Depression can be a hard mental illness to diagnose. Especially since many who suffer from it choose to conceal their depression.
At times it makes them feel alienated, or feel like there’s no one to reach out to for help.
If you or someone you know show any of these habits, please reach out to them, and show them you care.
1. They have strange sleeping and eating habits.
It may seem like a small thing but our sleeping and eating habits effect us tremendously. Whether one is caused by the other, people trying to conceal their depression tend to have unusual rest and nutrition habits.
Such as sleeping and eating too little or too much. These play big factors in our overall health and they should not be over looked.
2. They spend a good amount of time alone.
Someone with depression, especially when they are concealing it, tend to isolate themselves from the world as often as possible.
They always have an excuse for why they can’t meet up and can even stop answering calls all together.
which brings us to are next habit..
3. “Cover Up” stories come easy to them.
When ever they say they can’t hang out, or you ask about a cut they have, someone concealing depression tend to come up with elaborate reasons quite easily. They may start off as believable as any other reason.
But the more it happens, the more you’ll start to see how rehearsed and fake it actually is.
4. They seem “TOO” Happy.
This may sound like a contradictory statement, but someone trying to conceal their true feelings will often go out of their way to display the opposite.
It’s often the saddest of us working our hardest to make everyone laugh.
If you look careful, their reactions can sometimes seem a bit too over the top for the given scenario. It’s because they are doing their best to fake the reaction they think everyone wants.
5. When you hurt, they hurt.
Someone who conceals their depression will often times let out their true emotions only through the empathy for others.
They don’t want others to know how they feel, but if you’re going through a rough time they will go out of their way to make you know they understand you and that you are not alone.
Because at the end of the day thats what they want as well. They will cry just as hard as you, or be just as angry as you are.
Because they know how bad you feel, they want to share in that pain with you, rather than deal with their alone.
6. Small silent cries for help.
A person concealing their depression, never wants to bother any one with their problems. Even if they feel the weight of the world on their shoulders, they’ll hold it all in, usually only letting little cries for help come out.
It may be in the form of a joke or a passing thought they remark to you, but don’t let it go unchecked. Make sure they are ok.
7. Losing Interest in activities they once enjoyed
Losing interests in things you once liked to do is a common sign of someone with depression. Depression can come with a sense of meaninglessness, which can bring a person to give up on things that once brought them joy.
Keep an eye out for friends who just stop doing the things they love.