Suggest seeking help from a health care or a mental health professional.Remind them there are people who want to help them.Explain that depression is a complex condition, not a personal flaw or weakness.Talk to the person about what you've noticed and why you're concerned.They also may have difficulty asking for help or recognizing how treatment can help. People with depression may not recognize or acknowledge their symptoms. Rather it can be lack of positive emotion instead of intensely negative feelings. Clinical depression doesn't require profound sadness. ![]() Others may generally feel miserable or unhappy without knowing why.Ĭhildren and teens may show depression by being irritable or cranky rather than sad. Frequent or recurrent mention of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or death from suicideįor many with depression, symptoms can be severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others.Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things.Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or taking unnecessary blame for things.Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements.Changes in appetite - reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain.Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort.Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports.Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters.Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness.Symptoms of depression Depression symptoms vary from person to person, including: But you can help them start and continue moving on an upward path. It can be disheartening and stressful that you can't fix a loved one's depression. However, depression affects the motivation, energy and curiosity needed to spiral up. The silver lining is that if people can spiral down, they can spiral back up. A person can get stuck in the spiral for weeks, months or years. The response of the brain is to slow, stop and depress. Your loved one may become increasingly stressed while simultaneously less able to cope with stress. Depressive thinking may encompass guilty thoughts, pessimism, putting themselves down and irritable behavior.Īs the spiral develops, a complex dynamic emerges. Self-criticism and stress increase due to mounting responsibilities or missed opportunities. A worsened mood may lead to taking part in fewer meaningful or enjoyable day-to-day activities. The downward-spiraling staircase may start with the person feeling worse than usual from a physical, social or psychological stressor. Your loved one may be having difficulty finding an open door along that staircase or may not be able to turn around without your support and guidance. One way to develop perspective is by visualizing depression as a steep, downward-spiraling staircase. Visualizing depression as a downward spiral is one way to simplify and understand clinical depression. ![]() Gaining perspective on what your loved one is experiencing is a crucial part of the process. ![]() Downward-spiraling staircase of depression There isn't one truth or simple solution that works for every person. When a loved one is affected by depression, it can be difficult to understand or know how to helpĭepression is an incredibly complex and individualized experience.
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