Depression affects people differently, but symptoms may be handled regardless of how they manifest.
Here are just a few examples of how someone could describe what depression feels like:
You feel like you are wearing a heavy trench coat on yourself, (or having feelings of heaviness on your back).
Feelings of wearing grey-colored glasses on your eyes, when looking at the future, the past or even the present.
Having feelings as if you are slogging through a pool of molasses.
However, everyone’s experience with depression is unique.
That’s why it’s important to acknowledge that what you’re feeling right now it’s real and important to be addressed.
If you feel this has been going on for a long time, there is always support available to help you get through it.
Does Everyone Has The Same Depression Symptoms?
According to medical health professionals the answer is no, because depression is a very personal experience, and each person’s symptoms may manifest in different ways.
One individual, for example, may spend the entire day in bed, unable to gather the motivation to leave their apartment.
Meantime, another might be outside all the time because he/she cannot be alone with their thoughts.
In general, if a healthcare expert notices numerous “typical” symptoms that have been present for at least two weeks, they may diagnose depression. (These are detailed in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) ).
The following are some of the signs and symptoms of depression:
– hopelessness
– mental and emotional exhaustion
– loss of interest in activities
– low mood
– changes in cognitive functioning
– sleep disruptions
– eating more or less
– irritability
– thoughts of self-harm
There are many possible ways to experience depression symptoms, depending on your age and your circumstances.
That’s why there are different types of depression:
Every year, more than 8.4 million only in America suffer from depression, yet not all cases of depression are the same.
The symptoms may vary depending on the type of depression the person have.
Some types (whether included in the DSM-5 or not) include:
– Clinical depression, often known as major depressive disorder (MDD)
– Bipolar disorder depression
– Persistent depressive disorder (formerly known as dysthymia)
– “High-functioning” depression
– Postpartum depression
– Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
– Seasonal depression (aka seasonal affective disorder and formally called MDD with seasonal patterns)
– Situational depression
– Smiling depression
What Does Depression Feel Like?
Depending on your age and circumstances, there are several ways you could experience depressive symptoms.
Depression Feels Like No Longer Knowing Who You Are Or What You Like
”Anhedonia — decreased or absent pleasure in everyday activities — is one of the hallmark symptoms of depression,” says Dr. Lindsay Israel, a psychiatrist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Although this can be experienced differently from person to person, as she explains, the main issue is that one might find he is no longer interested in things he used to enjoy.
“For example, a grandmother might not be able to feel the joy in spending time with her grandchildren playing right in front of her,” she says. “A musician, on the other hand, might not bother picking up a guitar because he does not feel it makes him happy to strum the strings anymore.”
Depression Feels Like Sleeping Too Much Or Too Little
Sleep is often affected when you have depression, along with your appetite.
Even if you got a good night’s sleep, you can find yourself wanting to sleep all day long.
Or perhaps you lie awake at night with racing thoughts, thinking intensely about the past and future. Your body is tired enough to sleep but you just, can’t fall asleep.
Depression Feels Like Not Being Able To Get Out Of Bed
Fatigue is a common symptom of depression. According to 2018 research, this is possibly due to inflammation and reduced oxygen supply.
From the outside, having low energy and lack of motivation may look like “laziness.”
However, this isn’t the case with everyone.
If one lives with depression, little tasks like sorting the mail or brushing the teeth can feel downright overwhelming.
Depression Feels Like Everything Seems Irritating And Upsetting
People with depression usually show irritability and anxiousness.
For example, you got angry with family members about things that didn’t upset you before, such as when they consume the last of your favorite comfort food or blocked your car in the driveway.
You may also find yourself fearing the worst possible outcome in relationships, work matters, or school. You might feel overwhelmed with the things that didn’t bother you before as now become the big deal.
Depression Feels Like Crying All Day
Many people with depression can experience extreme sorrow or crying outbursts.
It’s usually in the subconscious mind. Something made you unhappy (perhaps in the past or when you were a child, which caused intense grief in your soul, and now you are reminded of it and overcome with emotions as a result of those experiences).
You may find yourself shedding tears during commercials, songs, or out of the blue while sitting at your desk.
People pray to God in the Name of Jesus Christ expressing their biggest sadness even if they don’t know the roots of what causes that extreme sadness in their lives.
Praying to God can be liberating as He is the One Who is able to set you free from any bondage and heal the deepest wound you have endured by others.
Don’t hesitate to call upon God – His Love will heal, embrace, and protect you from any other harm that might come your way. Trust in the Lord for is right there with you.
In other cases people might find it enjoyable when they listen to music that identifies with their emotions or maybe writing in a journal that can be extremely helpful for them.
The important thing is to try to find something that will help you understand your emotions better and try to be compassionate toward yourself.
Seeking help in a time of need is also one of the ways to recover from depression.
Depression Feels Like Hopelessness
The loss of hope is a common symptom of depression.
You may feel like you’re always taking one step forward and three steps back, which can lead you to question ”Than why try anyway?”
Or maybe you look at your calendar and feel as if there is no hope for the future or that everything is black and you have nothing to look forward to.
A sense of hopelessness can also manifest as guilt or shame for something you’ve experienced.
If you are feeling hopeless please don’t give up yet. Try to search within your heart for answers and pray to God in the Name of Jesus Christ to lead you to the answers.
Hold on tight to what you already have even if you are not able to see it right now. It’s not a coincidence that people testify “hope dies last” because there is a heck of a lot of truth there.
And even though hopelessness is a sign that one has reached a dead end, if one points his feet in the proper direction, he/she may glimpse the light beaming in the distance.
That’s why, please don’t hesitate to ask God in the Name of Jesus to direct your path, for He is right there with you.
Depression Feels Like Not Getting Anything Done
If you feel like your brain is firing differently lately, you’re not imagining things. There are many cognitive symptoms of depression.
Low energy, lack of sleep, difficulty concentrating, and low motivation can all lead to difficulty accomplishing tasks for the day, such as going to the gym, grocery shopping, or simply doing everything on the to-do list. For some reason, it seems impossible to do anything done.
You gotta know, that if you feel tired and need to lay down on your bed and rest, don’t feel guilty about it. Just do it, because your body really needs it.
When you will feel more relaxed and able to do some of the obligations around the house or with your family, friends, and work, make a list of what your priorities are for the day or the week. And then make sure you do them “slowly but securely”.
Depression Feels Like Pain In The Body
Latest research has shown that physical symptoms like pain are linked to depression, possibly due to an imbalance of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
What happens is that the neurotransmitters that play a role in pain perception, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, are the same ones that play a role in mood regulation.
In other words, with depression, the threshold for pain decreases, so the person having depression may experience pain in the joints and muscles, more frequent headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, or fibromyalgia.
If you feel any of medical or physical conditions, please see a doctor.
Depression Feels Like Considering Self-harm
Suicidal ideation (dwelling on suicidal thoughts for a long time) ranges from considerations of suicide to actual attempts.
This may be just a thought, like wishing you wouldn’t wake up tomorrow or feeling at peace with the idea of getting into a fatal car accident. It may also be more active, like coming up with a plan or setting a date to harm yourself.
Whatever you’re feeling, you can get through this. This is the depression talking. There are resources available to cope with this pain.
You’re not alone (These Calls are only for citizens of the USA).
Help is available right now (USA only):
Call a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Call or text the Postpartum Support International Help Line at 800-944-4773 (#1 Español, #2 English)
Contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Call 800-273-8255, text 838255, or chat online 24-7.
Contact the DeafLEAD Crisis Line. Call 321-800-DEAF (3323) or text HAND at 839863.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and you are not from the USA, make sure to find organizations or crisis call lines in your country to help you get through it.
Use the Befrienders Worldwide database to find a helpline in your country.
Do Treated And Untreated Depression Differ From One Another?
When you suffer from depression for a long time without receiving the proper treatment, you may experience more severe symptoms and side effects from depression. That’s why, there is a difference between untreated and treated depression symptoms.
Untreated depression may be difficult to manage on your own. With professional support, it’s possible to improve how you feel and function.
Depression is more common than many people think. The fact that it is often not openly discussed makes some people think they are the only person that feels this way, but it is something that a lot of people experience at some point in their lives, as medical providers will say.
In fact, it’s a condition that many people have learned to manage effectively when treated on time and with a medical health provider.
Attempting a support group is also recommendable.
There is no shame in going to therapy and sharing your feelings with a mental health professional, that might help you in this difficult time, especially when you feel as though your depression is too much for you to handle alone.
If for some reason, you are alone in this and have no support system to give you a hand and to help you get up – please feel free to reach out to us. We would be delighted if you wrote us. We might have suggestions and prayers as support for you as you go through your difficult situations.
We also recommend a great therapist and a counselor, so if you are interested to know more please write us via the About Bloogit, with the words: “Hey, I wanna know more about the counselor you are recommending on your site,” and we’ll get back at you as soon as possible.
Let’s Summarize
The symptoms of depression may vary from one person to another.
Some may cry more, sleep fewer hours, or feel detached from what used to be important to you. Others may find it hard to get things done or have unexplained aches and pains in their body.
We shall notice that all of these, and any other experiences, are valid.
That’s why there are several ways to cope with depression and many treatment options available. There are also strategies to care for yourself when you live with depression.
To begin the healing process, you may find it helpful to reach out to a therapist or a Christina counselor who understands and is specialized in this field.
You don’t have to go through this alone anymore. Help is available and recovery is surely possible.
