(gentle music) (air whooshing)
(bell dings) - [Narrator] Hey, Psych2Goers, welcome back to another video. Thank you all so much for being here. With your help and support, we're able to succeed in our
mission to make mental health and psychology more
accessible to everyone. So, thank you. Now, let's continue. Did you know that depression
can occur in varying degrees from mild to moderate to severe? In this video, we'll be
focusing specifically on some of the signs and
symptoms of severe depression. As always, we want to remind you that this is for
educational purposes only, and not meant to diagnose or to invalidate an individual experience
not included on the list. If you do believe that you are suffering
from severe depression, we encourage you to seek the help of a mental health professional. With that said, here are six
signs of severe depression. Number one, daily stomach pain. Do you wake up most days with a sinking feeling in your stomach? Is it painful? And does the pain make it
difficult for you to function? Many conditions and illnesses
can also cause this, but severe depression
might be your culprit. According to Healthline,
research has shown that depression has strong links to inflammation of the digestive system. Not only does this mean
that severe depression makes you more prone to
stomach cramps and nausea, but also to bloating and
other digestive problems. If you can relate to this,
we encourage you to seek the help of a medical
professional to relieve your pain. Number two, your life
feels like it's on pause. Do you have a hard time getting things done throughout the day? Not just work, but also things like getting up to brush your
teeth or to take a shower. Though some may perceive this as laziness, it might actually be a
sign of severe depression. Healthline also explains that fatigue is a common
sign of severe depression, and it can feel like no amount of sleep is ever enough for you to
get your normal energy back. Your worth is not measured by
how much you get done in a day or your productivity level. Even if all you had the energy
for was to take out the trash and feed the dog, you're
doing what you need at your own pace. Number three, there is a growing
apathy towards your goals. Are you someone who usually dreams big? Have those dreams recently
seemed less appealing or more out of grasp? Apathy is a symptom of severe depression that is often overlooked because it can manifest as contentment. But when a nonchalant attitude becomes an indifference to goals that
used to mean a lot to you, it may be something worth
paying attention to, as it's a sign of severe depression. Number four, mental breakdowns. Do you find yourself
overreacting to things that would usually be
only mildly annoying? Are you prone to mental
breakdowns every now and again? According to the New Dimensions
Day Treatment Center, a mental breakdown is a
combination of severe depression and anxiety, and can manifest
in a variety of ways. They might show up as
panic attacks, rumination, helplessness, and much more. For a more comprehensive list of what a mental
breakdown could look like, please feel free to visit
the link in our references. If you find yourself in the
middle of a mental breakdown, remember that you aren't alone. Though it may feel insurmountable, know that help is available and that you are fully capable
of getting through this. Number five, noticeable
behavioral symptoms. Have your friends told you that you don't seem yourself lately? One of the characteristics
of severe depression is that many behavioral symptoms
are noticeable by others. In fact, the symptoms
themselves may be indicative of a milder form of depression, but the way it impacts your life could classify the depression as severe. Some of these symptoms could
include fatigue, irritability, anger, substance abuse,
reckless behavior, and more. However, like all of these signs, this is not a hard and fast rule. All experiences with
depression are equally valid. And this is not to say that
severity is solely dependent on the observations of people around you. Though no one may notice, you could still be suffering in silence
with severe depression, and we don't want to take anything away
from your experience. We just want to point out that severe depression is
more likely to be noticeable than other forms. And number six,
hallucinations or delusions. Do you experience out-of-body experiences due to your depression, such
as hallucinations or delusions? This is known as depressive psychosis and can in some cases result
from major depression. Examples of this can be
hallucinations, paranoia, or delusions that interfere
with your everyday life. If you find yourself
experiencing psychosis, know that help is available and that seeking help is encouraged because altered perceptions of reality could impact your
wellbeing in harmful ways. We hope this helped you learn about some of the signs
of severe depression. Could you relate to any
of the signs in the video? If you can relate, remember
that you're not alone. Help is out there and we encourage you to seek professional help
to aid in your recovery. Please like and share this
video if it helped you and you think it could
help someone else too. The studies and references used are listed in the description below. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button for more Psych2Go videos,
and thank you for watching. We'll see you next time.
