What are the warning signs of depression? How to find your depression triggers?

What are the warning signs of depression? (for reference only)

Generally speaking, the warning signs of depression are very weak. At the beginning, you may feel a little "tired" and unable to find your usual state. Then, you may suddenly feel like a huge stone is weighing on your shoulders.

What’s even more unreasonable is that depression can strike when we are at our happiest, catching the sufferer off guard. Understanding some of the more common warning signs that may not be obvious can help you better observe whether you are about to suffer from severe depression and ensure that you get timely help and support when necessary.

1、Feeling tired for long periods of time? It's normal to feel tired after a long day at work, but if you feel exhausted every day, no matter if you're busy or not, it could be a warning sign. Fatigue is one of the earliest symptoms of depression. You may find that you still feel tired after a full night's sleep, and you still need to rest during the day, trying hard to keep your eyes from closing. At the other extreme, you might have insomnia or wake up very early. Fatigue can cause forgetfulness and impaired decision-making, which can affect your daily work and life. You'll find yourself wandering around in a daze, constantly wondering when you can go to sleep.

2. Irritable? Do you dislike everyone and everything? This may also be a sign of depression. You will feel irritable and in a bad mood all the time. You get angry and scold others for talking to you while you're busy, blocking your way, eating too loudly, etc. Problems that were once ignored or ignored suddenly become incredibly annoying and irritating. Everyone thinks you are intolerable, and you feel guilty for your irritability. Compared with normal times, you become more likely to lose your temper with others and your attitude towards things is very different.

3. Having trouble concentrating? This can also be a symptom of depression. Whether you're doing work, reading a book, or watching a movie, you may find yourself unable to concentrate and focusing on one thing becomes a huge challenge. Having trouble concentrating isn't because you're distracted by other things, it's because you feel like your thinking is slowing down.

4. Appetite increases or decreases? Appetite changes have also been linked to depression. Appetite changes dramatically during an episode of depression. You may lose interest in food altogether and feel like you have to push yourself to eat. Others may have the exact opposite situation, feeling like they don't have enough to eat all the time. Anxiety disorders and depression often occur together, and severe anxiety disorders can also cause nausea and an inability to eat. Ultimately, depression can cause weight gain or loss, which can affect our sense of self-esteem. Sometimes, depression can also cause indigestion.

5. Lowered self-esteem? You will despise yourself more and more, you will hate the sight of your body, you will hate the things you have made or the results of your work, and you will want to tear them up and destroy them. When you are at work, you will doubt yourself and feel that you are not competent. You may disappoint your boss and be blamed by him.

6. Fewer social activities? Some people may thrive in social interactions, while others prefer to keep to themselves, but overall everyone enjoys the company of friends and family. During an episode of depression, we slowly become speechless or can't bear to be in social situations. At this time, the thought of going out to socialize makes our heart tense. You may also find yourself becoming increasingly distant from family and friends. Without the company of family and friends, we will be more isolated and lonely, and our emotions will develop further negatively. You may feel uncomfortable and anxious just hearing the word "social." In order not to participate in social activities, you will avoid all kinds of messages and phone calls, and find various reasons to refuse to go out.

7. Losing motivation? This does not mean that you lose your fighting spirit one day, but that you become depressed for several days or even weeks in a row. Just like the inability to concentrate, a lack of motivation to "do it now" can also affect work and study. Completing work tasks or running for fitness seems extremely difficult. You may even feel that all motivation and initiative have disappeared, and you just want to curl up on the sofa and watch TV.

8. No longer interested in hobbies? Everything in your life, including your former hobbies, becomes extra energy-consuming. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you don’t even have the energy to find a good drama online, but when you find that all your hobbies and interests no longer attract you, you will feel numb inside. During an episode of depression, interests that once made us happy lose their charm, and many people with depression say they feel empty inside. At the same time, your relationship with your partner will also change, and many people will find that they have lost interest in sex.

Understanding these warning signs can help you prepare before depression strikes. Once depression develops into a severe state, it will be difficult to curb it midway. It’s important to know what your warning signs are, but you don’t need to be on edge because of this list.

Lack of motivation may be because you have just finished a hard day's work or you are just thinking about something else.； Feeling angry may be due to some situation at work or in life ； Feeling tired can also be caused by physical illness. In short, when each warning sign appears alone, it cannot be used as a definite basis for the impending onset of depression. These signs can help you better understand bipolar disorder.

You can also try telling people around you how you're feeling, telling them that you've noticed changes in your behavior and are worried that you might be experiencing depression. Ask them if they have noticed these changes and if they have the same concerns. Inform your partner, family, and close friends of your depression warning signs in advance so that they can keep an eye on you and alert you immediately if they notice any abnormal behavior.

In addition, if you are worried that depression is about to attack, you must seek medical treatment in time. You can also ask your inner circle for help when necessary.

What might be the triggers for depression? (How to find your depression triggers? )

1. Stressful events. Events such as bereavement, separation, or job loss may cause depression, especially when patients face these problems alone. The risk of depression is higher. Severe stressful events are one of the main triggers of depression in people with bipolar disorder. Even the things we long for, like a new job, graduation, or moving, can trigger depression.

2. Personality factors. If your personality has characteristics such as low self-esteem or high self-requirements, you will be more likely to suffer from depression. An effective treatment for these patients is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can correct misconceptions about our self-worth and the world around us.

3. Breeding and production. Women with bipolar disorder are at high risk for depression after pregnancy. Hormonal and physiological changes and the sudden onset of responsibilities can all contribute to postpartum depression.

4. Loneliness. There are many reasons for loneliness. It may be that friends around you have moved, or you may have moved to a new place for school or work. Feeling isolated and having no one to talk to and talk to about your worries can all trigger an episode of depression.

5. Alcohol and other drugs . Treating depression with heavy drinking or other medications can only worsen the condition, especially in adolescents. In addition, alcohol also has a strong depressant effect and can aggravate the symptoms of depression.

6. Illness or injury. Depression can be caused by a serious illness or injury. Such serious events disrupt routines, disrupt the pace of life, and often leave us feeling very low.

Some triggers are controllable, such as drinking alcohol and taking medications. However, it is difficult to prepare in advance for major life changes and other events, especially major events that occur suddenly. You can try to carefully recall your past depression experiences. What important events can be regarded as triggers? If you can discover certain patterns and record them, it can also help you prepare for similar events in the future.

(The article comes from the "Youlai Psychology" public account, follow it to get more popular science. )