What Depression Feels Like: A Guide For Loved Ones

Have you ever had a profound experience that affected you deeply, but you could not quite find the words to convey it? Sometimes it is too difficult to express your experiences to others who have never been through it themselves. Such is the case with what depression feels like.

This can create a feeling of isolation from even your loved ones. Finding the words to describe what you have been through can make a significant difference to your well-being. Depression is one such experience that is difficult to articulate.

Wrestling with depression.

What exactly is depression? Depression is more than just a deep or persistent feeling of sadness. It is a mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. When these symptoms last at least two weeks and represent a change in a person’s previous level of functioning, a mental health practitioner may give a diagnosis of depression.

Depression is a common mental health issue that affects millions of Americans every year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health depression affects adults and adolescents alike, with around 14.5 million Americans aged eighteen and over having at least one major depressive episode in 2021.

Around five million adolescents 12-17 years of age had at least one major depressive episode. That represents 5.7% of all US adults and 20.1% of the adolescent population, respectively.

What depression feels like.

Each person, because they are wired differently, will have their own unique experience of what depression feels like. However, some common symptoms include the following:

Feeling empty.

You experience a loss of interest, joy, or pleasure in activities that you used to find engaging.

Feeling irritable.

You may find yourself feeling angry and irritable about things that did not bother you much before.

Guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, and frustration.

These may accompany depression, and it often just seems endless. With no end in sight, it compounds the feelings of hopelessness and life being out of control. When it seems there is no way out, you can feel trapped. This can be overwhelming, and it leads some people to have thoughts of suicide.

Sleeplessness.

You may struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep. In some cases, you may find yourself sleeping way more than you used to, but that does not translate to feeling more energetic.

Appetite changes.

Sometimes food does not seem as appetizing as it was before, and you may have to force yourself to eat, which can lead to weight changes.

Feeling sluggish.

Your brain seems sluggish; it is harder to concentrate, remember, or focus enough to make decisions.

Feeling trapped.

You might feel as though you are trapped in your own mind and feelings. Some people describe depression as feeling like you are drowning.

Feeling out of control.

Your feelings of sadness, hopelessness, low self-worth seem to be in the driver’s seat, and you are a helpless passenger.

Feeling numb.

Things happen around you, but you do not have your usual emotional responses to them, and it is difficult to care or feel like it matters to you.

Achiness.

Your body is wracked by various aches and pains, including headaches, body aches, and nausea.

Low levels of energy.

You feel fatigued. You are constantly battling a tiredness that does not go away no matter how much you sleep.

Low self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.

You feel like you are worthless or that you are a failure. Negative events can loom large in your mind’s eye, and you can struggle to appreciate yourself or any positive qualities you may possess.

Being depressed is not something that a person can snap out of, and it can feel overwhelming. Knowing what your loved one is going through and showing them understanding can be a huge help to them as they deal with it.

Seeking help for depression.

When should you seek help, if you find yourself feeling these things? If you or your loved one are experiencing symptoms of depression, you should seek assistance from a mental health professional. Without treatment, depression can worsen and affect a person’s quality of life.

Speak with a doctor, psychiatrist, or counselor to get the help you need. A doctor can help to rule out medical conditions such as thyroid problems that can present as symptoms of depression.

Through medication and psychotherapy, hope can come, and darkness can lift. A counselor will help a person feel some control over depression by incorporating self-help skills, such as changing sleep patterns, getting regular exercise, avoiding alcohol, and eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Reach out to our office and we will connect you to a health professional to begin addressing your depression.