These 6 Depression Symptoms Often Go Unnoticed

Are you depressed? Do you suspect that someone you know has signs of depression? Depression symptoms can be very subtle. For example, overeating, sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or sleeping too little (or difficulty sleeping insomnia), abusing drugs, taking unreasonable risks, etc
Perhaps, you are wondering what are some signs of depression, or how to know signs of depression in a love one, we hope this video helps raise awareness about this mental health issue.

This video gives a general guidance and is not meant to replace professional advice. Everyone is different with their situation and may not be applied to everyone. Please seek for a professional help if you're struggling.

#depression

Writer: Chloe Avenasa
Script Editor: Vanessa Tao
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
Animator: Jillian
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:
American Psychological Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed). Washington, DC; APA Publishing.
Troisi, A., & D’Argenio, A. (2004). The relationship between anger and depression in a clinical sample of young men: the role of insecure attachment. Journal of affective disorders, 79(1-3), 269-272.

[Psychgo]

If you can help do us a FAVOR and share or WATCH some of our videos, that would be great.

[duchess_of_hazards]

1. Over eating
2. Over sleeping
3. Substance abuse
4. Risky behavior
5. Anger/ Irritability
6. Uncontrolled emotions

Don't shy away from seeking help ✨
Also, hoping people around you are supportive. 💙

[zigzaow]

About the last point, when I message someone and they don’t message back, I immediately start panicking and worrying that I annoyed them. I don’t get angry at them, I get angry at myself for not realizing that I might be annoying them, and start beating myself up over it too.

[khalilahd.]

This just goes to show you that you can’t compare one persons symptoms to another’s. People show their pain in different ways so no matter how “normal” they seem always check in on your loved ones to make sure they’re not suffering alone 💛🙏🏽

[thequietgirlinclass]

Mine is a mix of overeating, oversleeping as well as skipping meals and staying up all night thinking about life. I used to cry myself to sleep but now I'm just left with feeling numb and melancholic. I want so badly to cry it out but I can't. I want to tell people but I'm also afraid of burdening them. I just feel so lost.

[lilrican]

I was just starin at a wall thinkin how I ain’t okay and the notif for this video pops up😂💀

[Marian_]

For those in a rush^^
1.) Overeating
2.) Oversleeping
3.) Substance abuse
4.) Risky behavior
5.) Anger Irritability
6.) Uncontrollable emotions
Hope you're all doing ok! Have a nice day!

[maudlinnn]

0:40 Overeating
1:04 Oversleeping
1:34 Substance Abuse
1:58 Risky Behavior
2:32 Anger and Irritability
3:05 Uncontrollable Emotions

[squidmeat]

Something I’ve also noticed since I’ve had severe depression is I do risky behaviour without realising how risky it is. It’s almost like my subconscious is doing it for me.

[jackbarron]

Over-eating, smoking and uncontrollable emotions sounds about right. It's kinda odd, when I'm on a good day that stuff makes me sick and uneasy, but when I'm low or feeling depressed, they act like a comforting blanket. Anyone else get that?

(P.s. thanks for the video guys ❤ Very informative)

[avidhossanmansur]

For anybody who is curious
What Is Depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue
Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, hand-wringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
Feeling worthless or guilty
Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide
Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for a diagnosis of depression.

Also, medical conditions (e.g., thyroid problems, a brain tumour or vitamin deficiency) can mimic symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out general medical causes.

Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when first-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression.


Depression Is Different From Sadness or Grief/Bereavement
The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.”

But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways:

In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.
In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.
In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about “joining” the deceased loved one. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.
Grief and depression can co-exist For some people, the death of a loved one, losing a job or being a victim of a physical assault or a major disaster can lead to depression. When grief and depression co-occur, the grief is more severe and lasts longer than grief without depression.

Distinguishing between grief and depression is important and can assist people in getting the help, support or treatment they need.

Risk Factors for Depression
Depression can affect anyone—even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances.

Several factors can play a role in depression:

Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.
Genetics: Depression can run in families. For example, if one identical twin has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.
Personality: People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression.
Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression.
How Is Depression Treated?
Depression is among the most treatable mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency (reversing the medical cause would alleviate the depression-like symptoms). The evaluation will identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and planning a course of action.

Medication
Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants might be prescribed to help modify one’s brain chemistry. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquillizers. They are not habit-forming. Generally, antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on people not experiencing depression.

Antidepressants may produce some improvement within the first week or two of use yet full benefits may not be seen for two to three months. If a patient feels little or no improvement after several weeks, his or her psychiatrist can alter the dose of the medication or add or substitute another antidepressant. In some situations, other psychotropic medications may be helpful. It is important to let your doctor know if a medication does not work or if you experience side effects.

Psychiatrists usually recommend that patients continue to take medication for six or more months after the symptoms have improved. Longer-term maintenance treatment may be suggested to decrease the risk of future episodes for certain people at high risk.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy, ” is sometimes used alone for the treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT is a form of therapy focused on problem-solving in the present. CBT helps a person to recognize distorted/negative thinking with the goal of changing thoughts and behaviours to respond to challenges in a more positive manner.

Psychotherapy may involve only the individual, but it can include others. For example, family or couples therapy can help address issues within these close relationships. Group therapy brings people with similar illnesses together in a supportive environment and can assist the participant to learn how others cope in similar situations.

Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or much longer. In many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15 sessions.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is a medical treatment that has been most commonly reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. It is usually managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist and a nurse or physician assistant. ECT has been used since the 1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements and the recognition of its effectiveness as a mainstream rather than a "last resort" treatment.

Self-help and Coping
There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive feelings and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can also help reduce symptoms of depression.

Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation. This is a start to addressing your mental health needs.

Related Conditions
Peripartum depression (previously postpartum depression)
Seasonal depression (Also called seasonal affective disorder)
Bipolar disorders
Persistent depressive disorder (previously dysthymia) (description below)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (description below)
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (description below)
Please take my thoughts with a grain of salt because I'm just a student and not a trained professional.

[allister]

"Do you recognize these symptoms in someone you know?"
Me: looks in mirror
Also me: nahh-

[leonardo_mfs]

Couldn't help but shed a tear at this. I've been diagnosed with depression and I did overlook some of these before. Number 6 hit particularly hard as that's the strongest symptom I'm still feeling. I can't stop myself from crying when someone shows affection for me, for instance, when they help me with something or they just show their support. Which is weird because that should make me feel good

[ValieXDeath]

I already have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder for years now but I still click these videos to be sure lol

[AngelwithAttitude]

This is my grown adult son all his life. It’s impossible getting him to see it. He won’t. It feels like a life sentence for me. 🙄😓 Makes me want to run away forever.

[ladyart]

Even when I got diagnosed with depression and I'll be getting my meds soon, I'm still watching videoes like that because I always feel like I fake stuff and that my problem isn't valid...

[TKHSSuicideSurvivor]

I suffer from - over sleeping anger irritability depression or sometimes numbness not feeling anything some days I'm fine other days im not big thankfully I can pull myself out of this I'm strong

[mymentorjane]

One thing I’ll add from personal experience is: overworking. Looking back, I realize the long hours over months and even years was a way I distracted myself from deeply hidden heartbreak and shame. No one would have guessed I was a walking depression victim because I never stopped long enough to be discovered. A possible question to ask if you know someone in this behavior might be, “If you stopped working so hard or so much, what do you think would happen to you?” Thanks for the great video. I’m a loyal fan of this channel!

[wicked]

ive known for a while now that im depressed, but i never tell my doctor. every time i get a check-up, which is almost never, my mother is in the room since im a minor. ive tried finding ways to get help without my parents knowing, but it either runs the risk of them finding out or it doesnt work. i wanna get help, but i dont know what my mom will do if she finds out just how depressed i am. i dont know what anyone would do. ive talked at least six people out of committing suicide, some of them more than once, and i try to relate to them and help them remember how good their life can be, and i dont wanna stop helping them, but it takes such an emotional toll on me that i dont know how much longer i can keep this facade up. i dont know how much longer i can hide what im going through. theres no visible reason on the outside why i should be depressed. i just got a pc almost dirt cheap that runs better than a friend who got his for 2k. i have a gf and a healthy relationship. most of the time i can pretty much do whatever i want. ive put up such a front for so long, but i dont know how much longer i can hold that. im getting tired and i dont know what to do. i almost had a breakdown at work because it was just one rude customer after another and i was getting frustrated, and i cry when im frustrated, and i had to just shut my brain down, and just turn myself into this almost robotic version of myself, just doing what i need to do to get through it, and it worked, i made it through, but i felt like shit the rest of the day. im just so confused. i dont know what i could do at this point except hope i can hold out for another year or at least 6 months.

sorry, i needed a place to dump that, and what better place than a psych2go comment section?

[maowmeow_]

thanks to all your videos i can understand myself better and know what im actually going through ❤️!!