If I asked you to describe what a depressed person looks like, you probably wouldn’t have pictured someone like me. While I was struggling withdepression, I still showed up to work every day, took care of my appearance, and did my hair and makeup everyday. I didn’t lock myself in my apartment with dishes piling up in the sink — you would have no idea based on just on appearances.I hadn’t (yet) experienced that major, suffocating form of depression that makes getting through every single day a herculean task — but I also didn’t feel like myself. Normally an energetic and social person, I felt apathetic about seeing friends and attending social functions that used to excite me.

Subtle Signs It’s Time To Seek Help

Just because I still appeared to be high functioning didn’t mean there wasn’t something going on under the surface. Not all mental illnesses show up in the dramatic ways we imagine or as depicted in the media. Living with even a milder mental illness can still seriously impact your quality of life — and potentially turn into something more serious if not caught and treated early. I advocated for myself with both a therapist and a psychiatrist, and here are some of the subtle signs that you should take care of your mental health, too.

1. You don’t enjoy the things you used to

If you’re an avid runner, and suddenly the idea of lacing up your sneakers doesn’t sound appealing, you’ll want to pay attention whether this feeling is persistent. The official term for this feeling is anhedonia, which means an inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable.

2. You’re sleeping all the time

Whether you’re getting too much sleep, or not enough, sleep changes can be one of the biggest signs that your mental health is off — and it may manifest in either sleeping too much or insomnia. Either way, if your sleep schedule is different than usual, take notice.

3. You don’t have the energy you used to

4. You’re forgetful

If you find your memory’s not what it used to be, it could be a sign of depression. A2016 studyfound that depression is linked with both a “reduced working memory capacity” and slowed processing speed. Though this may be scary and frustrating, but it’s a fairly common sign of depression.

5. Other people are noticing

We’re not always the most accurate observers of ourselves. While we can identify our own thoughts, it may be difficult to identify our behaviors. If family and friendsnotice that you’ve been acting differently, consider what they’ve said before getting defensive and insisting they’re wrong. Those who know you best can often see what you can’t see yourself.

6. You’re feeling particularly achy

Somewhat surprisingly, mental health issues can sometimes manifest physically. “Some physical symptoms [of mental illness] may include headaches, back and neck pain and gastrointestinal issues,” said Rachel O’Neill Ph.D., an Ohio licensed professional clinical counselor and Talkspace Provider. She added that “chronic widespread body pain” may also indicate mental health concerns.

7. You’re staying in more

When your mental health has been affected, you may find yourself withdrawing from friends, family, and isolating yourself. You fear that they don’t or won’t understand you, or you’re afraid of showing your true self. But in reality, connecting with someone,maintaining social connections, can help you get back on the right track.

8. Your appetite has changed

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

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