Depression is a condition that affects more and more of us these days, some more severely than others. The chances are you know someone who suffers from depression – in fact, you may be living with someone who is depressed.
Sometimes, you may not realize that your partner is suffering from depression, as they may not have been diagnosed or be on treatment. In this article, we will look at key indications your partner is hiding their depression.
What Are the Signs?
So, what are the signs your partner is hiding their depression? Well, there are number of signs and indicators to look out for, including:
Becoming Withdrawn and Isolated
One thing that many depressed people do is to become completely withdrawn and isolate themselves. They no longer interact with friends, may stop interacting with family members, and might even become withdrawn with you, their partner.
This is a common sign of depression, where the person just wants to be on their own all the time. However, it is also a dangerous situation because they can sink into an even deeper depression.
Giving Up Their Interests
In the past, your partner may have had a range of hobbies and interests that they participated in on a regular basis. However, depression can make a person lose all interest in life in general, which includes their interests.
So, another sign you need to look out for is if your partner no longer takes any interest in hobbies that you know they enjoyed before. Again, this is something that can create a serious situation because they have nothing to take their mind off their depressed mood.
Drinking or Drug Use
Some people who are depressed but are not being treated for depression try to self-medicate, and they do this by turning to alcohol or even drugs. As experts have stated, this can make the depression even worse rather than making them feel better.
If you know or even suspect that your partner has suddenly started drinking more or may be using drugs, depression could be at the center of it. This is something that will not only make their depression worse but could ruin their health in other ways as well.
Unable to Sleep
People who suffer from depression are often unable to get to sleep or stay asleep, and sleep disturbances are a very common symptom. So, another thing to look out for is if your partner has started to find sleeping difficult.
When you fail to get enough sleep, it can have an impact on your appearance and your physical health. However, it can also have a profound impact on mental health and could exacerbate the depression.
Losing Interest in Hygiene
Another common symptom of depression is the person losing any and all interest in being hygienic. This could include not washing or bathing, not changing out of clothes that they've worn for days, failing to brush their teeth, and more.
Often, this is not something that they do consciously, but it is down to the fact that they have lost interest in themselves as well as in others. They no longer have the energy or inclination to work on their appearance, and simply don't feel like bothering any more because of the depression.
Be Supportive and Communicate
If you suspect your partner is hiding their depression from you, these giveaway signs will help you to determine whether they are suffering from this common condition. If so, it is important for you to be supportive and sit down and talk to them about the situation so you can both move forward.
