Depression comes in many forms and levels of severity. Everyone has a different way of showing it. For some people, it creeps up on them slowly and over a long span of time, which would make it more difficult to detect outward changes. But there are some warning signs to look for in friends, family and co-workers who might be experiencing depression. Low levels of stress affect some people; say a rocky relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, while others may only be adversely affected by more serious trauma such as the death of a loved one. Depressed people aren’t always sad. Some depressed individuals will become overly anxious. Instead of crying or feeling down, a person might have depression that brings on fears and anxiety. Others will show irritability instead of sadness. When a person becomes irritable and hypersensitive too often during the day, they are likely dealing with depression in this way. An affected individual who once had a mild dislike of something will now react with utter repulsion when faced with the offending issue. Not everyone wears their hearts on their sleeves. Some people may keep depression stoically hidden under layers of fronts that keep real feelings out of the public eye. For some people, this behavior is ingrained at an early age. They may have had this modeled to them by parents or other close adults or friends around them. Though many suffering from depression lack hope, hope can be found through treatment and the support of loved ones who can help you as you navigate through the pain of depression.
