Due to stigma, fear, and ignorance, mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or other chronic medical disorders are not discussed openly in the communities for decades. Unlike physical conditions, mental illnesses, particularly depression, show no obvious symptoms, and the conditions are not easy to diagnose or to observe. People with mental illness purposely hide the signs, or they just don’t know that there’s something wrong with them.

On the other hand, if it is not diagnosed or treated on a timely basis, the occurrence of significant symptoms linked to depression that has a gradual effect. It may lead to a physical impairment, or if the symptoms remain unrecognized, leave you passionless and tired.

According to comprehensive research studies, the signs of depression are primarily associated with hormonal imbalances, stressful activities, and personality characteristics, a traumatic accident, or negative encounters at some times in life. Depression affects how you think, behave, feel, and manage everyday activities like working, sleeping, and eating. Most people simply say, “I feel depressed” to describe a natural, temporary drop in mood after a traumatic event, like having a disagreement with a partner or experiencing financial hardship. But despite being synonymous with sorrow, true depression can trigger far more than negative feelings.

Common Symptoms of Depression

Depression symptoms can be complex and differ significantly between humans. You can feel sad, helpless, and lose interest in things you used to enjoy if you’re depressed. People with serious depression do not all have the same symptoms, but they may include:

• Continuous low mood or sadness – When feeling sad is a symptom of depression, This may involve thoughts of hopelessness and loneliness. You can find that no matter how hard you try, your negative thoughts simply can not be managed. You may notice that you weep for no apparent reason.
• lack of energy(decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”)- You can feel exhausted all the time if you have depression. People with depression can experience a slowing down of their physical abilities.
• A change in sleeping patterns- Depression may have severe and varying effects on our circadian rhythm and the period of sleep. People most frequently experience increased fatigue or daytime sleepiness, which can contribute to increased hours of sleep. Waking up too early in the morning, not being able to fall asleep, or sleeping too much can all be symptoms of depression.

• Loss of interest or enjoyment in usually desirable activities- A common symptom of depression is a lack of interest in pleasurable things such as sex, hobbies or social interactions. It can also be seen as disregarding the obligations and personal care. This specific marker of depression is very popular and can be discomforting to those who depend on contentment on feelings of enjoyment and interest.
• Physical aches and pains- Physical aches and pains are common physical symptoms of depression. We can experience a variety of physical health symptoms when we are experiencing clinical depression. While we might be inclined to say it’s “all in our mind,” the body can be subject to very real side effects from poor mental health. Depression and other mental health conditions such as anxiety, for example, may have significant impacts on your digestive systems, slowing down the system and causing discomfort. In addition, you can experience nausea, clammy, tight or knotted in the back and neck, or several other physical aches or pains. Headaches are a typical symptom of physical pain.

Other physical, psychological, and social symptoms of depression include:

• Changes in weight (Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain)
• Decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
• Having no motivation or interest in things
• Feeling anxious or apprehensive
• Having suicidal thoughts often
• Feelings of guilt or helplessness
• Having trouble remembering or making decisions
• Inability to think or concentrate nearly every day
• Isolation from social interaction
• Loss of sexual interest

4 Ways to Overcome Depression 

Practice Mindfulness

A depressed mind continues to worry over all that is wrong, and continually thinks about all the bad possibilities that can happen in the future. This pessimistic pattern of thinking creates suffering and is not effective in resolving depression. Mindfulness requires concentrating on the present moment and is a skill to be learned. Using Mindfulness Meditation helps you focus on the moment, become aware of your senses and what you hear right then and there. There’s no reason to try to explain anything or make assumptions on how you feel when you’re able to concentrate only on a single moment. Several studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is effective for reducing depression, pain, anxiety, and even a host of medical situations and disorders.

Avoid the Negative Self Talk

Depression affects the thinking of an individual and makes it seem bleak, gloomy, and hopeless. Those who are depressed appear to see the world in a pessimistic way. If things go wrong, they blame themselves, and they put it down to chance when they go right.  When depression only makes you see the negative, make an effort to remember the positive things in life.

Connect with your Friends and Family

This can be one of the difficult things to do when feeling depressed, but it is one of the most rewarding actions. Leverage yourself to go out. Isolating oneself from others may seem a good idea but put a limit on it and then get out there again. Remember, the more you separate yourself,  the more mental and physical stress can increase. Telling someone you trust to be around how you really feel is an excellent cure to depression. Feeling associated with family and friends will help relieve depression. This can also make them believe they should do something, rather than just seeing you hurt.

Regular Exercise

Daily exercise has benefits that aid in managing depression. Practice activates endorphins that boost natural immunity and improve mood. Regular exercise provides other health benefits in addition to raising the mood, such as reducing blood pressure, protecting against heart disease, cancer, and enhancing self-esteem.

While often overcoming depression can seem disheartening, there are plenty of natural therapies available to help you live a happy, safe life. Note, while depression may feel like it’s going to last forever, it’s really only for a short season of your life. Depression does not become a characteristic of yours. Understanding depression and having the will to overcome it is a sure win.