7 Weird Things You Do When Depressed

Hey Optimist Minds!

Depression is a highly prevalent mental disorder that affects people of all ages. It negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.

You might develop negative thoughts about yourself, other people, and the world in general.

Due to the drastic changes in your outlook and lifestyle, depression often makes you do things you normally wouldn’t do. It can even cause changes in personality. For example, if you used to be energetic, with depression you might seem dull and tired.

This video will describe seven weird things you do when depressed. If it’s something depression makes you do too, you’re not alone.

Before we begin, here’s a quick disclaimer: not everyone who is depressed will display all these behaviours and similarly, just because you do these things doesn’t mean you’re depressed.

Having said that, let’s begin.

One

You hesitate while texting.

Do you tend to type long texts and then erase them to send an ambiguous emoji? Maybe you hit send after typing them out but then delete the texts after some overthinking.

Depression can be hard to talk about and it can cause feelings of isolation. Suppose you’re depressed and you’re noticing how it’s draining you. You might have an urge to reach out and seek help but then an afterthought holds you back as if you’re ashamed of being unwell.

Two

You stop looking in the mirror.

Many people dealing with depression develop a negative self-image. They tend to feel disappointed or disgusted in themselves. It can even transform into self-hatred.

If you’re depressed, it’s possible that you too have a low opinion of yourself. Maybe you think you’re ugly or unworthy. As a result, you hate looking at yourself so you avoid reflections.

Three

You procrastinate work.

While procrastination is a universal problem, depressed individuals do it a lot more than the average person. Typically, procrastination delays productivity until the last minute of the deadline. Then, panic kicks in and you struggle to get the work done on time.

However, someone depressed might not see any point in doing the last-minute effort. It’s easier for you to accept defeat and dwell on it for prolonged periods when you’re depressed.

Four

You zone out.

Much like procrastination, zoning out is also something we all do every now and then. We might be physically present in a situation and witnessing it, but our minds are elsewhere.

In depression, zoning out is a regular feature. It’s difficult for you to concentrate or remember things because you’re constantly spaced out, ruminating negative thoughts.

Five

You cry in front of strangers.

Have you had any sudden emotional outbursts recently? People with depression are more sensitive to triggers. For instance, something as simple as your teacher’s feedback in class might stir up intense feelings of inadequacy that your depression weighs over you daily.

Next thing you know, you’re bawling in front of people who don’t even know you that well.

Six

You skip showers.

It’s not uncommon for depressed individuals to stop or reduce grooming behaviours. At times they go days without showering because they don’t see the point of it. 

Neglecting self-care is a big warning sign for the onset of clinical depression. It can start with not brushing your teeth at night and slowly deteriorate to little to no care for hygiene and appearance.

Seven

You keep yourself locked inside.

Social withdrawal is a pretty common symptom of depression. You tend to feel misunderstood and neglected by loved ones. It can also be that your self-esteem gets shattered and self-doubt makes you give up on socialising. So, instead, you might stop going out to see people and spend all your time indoors, alone.

Did any of these behaviours remind you of yourself? Do you do any other weird things because of depression? Let us know your thoughts and stories in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

A link for further reading and the studies & references used in the making of this video are mentioned in the description below.

Thanks for visiting optimist minds, take care. Until next time.

References

• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2618635
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pr0.1978.42.3.745
• https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2004.1512
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/1097-4679(198601)42:1%3C5::AID-JCLP2270420102%3E3.0.CO;2-9