How I Know I'm Sliding into Depression

Depression is an extremely prevalent part of my experience with bipolar disorder type 2. In fact, I find my medication quells hypomania almost entirely but still allows depression to sneak through. And one thing I've learned is to recognize when a major depression episode is coming on.

This allows me to seek out treatment early in an attempt to stop it from getting worse. I've found it’s much easier to turn around a depression at the beginning rather than waiting until it's a full-blown disaster. Here’s how I recognize an upcoming depression.

My early warning signs of depression

There are many psychological depression early warning signs. For me, these include:

• Focusing on the negative, finding it impossible to even see the positive
• Feeling bad about myself
• Feeling like others hate me or are mad at me
• Not wanting to participate in anything outside the house
• Feeling like my thoughts are slow and stupid
• Feeling hopeless
• Having trouble concentrating
• Having trouble making decisions

Recognizing bipolar depression

Each of the above can be subtle at first. For example, I might start by just seeing more negative than positive rather than only seeing the negative. This ratio of negative to positive shifts over time until the negative is all that exists.

Similarly, I might initially feel like just one person is mad at me after a minor altercation. This might then morph, over time, into a feeling that everyone hates me.

Physical signs that start showing

While people often think of depression as being an emotional state, it does not only affect one psychologically. Depression has distinct physical characteristics as well. My physical warning signs of depression include:

• Greater fatigue
• Allodynia (a feeling of pain from non-painful stimuli; I often feel pain when I put my hands in water, for example)
• Craving unhealthy food, to the point of avoiding healthy food
• Sleeping more

In many ways, it's easier to see the physical depression signs over the psychological ones. While they, too, can start off more subtle, it's hard to miss feeling a shot of pain when I wash my hands.

Depression's early warning signs vary

Your psychological or physiological signs of depression may be different, but if you look, you'll find them. If you need help, mood-tracking software that also tracks physical and psychological states might be able to help you pinpoint those signs over time.

While all those signs together may create an obvious picture of depression, 1 or 2 can be easy to miss. That's why I try to monitor what I'm thinking and feeling and look for anything out of the ordinary.

Moreover, when I do see something, I try to pay attention and not ignore it. Sometimes, writing out my thoughts can make it easier to see when things are going astray.

Taking action to prevent more severe symptoms

Once the signs are noticed, I can enact a treatment plan, contact a professional, or reach out to my support network.

Being on watch constantly creates pressure that most don’t understand. But, looking out for the early warning signs of depression helps me work to avoid its more severe symptoms.