Signs Someone You Love May Be Hiding Depression

Depression can be scary for many people.

Depression can make individuals feel as though they are losing control over their thoughts and emotions, leading to a sense of helplessness or fear. Oftentimes, depression can severely impact one’s ability to function in daily life, affecting work, relationships, and self-care. This decline can be alarming and lead to further stress and anxiety, which can create a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of. Depression can manifest in a variety of ways, and symptoms can vary from person to person. However, some common symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness or low mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleep disturbances
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Thoughts of death or suicide

The symptoms listed above are more of the obvious symptoms. But what if someone you love is struggling with depression but is trying to hide it? What are some of the warning signs or things to look out for? Recognizing that someone you love may be hiding their depression can be challenging, especially since many people with depression try to conceal their symptoms.

Here are some things to look out for:

Changes in Behavior:

Noticeable changes in behavior, such as becoming withdrawn, avoiding social activities, or losing interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed are all common with depression. There may be a decline in work or school performance. This could include missed deadlines, a drop in productivity, or an inability to concentrate on a task. A person might neglect their responsibilities at home, work, or school. This could include failing to pay bills on time, neglecting household chores, or skipping important appointments. Oftentimes, the changes in behavior might start off small but grow bigger and more noticeable as time goes on. Without proper mental health help, a person with depression might continue to feel worse and worse, which reinforces behavior to continue.  

Mood Swings:

Uncharacteristic mood swings, irritability, or a significant drop in enthusiasm and energy are often associated with depression. Depressed individuals may experience heightened irritability or feeling annoyed. Small frustrations or inconveniences can provoke a stronger-than-usual reaction. In addition, moments of deep sadness can come on suddenly, even in the middle of otherwise normal or neutral activities. Sometimes depression can trigger emotional numbness or emptiness, where the individual feels disconnected from their emotion altogether. 

Isolation:

Isolation is a common symptom of depression and can manifest in various ways. People may avoid phone calls, texts, or invitations from friends and family, often making excuses for why they can not meet up. Or, they show a general lack of interest in spending time with others and may appear disinterested or disengaged when they do participate in social activities. Some people might go to the extent of changing their daily routines to avoid contact with others, such as staying up late and sleeping during the day or overworking themselves. Isolation can also be emotional when it shows up as communicating less frequently, providing minimal or non-committal responses, and avoiding discussing their feelings or thoughts. Sometimes people with depression put up emotional barriers, making it difficult for others to connect with them on a deeper level.

Physical signs:

Oftentimes, mental and emotional problems can manifest into the body. People with depression may complain about physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or muscle pains without a clear medical cause. Noticeable neglect of personal hygiene or a significant change in appearance, such as weight loss or gain is not uncommon. In addition, people with depression might sleep too much or sleep too little, which impacts the entire body and mind. 

New coping strategies:

Coping with depression can be challenging, and some strategies that people use to cope with the pain can be ineffective or even harmful. Some common maladaptive coping approaches include: Using alcohol, drugs, or other substances; turning to food for comfort or losing appetite; seeking thrills or engaging in impulsive activity; and self-harming behaviors.

What You Can Do to Help

• Approach Gently: People who are struggling with depression most likely already feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment. There is no need to add to that! Express your concern without judgment. Use “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory, such as “I’ve noticed you’ve been acting differently lately, and I’m worried about you.”
• Offer Support: Let them know you’re there for them and willing to listen whenever they’re ready to talk.
• Stay Connected: Keep reaching out, even if they don’t respond immediately. Consistent support can make a big difference as it can show a level of trust, care, and love.
• Educate Yourself: Learn more about depression to better understand what they might be experiencing and how you can help.

Start Working with A Depression Therapist in Englewood, CO

Suggest seeking help from a mental health professional, and offer to assist them in finding resources or making appointments. Mountain Vista Psychology has a team of highly trained mental health professionals who are ready to support your loved one! You can start your therapy journey from our Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Littleton locations by following these simple steps:

1. Schedule a free phone consultation
2. Begin meeting with a caring therapist
3. Start overcoming depressive symptoms.

Other Services Offered by Mountain Vista Psychology

At Mountain Vista Psychology, we provide many services to help empower individuals on their journey toward mental and emotional well-being. In addition to family therapy, we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health concerns. Other services offered include Telehealth Therapy services, we also provide counseling services for child counseling, teen counseling, adult counseling, & more. We also provide Neurofeedback Therapy services for Neurofeedback for ADHD, Neurofeedback for Autism, Neurofeedback for Concussion/ TBI, and Neurofeedback for Sports/Performance. Our team also provides testing for learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism. Be sure to check out our Blog and FAQs for more about us and our services!