I didn’t know I had depression until I got diagnosed with it: Signs to look out for

As I sit at my kitchen table surrounded by happy memories around me, I can’t help but remember the times when I didn’t feel my best but didn’t know what I was suffering from. The moments when everything good began to fade and a weird sense of sadness took over, aren’t blurred in my memory. I would spend hours with my friends and family, and still feel that I am not present – so the details evade me! I used to cry without any reason, which is when I talked to people around me. While I refused to acknowledge that not everything was right, my family asked me to see a psychiatrist. It was then I learned that I was suffering from depression without knowing it. For someone with a smile on her face all the time, I couldn’t believe it but the signs suggested otherwise.

Aanchal (name changed), a 32-year-old woman and a mother of one, shared her story with HealthShots. She is one of the many people who could be depressed without knowing that they may be suffering from depression. “I have not recovered completely, but I will continue to battle through depression and shall prevail,” she says.

Could you be depressed without realising it?

It might sound a bit odd that someone wouldn’t know if they are depressed, but it happens. Depression can creep in without you noticing, and change your perspective on life. While many people feel that depression is easily noticeable, that isn’t true. You might feel tired all the time, not able to eat, or not able to sleep properly but still wouldn’t realize that you are suffering from depression.

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Depression symptoms can be quite confusing, which is why you need to see a professional who can help you figure out the reason you are feeling depressed. While you might feel that you don’t care about a certain thing, it could be because you are not able to because your mind is not allowing you to. This is the reason why you need to know the signs of depression to avoid its complications.

Regardless of how progressive the world has become, there are some topics that people don’t talk about openly – mental health is one of them! One of the most common mental health conditions is depression.

Signs of depression you shouldn’t ignore!

Dr Soumiya Mudgal, Senior Consultant Mental Health And Behavioural Sciences, Psychiatry, Max Hospital, Gurugram, Haryana, told HealthShots that a lot of patients present themselves with vague physical body symptoms or disinterest. It is essential for people to understand that depression doesn’t always present itself as a low-mood symptom. Symptoms of depression could be as mild as a low mood symptom to more serious like anxiety, she adds.

Here are the common symptoms of depression, as pointed out by the expert:

• Disinterest in work
• Lack of concentration
• Increased anxiousness and stress
• Sudden changes in appetite (either binge eating or loss of appetite)
• Disrupted sleeping patterns (decreased or increased sleep)
• Feeling more lethargic than usual

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, consult a doctor immediately and get yourself evaluated to avoid serious consequences.

Why you shouldn’t ignore the signs of depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that can lead to a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in all the activities around you. From the way you feel to the way you think, it affects everything. So, it’s not your typical blues you feel every now and then. Instead, it is a consistent feeling that you can’t snap out of. Studies suggest there could be severe consequences for ignoring the signs of depression.

Also Read: Depression can be of different kinds. Here’s what you must know

Several medical studies suggest that depression can trigger the following complications:

• Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Panic attacks or anxiety
• Social phobia
• Having suicidal thoughts
• Premature death due to a chronic illness

It can also make matters worse for people with an underlying problem. So, it’s important to notice the signs of depression.