5 Ways Depression Can Secretly Ruin Your Life
4. Digestive problems
As I was mentioning at the beginning of this post, depression can sometimes cause physical symptoms that affect our life quality.
According to Baker, prolonged periods of stress and anxiety can literally cause stomach cramps or diarrhea. That’s because your brain-gut axis is desperately trying to cope with the excess of stress hormones released throughout the body.
Aside from an upset stomach, your eating habits may also change during depression. If you find yourself eating far more carbs than usual (especially from unhealthy foods), it may be a sign that your mind is looking for comfort and pleasure.
5. Struggling to focus
Did you know that low-level depression is also a diagnosis? While it’s definitely not as severe as other forms, this mental health problem can also affect your life quality.
Blair explains that lack of focus and relaxation is among the most common symptoms of low-level depression. The pandemic definitely doesn’t help much here since it made us all feel endangered or on the edge for months.
When you feel like you can’t focus on any daily task, that’s because your brain is busy doing something else: worrying. Baker further explains the phenomenon:
“You might notice an increase in incidences of ‘brain-fog’ which is the subconscious mind’s way of protecting someone from the extremely challenging circumstances they are living through. Brain-fog is a common symptom of grief and many people are in mourning for the life they used to live.”
Furthermore, if you find ourself overthinking even the smallest details, it may also be a sign that your brain is feeling overwhelmed by something; and unfortunately, there are plenty of things that can overwhelm us right now.
I think I have depression. What do I do now?
If you notice a pattern of unexplainable thoughts and feelings that last for longer periods of time, the first thing you can do is talk to a loved one. Sometimes, simply letting out your emotions may bring some clarity and help you understand yourself.
However, if you feel like nothing helps and you’re sinking more and more into a negative state of mind, it might be best to talk to a therapist. In this post, I talk about 7 reasons why attending therapy can be worth it.
Are you or a loved one struggling with depression right now? Share your stories in the comment section and let’s encourage each other to stay safe and happy during these difficult times!
