When you think about someone suffering from depression, you probably imagine them weeping on the bathroom floor, depressed and despondent. But the fact is that there is more to depression than what is usually represented in culture and the media. Depression can make you appear to be the happiest person in your community of friends. Depression can take the form of that one coworker who has received excellent recognition three weeks in a row, or it can take the form of your nice next-door neighbor. Depression doesn't just have one face or form; it comes in a range of shapes and sizes, which is why it can be difficult to recognize in yourself or others. Here are some of the more subtle symptoms of depression.
They have an erratic sleeping pattern.
A sleep pattern that is irregular or inconsistent is a strong predictor of a disturbed mind. “Poor sleep may cause difficulties controlling emotions, which, in turn, may make you more vulnerable to depression in the future—months or even years from now,” says Johns Hopkins researcher Patrick H. Finan, PhD. Finan's latest survey of healthy women and men who had disrupted sleep through the night found a significant 31 percent drop in optimistic mood the next day. If one night of sleep deprivation can do this much harm, consider the long-term effects of irregular sleeping patterns. Severe insomnia increases a person's risk of depression and reduces emotional resilience. As a result, when confronted with life's problems, they lack the capacity to cope with them in a balanced manner.
On a regular basis, they seem irritable or irritated.
Do you ever find yourself upset for no apparent reason? If not you, maybe you know someone in your life who seems to be upset or activated. Take note about why they're behaving the way they are—is there a good reason? If you don't, you've just come across a big sign of hidden depression. This person is most likely behaving this way because they have been suppressing or ignoring their stress or emotions for a long time. It's like a glass of water that fills to the brim and then overflows until it can no longer contain any more. You will end up releasing your feelings with external negative energy and repeated microaggressions during the day if you suppress them.
Their joy seems to be forced.
We've all met the one person in our lives who is always cheerful. But what if they seem to be a little too happy? Yes, it is possible to be overjoyed. Smiling depression is the process of forcing pleasure to hide internal sorrow. “Smiling depression” is described by the National Alliance on Mental Illness as “appearing cheerful to others while smiling through the pain, keeping the inner turmoil hidden.” Since it's a major depressive disorder with atypical signs, many people don't understand they're depressed or don't seek care... Their facade is well-put-together and well-executed. Start paying careful attention to your/their attitudes and acts if you believe you or someone you know is dealing with depression and hiding it in this way (sometimes without even realizing it). Someone pushing happiness would have to release their inner troubled energy in the form of muffled cries that can easily go unnoticed but require attention in this situation.
They have an obsessive sense of accountability.
People suffering from secret depression are often found neglecting their own needs while compensating for always being there for others. They are acutely aware of others' thoughts, feelings, and needs, and are the first to provide assistance when it is needed. This increased sense of responsibility, dependability, and responsiveness can lead depressed people to anticipate the worst-case scenarios and blame themselves when things go wrong. They find it difficult to zoom out and see the big picture, as well as to accept that not all can be resolved or governed by them.
They put in extra effort to keep themselves occupied (accomplishment=self-worth).
You measure your self-worth on a scale of how effective you are in a day when you have lost the ability to succeed completely as an individual. People with secret depression prefer to keep a full schedule in order to avoid facing their confusing internal criticism and dispute and to get away from the real issue at hand.
They Divide and Conquer Their Emotions (Both Past and Present)
People who are stuck emotionally in a depressed condition are prone to compartmentalizing their emotions. You don't have to be depressed to engage in this dysfunctional coping mechanism; people with better minds and thought habits frequently experience this problem from time to time. They develop a mechanism over time in which they store their rage, sorrow, hurt, discomfort, depression, and other negative emotions in boxes hidden deep within their minds. Along with this, you're probably dismissing or discounting past hurts or trauma, downplaying and invalidating your own personal suffering, which will ultimately drag you down in other areas of your life. To notice this unhealthy and less evident symptom of depression in oneself or anyone else, it needs mindfulness, close attention, and knowledge.