Surprising Signs of Depression Slideshow
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Surprising
Signs of Depression Slideshow
1/13
Shopping Sprees
Is your shopping out of control? Find
yourself covering up your spending? For some people who are depressed, it is
not uncommon for compulsive buying -- in stores or on the Internet -- to serve
as a distraction or self-esteem booster. But "retail therapy" is a
short-lived high because it doesn't address underlying depression. Also be
aware that shopping sprees could also be a sign of mania, in bipolar disorder.
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Drinking Heavily
Nearly a third of people with major
depression abuse alcohol. If you feel that you need to drink to cope with
anxiety and depression, you may be one of them. Although a drink may seem
like it provides a lift when you're down, alcohol is a depressant, so overdoing
it can make depression episodes worse and more frequent.
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Forgetfulness
Depression may be one reason for feeling
foggy or forgetful. Studies show that prolonged depression or stress can raise
the body's levels of cortisol. This can shrink or weaken the part of the brain
associated with memory and learning. Depression-linked memory loss seems to be
worse for older people. The good news: Treating depression may also improve
depression-related memory problems.
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Excessive Internet Use
Prefer virtual social interactions to
real-life ones? Spending excessive amounts of time on the Internet? It may
be a sign of depression. Studies have shown a link between high levels of
depression and excessive Internet use. People who overuse the Internet tend to
spend their time on pornography, online community, and game sites.
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Binge Eating and Obesity
A 2010 study from the University of
Alabama found that young adults who report being depressed tended to gain
weight more around their waist -- a risk for heart disease. Other studies have
linked depression with binge eating, particularly in middle-age people.
Treating depression can help treat these problems.
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Shoplifting
About a third of shoplifters suffer from
depression. For some people who feel powerless and insignificant from
depression, shoplifting provides feelings of power and importance. It can
also provide a rush to counter depression "numbness." For people who
shoplift because they are depressed, these feelings are more important than the
item they are stealing.
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Back Pain
Got a backache that won't quit? Studies
show that depression may be a risk factor for chronic lower back pain. One
study showed that up to 42% of people with chronic lower back pain experienced
depression before their back pain started. Yet depression can often go ignored
or undiagnosed because people don't associate it with aches and pains. By the
same token, having chronic pain puts you at risk for depression.
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Risky Sexual Behavior
Depression is more commonly associated
with lost libido than with an increased interest in sex. But some people use
sex to cope with depression or stress. Increased promiscuity, infidelity,
sexual obsession, and high-risk behavior such as unsafe sex can all be signs of
depression. It can also reflect problems with impulse control or be a sign of
mania in bipolar disorder. And they can have serious, negative effects on
health and in your personal life.
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Exaggerated Emotions
Often people who are depressed show little
emotional expression. Other times, they show too much. They can be suddenly
irritable or explosive. They may express exaggerated feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, worry, or fear. Some are caught up in a sense of worthlessness or
a feeling of excessive or inappropriate gult. The key is a sudden change in
behavior. If a person who is usually flat with their feelings becomes
hyperemotional, depression may be the cause.
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Problem Gambling
Gambling can make you feel excited and
revved up. But if you gamble more than recreationally, you may be depressed or
you may suffer from a gambling addiction disorder. Problem gamblers are much
more likely than others to be depressed and abuse alcohol. Many say they were
anxious and depressed before they started gambling. No matter how much of a
quick rush gambling causes, it won't provide the big payoff -- relief from
depression.
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Smoking
Having trouble quitting smoking? Being
depressed doubles your risk of smoking. Heavy smoking – more than a pack a day
– and having a cigarette within 5 minutes of waking are common habits among
smokers who are depressed, according to the CDC. While depressed smokers are
less likely to quit, they can. Quitting programs that use techniques similar to
those used to treat depression, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or
antidepressant medications, seem to help.
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Not Taking Care of Yourself
What does fastening your seatbelt have to
do with depression? Suddenly neglecting basic self-care can be a sign of
depression and low self-esteem. The signs may be as small as not buckling up or
brushing your teeth or as big as skipping physical exams or not tending to
chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. Get help for your
depression and you'll likely begin to take care of yourself again.
This tool does not provide medical advice
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