It’s becoming more and more common to speak about difficult subjects such as mental health. Thanks to the amount of awareness it has received in the past few years, people are starting to discover that a lot of their issues can stem from depression, anxiety and other similar circumstances. Once they manage to diagnose the problem, they can seek help and will generally see improvement over a long period of time.
However, it’s worth mentioning that overexposure to these types of conditions can make it difficult to tell if you’re just feeling a little upset or if you’re actually suffering from a mental health-related issue. So in this article, we’re going to do our best to help separate both of those and highlight when you should be considering real help from a physician.
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A low mood can be normal
Humans tend to go through high and low moods–it’s perfectly normal. Perhaps you might be a little more tired than usual, maybe you have lower confidence in yourself or perhaps you feel more angry or frustrated throughout the day. These are very common symptoms of a low mood, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve got depression or a similar mental health condition. Instead, it could just mean that you’re not having a good day, perhaps your work day didn’t go so well or maybe you’ve got some concerns on your mind.
These are common issues to face and aren’t related to depression. But if that’s the case, what are the actual signs of depression?
Differentiating depression from a low mood
Depression is a lot more concerning than just a low mood. It generally starts from a low mood that lasts for more than two weeks and can include feelings of hopelessness or being unable to concentrate on everyday tasks. If your low mood is causing you to lose basic functions, such as being late for work or forgetting to eat, then it’s a sign that it’s not just a low mood, but actually depression.
This is where getting a better understanding of your mental health can help. For instance, a post detailing what anxiety is can help you understand the condition better, and it’s worth looking up real advice from specialists instead of just listening to friends, family members and people over the internet. It’s also important not to reach conclusions as it could negatively affect your current mental health state or even your chances of recovery.
Coping with a low mood
There are a couple of things to avoid if you want to cope with a low mood by yourself. For instance, don’t overdo it with your work and try to ask for a day or two off, or even a lighter load if you can. This will help you lower your responsibilities for a while so you can spend more time focusing on your mental health. Try to surround yourself with positivity as well, such as speaking to friends and family members. It’s also a good idea to read positive articles and advice, such as how to raise your self-esteem and how to feel happier with simple lifestyle changes.