This Is How Depression Feels

Hey Psych2Goers, have you ever wondered what depression feels like? Or if you have depression, do you struggle with describing how it feels to others? What most people don't understand is that depression is much more than having a bad day or an off week. It's a mood disorder that causes constant feelings of sadness, disinterest, and emptiness. Because it affects someone mentally, physically, and socially, most people don't have a good understanding of what it feels like. To give you a better understanding of depression, here is how some may experience it on a daily basis.

### Number One: Waking Up Exhausted and Drained

Have you ever stayed up really late and woke up feeling awful? Imagine that, but every day. Oftentimes, regardless of how much sleep someone with depression gets, they'll wake up without any energy. This lack of energy makes it hard for them to get out of bed and do daily tasks that seem automatic to people without depression. You can think of depression as an invisible weight that brings you down everywhere you go. You may not be able to see it, but it's always there, making life harder.

### Number Two: Feeling as if There's No Joy in Life

Have you ever tried to pay attention to a class you didn't enjoy at all? Time seems to go slower, and all you can do is count the minutes until it's over. People suffering from depression might feel as if there's no joy or pleasure in their life at all, making them uninterested in everything in everyday life. Everyone has a hard time concentrating on things they don't enjoy, such as homework or chores. But what happens when someone doesn't enjoy life in general? Likely, they'll become unresponsive and unfocused on the world around them.

### Number Three: Low Self-Esteem

Do you compare yourself to all the models and influencers on social media? People with depression often do the same but on a much larger scale. It goes much deeper than thinking that their body isn't picture-perfect. Instead, they'll think they're a failure as a person, family member, friend, and everything else. They may see everyone around them living happily and think it's their fault that they're struggling. Of course, that isn't the case, since depression is no one's fault. But just like trying to stop comparing yourself to social media, trying to stop thinking you're a failure is extremely difficult.

### Number Four: Complicated Relationship with Food

Do you ever eat because you feel sad, bored, or lonely, even though you're not hungry? Much like eating to pass time, people suffering from depression may use food as a coping mechanism. They could overeat to distract themselves from how they feel or to avoid feeling numb. On the other hand, some with depression may also undereat. They may feel too numb or uninterested to the point where they see all food as unappetizing. In cases like this, it's important to avoid phrases like, "You should be grateful you have the option to eat," or, "You're taking what you have for granted." Instead, listen to why they're not eating healthily and keep in mind that it's not something that can be fixed overnight.

### Number Five: Everything Feels Hopeless

Do you ever feel like things will never get better? Whether pandemic-related or not, everyone can think of a time where they felt helpless and hopeless. But people with depression feel hopeless not just about the state of the world but about themselves as well. They may think they'll never amount to anything or that they'll never learn how to cope with depression. This constant state of hopelessness can lead to them feeling exhausted and unmotivated all the time.

### Number Six: Unhealthy Sleeping Patterns

Ever had trouble sleeping? Maybe you were tossing and turning because you were nervous about a job interview in the morning. Many people with depression struggle with this every night. Depression is sometimes linked to other struggles such as insomnia and anxiety, both of which make sleeping even harder. On the other hand, someone with depression could also sleep too much, seeing it as an escape from their daily struggles. Either way, having a healthy sleeping pattern is important for your mind and body. Without one, you're more likely to feel exhausted, irritable, and stressed.

### Number Seven: Physical Pain

Imagine the worst headache you've ever had. Now imagine getting that around once every two weeks. While many people think mental and physical health are completely separate, they actually overlap in many ways. For example, people with depression are more prone to body aches, headaches, nausea, and muscle tension. So, while you may have trouble understanding the complex thoughts and feelings people with depression have, you may be more able to empathize with them knowing what physical pain is like.

Did our video help you better understand what depression feels like? If you haven't yet commented your story, we encourage you to either try now to help someone else who's in your shoes or share this article with someone who might need it. Thanks so much for reading. Take care and see you soon.