Whether it’s from chronic pain, losing your job, or any other life event, depression is something that everyone deals with at some point in their lives. Occasional depression is normal, however, severe depression that limits your quality of life is not. The trick is to know the difference between being slightly depressed and needing help for severe depression. If you are trying to tell the difference between the two, read on below for a few of the top symptoms of severe depression and how you can help yourself or your loved one get through this dark period in your lives.
Hopeless Outlook on Life
Major depression affects how you look at life as a whole. Having a hopeless outlook and feeling helpless is a common sign of severe depression. If you or your loved one feel like life is not worth living and are ready to give up, it’s important to try and get help as quickly as possible. If you are in Southern California and find you need help, look for a reputable Santa Barbara behavioral health facility to treat you.
Lost Interest in the Things You Love and Enjoy
If you or your loved one have lost interest in doing the things you love then it’s time to seek help for your possible depression. Depression is known to take the joy out of everything you enjoy and love. Withdrawal from friends, sports, and other activities, because you don’t enjoy them anymore or they don’t seem worth the time is a clear sign of depression.
Increased Problems with Sleep and Fatigue
The reason that you or your loved one might get to the point that you don’t enjoy doing anything is because you are always tired, and your sleep patterns are compromised. Depression takes everything out of you, making you exhausted, which leads to excessive sleeping. On the other end, depression can also lead to insomnia, which also makes you tired all of the time.
You Can’t Control Your Emotions
Depression can also lead to an influx of emotions that you can’t control. One minute you may be extremely angry and the next moment, you might be crying and unable to stop. If you see that you have the symptoms above or even a combination of a few of them, you need to seek help to get your life back on track.
You Think Often of Death
Oftentimes, severe depression comes with thoughts of suicide. People who die by suicide often show symptoms of depression first, so look for these symptoms in your loved ones and yourself. If you feel that you are severely depressed, please get help somewhere, whether it’s through a hotline or your doctor.
These are just a few of the symptoms and signs of severe depression. Whether it’s you or your loved ones showing symptoms, it’s important to seek help from a reputable source. There is help out there, you just have to reach out and find it.