Depression is a mental health disorder that affects over 250 million people worldwide. It causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, affecting all aspects of everyday life. While experiencing occasional periods of sadness is a normal part of the human experience, chronic or severe depression can be debilitating and requires professional assistance. Let’s discuss some of the signs and symptoms that indicate when it is time to seek help with depression.
Signs it’s Time to Seek Help with Depression
One of the most common symptoms of depression is a persistent feeling of sadness that doesn’t dissipate even after positive experiences or events.
This sadness can be overwhelming, making it difficult to find joy in activities that once brought pleasure.
Other common signs it may be time to seek help for depression include:
- A loss of interest or enjoyment in activities that usually bring joy, leading to isolation and social withdrawal. If you find yourself withdrawing from activities that once brought pleasure without any apparent explanation, seeking help may be necessary.
- Changes to eating patterns. Changes to appetite can lead to overeating or undereating, causing significant weight gain or loss, respectively. If there is no apparent medical explanation for these changes, they are a potential sign of depression.
- Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, hypersomnia, or daytime sleepiness. Changes in sleep patterns can worsen depression, leading to a vicious cycle of negative emotions and sleep deprivation.
- Physical symptoms, including headaches, stomach pains, and chronic fatigue, among others. While these symptoms can have other causes, persistent and unexplained physical ailments accompanied by feelings of sadness and worthlessness can be related to depression.
- Difficulty with concentration and memory, leading to decreased productivity and performance at work or school. This symptom can cause further anxiety, worsening depression symptoms.
Learn More About How to Cope with Depression
Pay Close Attention to Intrusive Thoughts or Suicidal Ideation
Depression can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, leading to suicidal ideation or plans without warning.
If you’re experiencing intrusive thoughts of suicide or self-harm, you should seek help immediately.
When It’s Time to Seek Help with Depression
Depression is a treatable mental health disorder. Seeking help for it is essential, especially when symptoms become chronic or severe, and when self-help coping mechanisms are not effective.
Recognizing the signs is an essential step towards receiving care and addressing the underlying causes of depression.
Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength.
Mental health professionals can provide tailored treatment options to promote healing and well-being, empowering you to lead a fulfilling life.
You don’t have to face depression alone.
Know you need never be alone. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
To learn more about the complexities of depression, read 6 Forms of Depression: How to Spot Each One.
Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years as a consultant. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate coaching and leadership, including mentoring early and mid-career professionals as well as current and future executives and leaders. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from relevant experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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