There has been a large social shift in the past decade to reduce the stigma around discussing mental health. With that increase in conversation around mental health conditions, people have become better acquainted with a lot of common depression symptoms.
Worry, sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, over-sleeping, and under-eating are fairly well understood to be clear signs of depression, and even more dangerous symptoms like self-harm and suicide are being discussed more often. They all fall in line with a deep loss of interest in life, a hallmark of depression, and when people experience them, they now know enough to reach out for help, that they do not need to suffer and live with untreated symptoms of depression.
Understanding depression symptoms can lead to treatment
Did you know that the symptoms listed above are not the only symptoms of depression? There are some lesser known, and sometimes surprising, symptoms of depression that are important to include in the conversation. These symptoms could easily be written off as just stress, changes from aging, or just seasonal, but when symptoms are written off, people may delay treatment.
There is no need to live with difficult symptoms that make life harder for you when depression treatment helps so many people. Treatment options are also expanding, and there are psychoeducation services available to help you learn more about all your options for tackling depression and help you understand how depression is impacting your life
Surprising symptoms of depression
Anger and irritability
Sudden moments of intense anger, or a pervasive irritability where every little thing is bothering you far more than it used to is a symptom of depression. Anger and irritability are more active emotions, and depression is often considered a passive condition. If you notice an increase in angry outbursts or find yourself constantly irritated, consider depression as the cause.
Physical pain
When you think of mental health, you don’t necessarily think about the impacts on your physical body. The neurological and neurotransmitter changes that come with depression can also cause physical pain, so aches and pains, especially in your back that have no apparent cause can be directly related to depression.
Weight and appetite changes
Loss of appetite, overeating, binge eating, and weight changes in any direction are all depression symptoms, which can seem very contradictory since so many of these symptoms are total opposites. Food can be used to numb the emotional pain of depression or can become unappealing as part of the loss of interest depression entails. This shows just how variable depression can be, underlining the need to fully discuss all possible symptoms, even the surprising ones.
Memory issues, inability to make decisions, and trouble concentrating
Forgetfulness, brain fog, and inability to pay attention are all linked to the neurological changes that happen with depression, but they can be subtle when they start and can be tough to recognize before they impact your life. People with depression have different brain structures than those without, and that shift can directly lead to these surprising depression symptoms.
Insomnia
Oversleeping is more likely to come to mind when it comes to depression, but insomnia, both with difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep, are both signs of depression. Insomnia and depression also form a feedback cycle; lack of sleep worsens depression, and depression can kick off insomnia, so it is a symptom that is particularly worth paying attention to.
Impulsive or risky behavior
Gambling, shoplifting, overspending, drug and alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors are all surprising symptoms of depression. These activities often act as a way to feel something when in the numb lull of depression, or an attempt to further numb and distract from the emotional pain of depression. If you notice urges to take bigger risks that aren’t in line with how you want to live your life, depression may be the cause.
Depression treatment for surprising depression symptoms
Depression treatments are well researched, and known to be very helpful for most people. Options include psychotherapy, medications including antidepressants, and holistic treatments, though it’s common to combine multiple treatment methods to get the most effective help possible.
There is also extensive work being done to help those with treatment-resistant depression, looking at different medications, therapies, and techniques that help people whose depression doesn’t respond to conventional psychiatric medications.
When it comes to depression treatment, knowing what your options are, and what you want to do if you find certain treatments unhelpful, can give you hope in the depression treatment process. A psychiatric evaluation and the psychoeducation offered by your practitioner can be a source of hope.
Including psychoeducation in depression treatment
Depression can be an incredibly discouraging, heavy mental health condition to work through. The symptoms can bring about shame and unhappiness, alongside feelings of being alone in your experience, and fear that you may not be able to heal.
When you understand a mental health condition like depression on a deeper level you can develop a better understanding of how it impacts your life. It can help you feel less alone, and ease fears around the ability to get help that works.
Patterns Psychiatry offers psychoeducation services in Texas, Minnesota, and Iowa to help people better understand their mental health symptoms, making it clear that they aren’t alone in their struggles. Psychoeducation from online psychiatric providers helps you increase self-awareness around symptoms and experiences, and understand what treatments are available. Whether someone is at the start of treatment or would like to switch treatments to a better fit, psychoeducation helps supply the information needed to develop a treatment plan that suits your life and your mental health.
Make an appointment today to learn more about your mental health with one of Patterns Psychiatry’s providers, and empower yourself to take the lead in your well-being.
