Sometimes, our loved ones will come out and tell us that they’re suffering and having a hard time. But, often the signs of depression are much more subtle. Here are some signs of depression I encourage you to keep in mind when thinking about your loved one’s behavior.
5 Signs Your Loved One is Depressed:
Sudden Major Changes in Their Personality or Behavior:
Your loved one seems different lately. They’re more irritable, moody, or quiet than they used to be. They might seem very sad. Or, they may cry and stare off into space a lot.
They may have stopped activities they enjoy or stopped hanging out with the people they love. Instead, they’ve started to spend a lot of time alone.
These big personality changes are a strong indicator your loved one may be depressed.
Dramatic weight gain or loss
If your loved one has gained or lost significant amounts of weight in a short period of time, they may be depressed. To put it another way, their appetite has changed a lot. Often, people with depression report overeating to cope with their painful feelings. They may also undereat or forget to eat due to thinking about the things that are upsetting them. Furthermore, some people use exercise as a way to cope with their depression. But, people over-exercise and this causes dramatic weight loss.
Changes in sleep patterns
The inability to fall asleep or sleeping all the time are symptoms of depression. When we’re depressed, it zaps our energy. So your loved one may want to sleep more than usual or stay in bed for long periods of time. They may also struggle to sleep due to thinking about what is making them feel depressed.
Your loved one (particularly little children, teenagers, and adult men) is struggling with angry outbursts and seems irritable
Sometimes depression makes teens and adults feel hopeless and/or helpless. When this happens, they often lash out in frustration. So, they may seem very angry or triggered by the littlest thing.
Young kiddos get depressed too. Since they may not have the verbal or cognitive skills to process emotion, this comes out in the form of behavioral outbursts or tantrums. This is their way of telling you that something is wrong and they’re upset.
*Please note, behavioral concerns or depression in children should always be discussed with their pediatrician or mental health professional.
Your loved one's thought content is dark
If they have little hope for the future, self-hatred, suicidal thoughts, etc. then they must get mental health support ASAP. Thoughts of suicide or self-harm can become deadly, and they are not something that passes. In fact, they often come back stronger and more vivid.
Furthermore, if you feel that your loved one is in danger of harming themselves or others, please take them to your local emergency room or call 9-1-1.
The national suicide lifeline can offer you additional support. Click here to access their website.
Overcoming Depression is Possible
I know it can be very hard to watch your loved one suffer from depression. But, you're here reading my blog. That fact alone shows me you’re committed to helping them work through the symptoms of depression.
The good news is, depression is treatable. The symptoms they're likely experiencing respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy and/or medication. In depression treatment, they will learn coping tools and techniques to better manage the distress they’re feeling. This will help reframe negative thoughts into more productive and helpful ones.
Begin therapy for depression in Germantown, TN
If you’re concerned about your loved one, talk to them about going to therapy. If you live in the Memphis area or anywhere in the state of Tennessee, I would love to speak with you about how I can help. To begin therapy in Germantown, TN, or online therapy in Tennessee, follow these steps:
Reach out to me to schedule an appointment
Learn more about me and my approach to depression treatment
Start overcoming the symptoms of depression
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED BY STU COOK AT VITUS COUNSELING
Therapy for depression isn’t the only service I offer from my Germantown, TN-based counseling practice. I offer a variety of services designed to provide light in dark places. I provide Catholic counseling, anxiety treatment, depression treatment, ADHD treatment, couples therapy, trauma and PTSD treatment, Brainspotting, family counseling, and addiction treatment. I also offer online therapy in Tennessee. Get in touch with me to learn more about the many ways I can help you heal, or read my blog for more information.
