With life so different these days, it is really easy to go downhill into the blackness of depression. Signs to watch out for include
- Changes in sleeping pattern- for example lying awake for long periods during the night
- Feeling unmotivated to do anything
- Stopping the things we used to enjoy
- Taking longer to recover after something annoying happens
- Every little thing causing extra work becomes a heavy burden
- Food is no longer enjoyable
- Not having any patience, being irritable and snapping at people
- Feeling more anxious
- Feeling sleepy or tired a lot of the time
- Turning down invites from friends and family whose company you would usually enjoy
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
- Drinking more than usual
Drinking more than usual
Drinking more than usual can actually make depression worse as Southlady found. Initially it numbs our feelings but it then it comes back to bite us afterwards. So if the signs on checklist above, ring a bell with you, it might be worth considering not drinking at all for two weeks to see whether your mood improves.
What to do if this is you?
Well the good news is recognising these symptoms is a really good start, because it’s really easy to be depressed without knowing we’re depressed. This was me for years!
So being aware of the symptoms means we can do something to help ourselves.
Recognise what we can control
Understanding what we can and can’t control is vital. So we can’t control this COVID crisis or when things will get back to normal, but we can control how we respond to it.
We can take action, if we recognise any of the changes listed above.
Chatting to a trusted friend about how we’re feeling can help. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to friends, the Aware help line can be contacted at 1800 80 48 48 from 10am to 10pm seven days a week.
Other supports
If you don’t like chatting, going for a walk every day can really help. There are also more supports available here
One of the good things coming out of this COVID crisis, is better awareness of mental health. So you’re not alone, if you’re feeling down.
