Signs Depression Is Coming Back

How To Tell If A Depressed Person Really Loves You

You may be wondering how to tell if a depressed person really loves you. The answer to this question may not be as obvious as it seems.

Depression can greatly alter someones perception of reality, so its important to look at your partner with a kind and understanding lens instead of simply assuming they dont love you because they are depressed.

If your partner has shown affection for you in the past and still does even when they might not feel like it, then there is a good chance that your partner does indeed love you very much. Be patient with them during these times!

People with depression often become self-critical and blame themselves for anything bad happening around them sometimes including breakups or other difficult relationships.

These people are often aware that it is not their fault, but they cant help feeling like a failure as a partner in those situations. As the partner of someone with depression, you should be there to remind your loved one of all the ways you appreciate them and love them for who they are no matter what!

Red Flags That You May Be Slipping Back Into Depression

If youve overcome a period of depression you will know how scary it can be when you start feeling blue again. There is always that fear that you will slip back into that black hole but it doesnt have to be that way.Learn how to spot a depression relapse and prevent a full-blown episode.

Many people who suffer a bout of serious depression do not experience such a severe episode again. In fact, research indicates that 50 percent of people who experience an episode of depression will recover and live a relatively normal life when it comes to their mental health. But half of those who suffer from an intense episode will find that they relapse sometimes more than once during their lifetime.

The good news is that if you are able to spot the red flags of a depression relapse, you stand a better chance of preventing a full-blown episode or at least coping better with your depression when it hits.

Chronic Aches And Pains

Do you have back pain even though you havent strained your back? Or how about chronic headaches and stomachaches? Unexplained chest pain or achy legs and arms? Depression can have physical symptoms, too. If your aches and pains don’t get better with treatment, ask your doctor if depression could be to blame.

Also Check: What To Do If A Friend Is Depressed

The Importance Of Focusing On Yourself

At our tranquil riverfront property, surrounded by picturesque rice fields and traditional Thai villages, you are completely removed from your triggers the people, places and things that contribute to your condition and immersed in a safe and soothing environment where you can focus wholly on healing. If you are slipping back into depression, please feel free to reach out to us at anytime for a consultation.

Activity: A Toolbox Of Support

Taking time to do things you enjoy is important for everyone, but it’s easy to cut back on these activities. Write down a list of things that help you when you start to feel overwhelmed or notice warning signs.

Some examples include:

• Setting aside time for extra sleep

• Talking with a friend or loved one

• Talking with your health care professional

• Attending a peer support group

• Spending time in nature, like going to a park

• Writing in a journal

• Spending time on a hobby

• Volunteering for your favourite organization or helping someone else

• Watching a funny movie

Keep this list in a place you’ll see it often. Regularly pick a helpful activity from your list and set aside time to do it.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, SAD is officially classified as major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. So if you have seasonal affective disorder, you have mood changes and symptoms of depression, including:

• Sadness, feeling depressed most of the day, almost every day.

• Trouble sleeping .

Who Is At Risk For Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is more common in younger people and women. Youre also at higher risk if you:

• Have another mood disorder, such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.
• Have relatives with SAD or other forms of depression or mental health conditions, such as major depression or schizophrenia.
• Live at latitudes far north or far south from the equator. Theres less sunlight during the winter at these latitudes.
• Live in cloudy regions.

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Difficulty Experiencing Joy Or Connection

When were depressed, it can take all of the enjoyment out of the things we love and make it more difficult for us to connect to those closest to us. We may begin to lose interest in hobbies, friendships, schoolwork, social activities, sex or life in general. When this happens, we may find ourselves feeling isolated from friends, family members or others who care about us.

What Causes A Depression Relapse Or Recurrence

If you are someone who has suffered depression you are more likely to be triggered by a stressful life event than someone who has never experienced mental health issues. There are a range of other factors that can be triggers for depression including:

• Medical conditions such as obesity or diabetes
• Leaving treatment early
• Not receiving the right treatment for your initial episode of depression
• A major life event such as a death, family conflict or marriage breakdown

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Signs Of A Depression Relapse

For this reason, it is important to consider the various potential signs or symptoms of a depression relapse. Below is a complete list of the potential signs to watch for and the sections that follow include detailed descriptions of these signs and symptoms to help you determine if they are impacting you.

• Aches and pains
• Suicidal ideation/thoughts

If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

If you have SAD, ask your provider:

• What treatment is best for me?
• How can I prevent depressive episodes?
• Will light therapy work?
• Should I take an antidepressant?
• When should I start treatment?
• How long should my treatment continue?
• What can I eat to improve my symptoms?
• What else can I do to feel better?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that happens every year during a specific season, usually winter. Symptoms can include a lack of energy and feelings of hopelessness. Fortunately, theres treatment for seasonal depression. Talk to your healthcare provider. Theyre there to help.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/10/2022.

References

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Reach Out To Family Or Friends

If you feel that you are slipping back into a state of depression, reach out to a family member or friend to let them know how you are feeling. Depression can make you want to narrow your social connections, which can make the symptoms of depression worse. Therefore, finding someone you can confide in and who will check up on you can make a difference.

What Are The Different Types Of Depression

You might have heard a number of terms used to describe depression. In this section, we explain what some of these terms mean.

What is clinical depression?

Clinical depression is a common term, but it is not a formal diagnosis. People sometimes say clinical diagnosis to just mean they have been diagnosed by a doctor.

What is a depressive episode?

Your doctor might say that you are going through a ‘depressive episode’. This is the formal name that doctors give depression when they make a diagnosis. They may say that you are going through a ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ episode.

What is recurrent depressive disorder?

If you have had repeated episodes of depression, your doctor might say that you have recurrent depressive disorder. They may say that your current episode is ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’.

What is reactive depression?

If your doctor thinks that your episode of depression was caused by particular stressful events in your life, they may say that it is reactive. For example, divorce, job or money worries. This is sometimes separated from an adjustment disorder, where you may struggle with some symptoms of depression because of adapting to a major change in your life. Such as separation from people, retirement or migrating to a new area.

What is a severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms?

You can find more information about Psychosis by clicking here.

What is dysthymia?

What is cyclothymia?

What is postnatal depression?

What is manic depression?

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Here Are Eight Ways To Tell

• Find a therapist to overcome depression

Depression describes a mood, which we can think of as an emotional climate. We can’t always tell what our mood is based on a single day, just as we can’t know for certain which season we’re in based on the weather one cold day in the fall doesn’t mean it’s winter, and one day of feeling lousy doesn’t mean we’re depressed. We look for patterns in our emotions and behavior and clusters of symptoms to figure out if we’re depressed.

On the other side of depression, we might not know exactly when it’s lifting. At first, we might not notice the improvements, like the imperceptible lengthening of days as spring approaches. And then one day, we’re struck by the change, like seeing the first crocus popping through the melting snow. We feel a thaw in our numb emotions, a spark of excitement to be alive.

Just as a heavy snow can come after the spring ephemerals emerge, we can feel the first signs of depression abating and then continue to experience symptoms of depression. With continued time and treatment, we can continue toward a fuller recovery.

Look for these signs, among others, that can indicate relief from depression:

1. Less irritability.

We think of sadness as the most common emotion in depression, but irritability is also very common. As you start to feel better, you might notice that you have more patience, and feel less easily put out with others.

2. Greater interest in activities.

3. More energy.

4. Feeling less overwhelmed.

How To Know When Your Depression Is Getting Better

As you begin treatment for depression, it may take a bit of time for you to feel like you’re back to your normal self. If your progress is slow, it’s natural to question whether you’re really improving. Your doctor can help you set some goals to use as benchmarks and assess your progress.

Also Check: What To Do About Crippling Depression

Sign #7 Affection Has Disappeared

If the fun flirting and hand holding has disappeared and theres no kissing and cuddling, you have to entertain the idea that your man doesnt want you anymore. He might very well have lost his feelings for you for a variety of reasons.

Think about it. If you want to be with someone in a romantic sense, dont you want to be openly affectionate with them?

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How Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Diagnosed

If you have symptoms of seasonal affective disorder , dont try to diagnose yourself. See your healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation. You may have another reason for your depression. Many times, seasonal affective disorder is part of a more complex mental health issue.

Your provider may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist. These mental health professionals will ask you about your symptoms. Theyll consider your pattern of symptoms and decide if you have seasonal depression or another mood disorder. You may need to fill out a questionnaire to determine if you have SAD.

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Dont Wait Getting Help Is Time Sensitive

When these 7 signs of depression get in the way of your ability to function in daily life, its time to reach out for help. Reoccurrences of depression are both common and treatable when they are proactively addressed. However, the longer the symptoms loom, the worse depression gets. Here are a few ways you can address a relapse in depression:

• Talk to a trusted family member or friend let them know how you are feeling.
• Record all of the symptomsboth mental AND physicalyou are experiencing.
• Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms
• Visit a therapist for talk therapy an important tool find solutions and coping with feelings and problems.

How Is Depression Treated

The first step to getting treatment is to see your GP. If your GP thinks you have depression, they will talk to you about the treatments they can offer.

What are talking therapies?

Talking therapy is a general term to describe any psychological therapy that involves talking. You may also hear the terms counselling or psychotherapy used to describe talking therapy.

Therapy should offer you a safe, confidential place to talk about your life and anything confusing, painful or uncomfortable. It allows you to talk with someone who is trained to listen attentively and to help you improve things.

Talking therapy often takes place face to face. But you may also be able to have therapy over the phone, by video call or online. There are different types of talking therapy that you might be offered. These include:

• cognitive-behavioural therapy,
• mindfulness based therapy, and
• counselling.

The type of therapy you are offered will depend on the cause of your symptoms and their severity. Therapies may also have different levels based on how long or intense the treatment is.

Ask your GP about therapy if you think it might help. Some of these therapies will be available in your area. Some areas offer a self-referral option for NHS talking therapies. Please refer to your local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service to find out about this option.

You may also be able to access therapy privately or through your employer in an Employee Assistance Programme.

How can exercise help?

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Monitor Changes In Medication

How long you need to take antidepressants depends on how well they work and whether you’re at risk of a relapse. As you begin to feel better, your doctor may decide to reduce your medication dosage or take you off it completely. This is a positive sign that you’re making progress.

Another medication-related sign to look for is if you’re having fewer side effects with your antidepressant or if they are less severe. Or maybe you’ve found a way to work them into your life so the effects aren’t so bothersome, such as taking them at morning versus night or vice versa. All of these changes are steps in the right direction.

If your antidepressant is making you feel worse or causing side effects that are impacting your quality of life, speak to your doctor. Sometimes a change in medication is all you need to start feeling better.

It may take time, but with the right combination of treatment, support, and lifestyle habits, you can feel like your old self again.

Depression Discussion Guide

• Sleeping too much or too little
• Thinking about or trying to commit suicide
• Waking during the night or early in the morning

Undiagnosed and untreated depression can get worse and stop you from living a fulfilling life. So, if you have these symptoms for two weeks or more, or if you are being treated for depression and these symptoms are not getting any better, be sure to consult a mental health professional for help.

Family History Of Psychopathology

Recurrence of depression has been linked to a family history of various types of psychopathology, including any mental illness, affective disorders in general, and major depression in particular. Most studies that examine the relationship between recurrence of depression and family history of psychopathology have focused on family history of depression in particular . Bland, Newman, and Orn examined the risk for depression in 763 first-degree relatives of 75 adult probands with unipolar depression who had been followed for 12 to 18 years. They found significant independent differences according to the probands age at onset and whether the proband had had a single episode or recurrent depression. Specifically, they found a morbidity risk of 3.4% in relatives of those with late-onset single episodes, 7.5% in relatives of those with early-onset single episodes, 8.2% in relatives of those with late-onset recurrent episodes, and 17.4% in relatives of those with early-onset recurrent episodes. Zubenko and colleagues examined 1242 relatives of 81 probands with recurrent, early-onset depression. They found that prevalence rates of depression were approximately 7.7 times higher in first-degree relatives and 3.8 times higher in extended relatives than would be expected based on epidemiological prevalence rates reported in the Epidemiological Catchment Area study.

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How To Manage A Depression Relapse

Sometimes, depression relapse happens no matter what you do. Your mood may have been down for days, even though youve taken care to watch for triggers and keep up with treatments.

When depression relapse occurs, recognizing it and quickly seeking treatment can make a big difference in how much the episode impacts your daily life.

If you think you may be experiencing relapse symptoms, try to begin treatment immediately. Consider reaching out to your mental health professional to get a plan in place.

Treatment options for relapse are the same as for your first experience with depression and may include:

• restarting medications, such as antidepressants
• restarting or adjusting schedules of interpersonal therapy
• restarting or adjusting schedules of cognitive behavioral therapy
• electroconvulsive therapy
• being mindful of getting enough sleep
• focusing on a healthy diet
• getting enough exercise

Since the symptoms you experience during a depression relapse can be different every time, the types and frequency of treatment options may change.

Being proactive about depression relapse can help keep you from living in a state of constant worry. While you may not be able to prevent every episode, you can still give yourself the best chance possible to avoid relapse.

Here are some steps you can try.