You May Not Realise It, But These Could be Unexpected Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

In a world that moves at a rapid pace, filled with constant demands and daily stresses, it is not unheard of to feel mentally exhausted at times. This can go hand-in-hand with feelings of sadness or fear. But be aware of simply brushing these feelings off as part of adult life. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health issues globally. It can be caused by a wide variety of factors and can hold you back from living the life you deserve.

Most often, the onset of depression is gradual, which can make it difficult to notice at first. We all have a bad day or a challenging week now and then, right? We do our best to cope with the symptoms until we get to a point where it affects our lives to such a point that professional help is needed.

This is often because the symptoms of depression can differ from what we think it would be. The more obvious symptoms we all know, include:

● Sadness
● Feeling hopeless
● Low self-esteem
● Lack of motivation
● Suicidal thoughts

However, more unexpected symptoms of depression can also include:

● Constipation
● Moving or speaking slower than usual
● Decrease in appetite (although, in some cases, it can also lead to an increase in appetite, or “comfort eating”)
● Trouble thinking or making decisions
● Physical aches and pains

While anxiety disorders are exceptionally common – more than 300 million people were considered to suffer from it worldwide in 2019 – only about 25% of sufferers seek help. While almost everyone experiences anxiety at some point, those with a disorder experience an excessive and intense feeling of worry and fear that affects their daily life.

More common symptoms include:

● Feeling panic (or even full-on panic attacks)
● Heart palpitations
● Nightmares
● Chest pain
● Nausea

Unexpected symptoms can also include:

● Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
● Dizziness
● Difficulty concentrating
● Sweating
● Chills or hot flashes

What you can do about it

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, consider seeing a professional to help you address the challenges you experience. It’s so easy to convince yourself that it isn’t that serious and that it will get better soon. However, this is the perfect time to see someone to help guide you through. Don’t wait until the challenge becomes a mountain. You deserve a life that you enjoy.

For more information on depression and anxiety – and for someone reliable to talk to – contact Dr Tienie Maritz today.

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Sources:

Home

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression-in-adults/symptoms/

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anxiety-disorders