Although any human being can have good and bad days, the incidence of certain mental health disorders usually has an impact on people’s general mood. Beyond any logical concern, it is necessary to understand what is happening and know, in this case, how depression affects people’s thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
To approach this issue with the seriousness it requires, we need to know some indicators of the presence of this harmful clinical condition. In this PsychologyFor article we will talk about whether depression changes people That is, how it affects you on a physical and psychological level.
In global terms, depression affects emotions in a negative way, since it produces apathy and reluctance to carry out daily activities. If a comparison were made with other people who do not have a depressive condition, it could be noted that those who suffer from this condition show disinterest and sadness in the proposals made to them.
brain inflammation
Depressive symptoms that are not treated effectively through psychotherapy and psychiatric medications often cause brain inflammation. This condition results in a lack of oxygen that does not adequately reach the brain. When this occurs, the neurotransmitters found in the cerebral cortex do not act correctly and cognitive functions can be seriously affected.
Changes in appetite
Does depression change people? The truth is that whether through the presence or absence of appetite, it is clear that depression Modify the rhythm and eating routine of the person who suffers from it. Although it is true that in some cases a state of loss of appetite arises that can put life at risk, this should not be taken as a general rule, given that each case must be studied individually.
Thoughts linked to death
How does a person with depression change? Lack of desire is one of the most frequent symptoms within the depressive clinical picture. In this sense, the fact that a person who do not have projects and intentions to achieve goals in life It may be related to thoughts linked to death.
In the presence of suicidal ideas, it is necessary to contact a mental health center to be treated immediately.
Social isolation
When it is said that depression alienates people, it is because those who suffer from this clinical condition tend to isolate themselves from their closest environments, by abandoning certain activities in which they previously participated. This is related to a state of apathy considerable and a lack of energy to establish new social relationships in everyday life. In turn, social isolation can denote a home confinement.
In this article you will find more information about what apathy is: meaning, symptoms and how to overcome it.
Lack of sexual desire
Whether a person is in a relationship or not, a lack of sexual desire is another example of how depression changes people. This condition is reflected in a inhibition of sexual activities , both with other people and in an autoerotic way. The stress and distance involved negatively influence individuals who suffer from depression.
physical pain
Depression changes people because it is also felt in the body. According to various research, it has been shown that there is a connection between this clinical pathology and various bodily ailments. Given this, it is important to mention that the neural connections are associated with the body’s receptors that translate electrical signals as pain. However, this does not happen in all cases, since the intensity of the condition in each person must be taken into account.
Sleep disturbances
How does a person with depression feel? This mental health disorder can cause sleep disturbances such as hypersomnia excessive and prolonged sleep over time, or insomnia , light and broken sleep during the night. In this article you will see what the types of insomnia are and their treatment.
Beyond the particularities of each person, feeling or experiencing these types of symptoms is very common during depressive stages.
Memory loss
As we have explained previously, depression directly affects the central nervous system. This can be seen in the fact that people with depression have episodes of forgetfulness with regarding episodes in the past. The explanation for this lies in, during a depressive condition, brain activity is less than usual and gaps are generated in memories.
Low self-esteem
What does a person with depression think? Normally, you have a hard time facing new situations and challenges, which is associated with low self-esteem. When this happens, the person usually shows a lack of confidence in one’s own abilities to overcome obstacles and consolidate the actions carried out. All of this is part of a set of harmful ideas that unfold in the emotions and behaviors of the affected person. Discover the characteristics of people with low self-esteem in this article.
Variations in body weight
As we have seen, depression changes people in many ways. One of them is due to the lack of physical activity and/or dietary deregulations linked to depression as a clinical condition. All of this can cause variations in body weight that affect the physical and mental health of the person. Given this indicator, in each case, it is necessary to evaluate the risk that it may cause to the person and help them through the support of a mental health professional.
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Does depression change people? we recommend that you enter our Clinical Psychology category.
Bibliography
Botelho de Oliveira, S., Jaimes Alvarado, L., Conde Cotes, C. (2015). Long-term effects of depressive symptoms on a working memory task with and without attentional interference. Suma Psicológica Magazine, 22 (1), 29-36.
