5 Subtle Signs of Depression | You Might not be Aware of

Are you not feeling yourself lately or might know someone you think could be depressed? On this video I'm going to give you five subtle signs you or someone you know may be suffering from depression and also tell you exactly what to do about it and get yourself feeling back to normal. If you think you might be depressed or wonder what depression can look like and you want to know what to do about it then this video is for you. I just read a recent study that shows that depression can actually shrink our brain and alter the structure of it. The study from the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience showed that when we are depressed we lose grey matter. This is the stuff that contains most of the brain cells so it's really important that we take care of it. My name is Sarah Jeffries, I'm a registered nurse here in Los Angeles, California with experience in ER, nursing and education. Typically when you think of depression you often think of it in the extreme versions shown on TV or social media. They show the big signs in a like a huge mood swing or someone excessively crying. You may think of somebody depressed as like sitting in a dark room alone not speaking to people and that can be the case sometimes but not always. Depression can be very difficult to spot sometimes. The symptoms can range from mild to severe but also can sneak into everyday routines without you even realising. So here are five subtle signs of depression to look out for and also what you can do to make yourself or a loved one feel better. So number five, you have pain in your body. Pain and depression are closely linked and related to each other. In many people depression can be the reason you have some physical symptoms such as back pain and headaches. So maybe you have pain during the day in your body and you don't know why. This could be the reason for it and you've never noticed it before because you've just been dealing with the pain every day and thinking it was normal. I recommend you talk to a doctor or a specialist whether it means talking to a therapist, taking medication, using talk therapy or attending a pain rehab program or practicing stress relieving techniques. Number four, you can't seem to make up your mind and even the smallest of decisions like what to have for breakfast seem like a struggle. The reason for this is that depression if left untreated can affect the parts of your brain that help us make decisions. So even the smallest decisions you make on a daily basis like choosing your tea or coffee can be a struggle. So just remember the next time you have a problem making a choice try to go with your first instinct and know that you still have the power to turn things around if you feel like you made the wrong decision. Tip number three, irritability. This is one of the most common signs overlooked. You may have noticed that the slightest things set you off and that you're more impatient than usual for example waiting in line at the shop or getting agitated when the light turns red at the stop light. This may be a sign that there's more going on underneath. It's easy just to shrug it off and act like it's normal to lose your cool but it's not. Small issues can feel enormous when you're depressed and have an odd way of overwhelming us. So instead of losing it try some breathing techniques and remember certain situations are not under our control so we have to learn to let it go and don't be so hard on yourself. I know it's easier said than done but just think you're probably not the only one feeling like this. Have you ever experienced any of these subtle signs of depression? I know I definitely have so let me know in the comments down below and I'd love to know how you helped yourself or a loved one. Number two, you keep yourself crazy busy. It can be true that the older you get the more natural it is for your but a study showed that when you have depression you're more likely to drown yourself in work. A journal published a peer-reviewed study and showed a strong correlation between workaholism and symptoms of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. So keeping busy might be a way for people to ignore or avoid a painful issue that may be contributing or triggering the depression. So pay close attention to your head and your heart. If it feels heavier than usual don't hesitate to reach out to others for help or arrange a session with a therapist. Before I go into the last one I just want to say that if you've experienced any of these things I'm not saying that you are depressed I just want to point out that there are subtle signs of depression and it's something to look out for. If you enjoyed this video please subscribe and turn on your notification button but only for mine, switch off everybody else's. Disclaimer, this video is for educational purposes and not a replacement for medical advice. And number one, and this is a big one it's never really taken seriously in relation to depression is your weight. Losing weight or gaining weight depression can make you swing in extremes from one to the other and if you've noticed a difference in your appetite it may have to do with the emotional pain that you're feeling. Some people don't like eating when they are down and feeling low whereas others who usually eat healthy might have a craving for junk food and takeout as they are unknowingly trying to deal with depression to make themselves feel better. I really recommend that you try healthy comfort food recipes to keep yourself nourished with the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs during stressful times as not eating enough or eating too much of the wrong stuff we know does more harm than good. Click here if you want to know how to get the best night's sleep ever because not getting a good night's sleep can also factor into depression.