Depression Talks: Know the Signs

Opinion/Perspective

Links: Is Depression Genetic or Environmental? https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/genetic#other-factors | Effects of Overstimulation on Mental Health https://neurolaunch.com/overstimulated/ 

By Ashley Harris

Starting is half the battle, especially when you don’t realize you’re fighting one.  One of the hardest parts of depression is recognizing that you are suffering internally.  It isn’t always loud or obvious; sometimes it feels like a silent call for help.  Severe depression can exist when you’re functioning on the outside while quietly unraveling on the inside.  For me, it feels like a glitch, something is off, but I can’t immediately name why.

Over time, I began to recognize the signs.  When I’m not okay, I become a natural people pleaser, constantly saying yes and putting others before myself.  I lose my appetite, feel guilty for enjoying simple pleasures, and convince myself that I’m a burden to my friends and family.  I struggle to turn my thoughts into words and often feel like no one will ever truly understand me. I compare myself to others, feel like I’m falling behind, and question my purpose.  Sleep becomes inconsistent, motivation fades, mood swings intensify, and self-care becomes overwhelming.  These patterns don’t always appear all at once, but together they signal that something deeper is going on.

Depression has become a widespread epidemic, yet it is still often dismissed as an “excuse” for not enjoying life or being productive.  In reality, it is an internal battle that can feel impossible to escape.  Depression is an excessive, persistent sadness that interferes with your ability to pursue your interests and sense of self.  In many cases, it is rooted in trauma—experiences that once seemed manageable but were stored away until a major event brought them back into awareness.

Reporting on research, according to Healthline “depression may be associated with multiple genes but not caused by any one of them,” but instead develops through the interaction between genetics and life experiences. For me, losing my dad during my first year of college became that trigger, intensifying emotions I hadn’t fully understood and pushing me into a period of severe depression.

One of the clearest signs I noticed was constant comparison, especially through social media.  Scrolling made me feel like I should be achieving more or doing life “right” by now.  Once I recognized how much it was affecting my mood, I deleted Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, and set screen-time limits.  Overstimulation plays a major role in mental health struggles, as “the effects of overstimulation on mental well-being can be profound and far-reaching…leading to a state of chronic stress and mental fatigue” according to Neurolaunch.

I also began turning awareness into action.  During one semester, I wrote a term paper and created an online brochure on the benefits of yoga and meditation for a persuasion project.  After doing well on that final, I wanted to put my research into practice.  I started exercising regularly—yoga, Pilates, light weightlifting, and walking—and found that movement helped regulate my mood and clear my mind.

Beyond physical movement, I’ve worked on reshaping how I think.  I made Pinterest boards focused on self-affirmation and personal growth.  I’ve learned that how you think is what you become, and slowly shifting my mindset has come with both progress and setbacks.

 These changes don’t cure depression, but they help me recognize the signs sooner and respond with intention.  Awareness is powerful, and learning to notice when you feel “off” is often the first step toward healing.  A gentle reminder is this: It is okay to not feel okay.