Unmasking Depression
Surprising Symptoms
“This is so depressing!” Have you or someone you know said this or something similar? Perhaps you were watching a sad movie, or you read a news article that was less than encouraging. Or maybe, your favorite contestant didn’t win - The Bachelor/Bachelorette anyone? Many, if not all of us are familiar with the term “depression”. In fact, many of us have thrown this term around when we’ve had a bad day, seen or read something sad, or have come up against a difficult situation.
While most of us have talked loosely about the sense of feeling depressed for one reason or another, there are many of us who have first hand experience of it. Maybe you have struggled, or are struggling with depression, or maybe a family or close friend is. While many of us are familiar with the common symptoms of depression, there are what we’d call hidden symptoms of depression that go unnoticed and therefore untreated. In this article, we hope to unmask these hidden symptoms in hopes that exposing them brings hope to those who feel they are suffering in the dark.
What Depression is NOT
Due to the fact that the term depression gets used so widely, we felt it was important to distinguish between depressing feelings and the clinical diagnosis of depression, as they are not the same thing. The idea that we feel depressed at times is a valid experience of sadness, maybe even extreme sadness, about something or someone. However, this is what we’d call a natural part of the human experience. It is “normal,” even healthy, to feel sad when we receive bad news, or when we are disappointed in the outcome of a situation. Feeling sad or disheartened about the loss of someone dear to us is a healthy part of the grieving process. Feeling upset or discouraged about a negative diagnosis, or the loss of a pet is an expected reaction. Feeling a sense of anxiety about the loss of job or an investment gone sour is part of finding another route to have our financial needs met. While it may feel like depression, none of these on their own meet the criteria for true clinical depression. Why? Well, there are different theories on what depression is and what it isn’t, but most theories will agree on this: depression isn’t just a feeling.
What Depression IS
In clinical terms, depression is a mood disorder primarily characterized by lasting feelings of hopelessness or sadness, and a loss of interest in activities that you once found enjoyable.
A lived experience of depression looks more like this: the enduring sense that life is too difficult to manage, nothing will ever improve, and that you are alone in your suffering. In a nutshell, depression lends itself to extreme lasting feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. When it goes untreated or unacknowledged, depression can even lead to suicidal ideation and hopelessness. While these symptoms of depression can be noticeable and are usually recognized as being more than just sadness, there are many cases where depression goes unnoticed. The unfortunate news: depression is a very common experience. The good news: in most cases, depression is very treatable.
Hidden Symptoms of Depression
The symptoms of depression can look different across age groups, across sexes, and even across cultures. We want to point a few of them out so that they can become more easily recognized and treated, when necessary!
Children: Depression in children may present as a lack of motivation or care. This is often reflected in school work and extracurricular activities. It can look like your child or teen simply isn’t trying hard enough, or doesn’t care to do well, when they are actually dealing with depression. Depression may also present as anxiety (or a tummy ache), or angry outbursts.
Teens: In teens, depression can look like an increase in risk-taking behavior. It may be tempting to think that they are going through a “rebellious phase” or simply trying to assert their dominance, when really, they are trying to drown out the dull and dampening symptoms of depression. Similar to children, depression in teens may also appear as anger.
Adult Males: Some of the symptoms males may experience are guilt, indecisiveness, feeling overwhelmed, and engaging in drugs or alcohol. Irritability and anger are some of the more common signs of depression in men.
Adult Females: In women, depression symptoms may be brought on as a result of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause. These symptoms may present as emotional upset, fatigue, or feelings of emptiness, but may also present as physical aches and pains, or even gastro-intestinal issues.
You may be realizing that you or someone you know could be struggling with depression. We’ve included a few pointers on helpful and unhelpful ways to support them, or ask for support from others.
DON’T:
Attempt to relate by saying you understand how they are feeling - even if you have experienced depression yourself, everyone’s experience is unique and this may come across as insensitive even if it is communicated with the best of intentions
Force - it can be tempting to try forcing someone with depression to get out and get moving, however this may backfire leading them to further isolate. Try gentle encouragement, or invitation instead.
Ask why they are depressed - Depression can be brought on by environmental/social factors, physiological/biological factors, or a mixture of both. A person who is depressed may not understand why they are depressed, and being questioned about it may only lead to a greater sense of frustration or sadness.
DO:
Validate - let the person know how they are feeling deserves to be noticed and not taken for granted, or questioned
Be available - people with depression often isolate themselves from others. While they may wish to be alone, it can be good to know help is there when they need it, or that someone cares.
Talk about it - differentiate dealing with depression from an identity of being depressed. It’s not uncommon to hear “I am depressed,” but it can be helpful to remember that depression is something a person may have, but it is not who they are.
If you, or someone you know is depressed, this is not something to be ignored. Please reach out for help, we don’t want you to feel like you are alone in this. If you are concerned about your own safety or someone else’s safety, please call the Distress Centre (Calgary) at (403) 266-4357 for 24hr support, or if in immediate danger, 911.
For more information, feel free to visit the websites below:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/depression-in-men
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-women
About The Author:
Chanae Smith, Registered Psychologist
-Chanae is a wife, a mother, and a Registered Psychologist that enjoys traveling, eating good food, learning, and playing. Chanae works with children and adults to form healthier relationships within the context of their homes, schools, personal relationships and even in the wider society.
To find out more about the services Chanae offers, please click on the 'Team’ link below: