Depression is a significant mental health issue around the world. It’s a condition that affects your mood and capacity to function. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 3.8% of the world population suffers from depression.
In the US, 21 million adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Therefore, it’s not unusual for people to be concerned about the signs and symptoms of depression. The most common symptom of depression is a hopeless outlook, followed by loss of interest in life.
Hopelessness
Depression sometimes follows terrible life experiences. It could be losing a loved one, career or relationship failure, or a terminal illness. So, depressed people often find themselves dealing with feelings of hopelessness.
They can’t see how things can get better. Notably, this issue goes beyond a mere pessimistic outlook on life. Instead, it extends to absolute disbelief in the possibility of positive outcomes.
Moreover, depressive hopelessness lasts a long time. It’s usually at this point that depressed person contemplate suicide. Since things can’t get better, “what’s the use of living?” they ask.
Loss of Interest in Life
Loss of interest in life typically follows hopeless thoughts. Depression can drain the pleasure you once derived from life’s activities. Consequently, people suffering from depression no longer feel the desire to engage in activities that once brought them joy.
This would include sports, education, outings, friendships, games, etc. If what we’ve described so far for over two weeks, it’ll be best to visit a mental health expert.
Final Thoughts
There are other signs of depression aside from hopelessness and loss of interest in life. Thankfully, a mental health professional can help you identify them and recommend the right treatment. In addition, you can exploit the rich materials on our resource page.
