Depression is a condition with varied hues of black. From mild depression to clinical depression, it can really cause a lot of distress to unfortunate sufferers. How easily has depression permeated our daily life, that for trifles we use the term “I am depressed” so casually. But upon those whom the pall of gloom descends know that depression is not a casual thing to say – relax you will get over it! Luckily for some it is a temporary thing due to some temporary inconvenience or set back but for those who are clinically depressed, know the sheer horror of depressive episodes. Then again there are a few who may not even know they suffer from depression and are most likely to shrug it off and go into denial. You can help here. If you think someone close to you is suffering from depression don’t wait until you are certain, offer a hand to help in time before it is too late. Here are a few classic symptoms of depressive behaviour.
Lethargy and concentration difficulties
Depression can cause a person to go heavy in the top. The person might suddenly feel blue for no reason and routine tasks can get challenging and terribly boring. If you notice a colleague or friend appearing sluggish on a regular basis or if a person who is otherwise of regular habits and even temperaments suddenly gets temperamental at work or has frequent out bursts over trifles, then it will bode you well to place that person under observation. If it is a one-off thing then well and good but otherwise if the pattern repeats itself press the D button!
Substance abuse
Many depressives turn to alcohol or party drugs to relieve their symptoms of depression. They may not realize that they are depressed yet resorting to the bottle might make them feel good temporarily at least. Alcohol is a depressant and lulls the drinker into a false sense of security and can be extremely dangerous thing to abuse. Prolonged abusage of alcohol can only make the primary depressive condition worse in the long run, leading to mental and physical consequences.
People suffering from bipolar depression are known to indulge quite readily in alcohol, marijuana or LSD, cocaine etc. If you see a social drinker suddenly drinking too much then there is a valid cause for concern. Point out the fact that depression could be the underlying reason for the increased alcohol consumption and that very soon he/she might have to deal with 2 problems instead of one.
Loquacity
Ever seen people who get slightly hyper and can’t just stop talking! They rant on and on changing topics frequently and suddenly. Well it may be just a talkative nature but very often it is a vent for depression. Such people talk to forget their woes and can even be charming and amusing. It may be a long standing problem or personal conflicts which have never been addressed which makes these people sweep them further under the carpet with incoherence. Though it may not be dangerous at worst people will label such a person as a crashing bore or use them to amuse themselves. Try to deal with such a person with patience as they might not readily accept that they are depressed. You can recommend a few deep breathing exercises which can calm them down and help them be more in control of their faculties.
Aberrational or risky behaviour
Depressed people are most likely to indulge their fancies by over spending or taking unwanted risks with their and other’s money. In severe cases people with bipolar manic depression have to be hospitalized as they cannot handle their mood upswings. It can be terrifying and scary for them to have so much of an energy upsurge that they don’t quite know how to handle it.
Bipolar depression is a form where the mood swings between euphoria and depression. This condition requires medication so imagine someone who doesn’t even know he is suffering from this condition would certainly need help. The main symptom of an upswing is frenetic energy patterns, overpowering confidence and risk taking abilities.
Some renowned artists have produced some of their best works of art and music in their manic upswings. But then someone might not be terribly creative and yet be terribly manic depressive. So watch out for strange facial expressions, restlessness, inability to concentrate and aberrational behaviour patterns.
Boredom
While everyone suffers from boredom, depressive people are thrice as likely to suffer from it. We all get bored with routine sometimes. It is quite normal to get bored with your job, life, wife etc. But that’s just temporary as we are hardly likely to kill our spouses just because we are bored with them. In depressive people boredom can evoke certain over-reactive measures. There is sudden boredom in the depressive which becomes apparent in his behaviour. He will suddenly get up and leave in the middle of a conversation or appear so distressed that people will realize that there is something wrong. Most often there is no valid reason for the boredom. A passing train or watching a leaf can bring on boredom in the depressive. The agitation in some cases is extreme. Laughing and crying alternately are a classic symptom of depression. The person breaks out into chuckles and soon laughs so hard that he breaks down into tears. Disrupted sleep patterns due to depression can also cause distress.
