5 alarming signs that you might not be doing okay

Here is a small poem that represents the mind(thoughts) of a person dealing with anxiety or depression, 

I wake up everyday wishing,

my eyebags to not be heavier than my emotional baggage

and my room to not be messier,

than the thoughts inside my head

is this something that everyone

wishes for at my age?

or is it just me?

who stares at the ceiling every night

while lying on her bed

why does only the night sky see me cry?

why does my shadow just show up in daylight and not at night,

when I’m ready to embrace it all?

why my secrets, darker than the sky, seem deeper than the silence the night holds.

the silence comforts sometimes,

but sometimes it just creeps straight into every vein in my body,

I never wished for much,

but my thoughts to not be louder,

than the silence the night holds

- Sadhana K

Source - https://www.thestatesman.com/

You know those feelings of general discontent, sadness, and hopelessness? If you have them, don’t ignore them. They could be signs of something much worse, like depression. Let’s check out the signs-

1. You feel fatigue and don’t sleep (or sleep too much)

Depression strips you of your energy and makes you feel lethargic. You stop doing things you enjoy because you feel exhausted, and begin sleeping excessively, or not sleeping at all (insomnia).

2. Your emotions are all over the place.

One moment, you’re feeling irritable and going off on someone in a full display of anger. The next, you’re crying. Depression can swing your moods uncontrollably.

3. Your topics of conversation have turned morbid.

Suicides rarely come without the symptoms that show up beforehand. Depressed people will often talk about it. If you’re in the company of a good friend who has flipped the morbid switch to “on” and is now talking about death and dying, stay close and monitor him. He may be on the doorstep of a suicide attempt.

4. Your outlook on life has done a 180.

Having a hopeless outlook on life is the most common symptom of depression. Associated feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, or inappropriate guilt may ride shotgun. You vocalize thoughts like “It’s all my fault,” and “What’s the point?”

5. You’ve lost interest in the things you enjoy.

Depression can rob you of the things you love, making you withdrawing from the very activities you once looked forward to — sports, socializing with friends, hobbies, etc.

What to do…

If depression has crept in, don’t despair. With professional help and a strong support system of loving family and friends, you can overcome it. Here’s what you can do:

• Please sleep. Don’t set the alarm. Just sleep until you wake up.
• Do not isolate yourself—find community and support.
• Don’t internalize your feelings. Be totally present with them.
• Express gratitude.
• Journal your feelings daily to help release those negative emotions.
• Lean on your faith, or something greater than you.
• Rediscover the activities and hobbies that bring you peace, joy, and vitality.
• Exercise daily. Fifteen minutes of cardio is all it takes.
• Practice mindfulness.