4 Signs That Your Funk Could Be the Result of Depression
We all have times where we don’t feel like our normal selves. As humans, we’re capable of feeling many different emotions, and it’s perfectly normal to feel many of them regularly, including sadness. However, there is a difference between just having “the blues” and being clinically depressed. A lot of people are used to feeling like they’re in a funk, so they don’t think anything can be done to help. Depression is a very treatable illness, but it can only be treated if people seek help.
Here are some common signs of depression to keep an eye out for:
Depressed mood
Feeling empty or numb
Loss of interest or pleasure things you used to like
Fluctuations in weight
Problems with sleep (too much or too little)
Feeling restless
Feeling irritable
Loss of energy
Feeling worthless
Excessive or inappropriate guilt
Trouble focusing on tasks
Indecisiveness
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
A lot of these can also be symptoms of other issues, so it can be tricky to suss out what’s a regular funk and what’s clinically concerning. Many of us have probably felt all of these at some point or another over the last year of the pandemic. If you’re in a funk after spending the last year away from your loved ones, you’re not alone! Many people are feeling a sort of covid-burnout at the moment. Here are some ways to tell if the funk you’re feeling is the result of depression:
It’s interfering with everyday functioning
The hallmark sign of something being a problem is when it gets in the way of your everyday functioning. After all, if you can’t do what you normally do in a day, that can be pretty frustrating. You’ve probably experienced times before when you had a hard time dealing with your day to day life - when you’re sick with the flu, for example, you know it’s time to lay low and get some medicine to feel better. Mental illness is just like that - it is an illness. You may need time and space to recover and feel like your old self again, but know that it’s possible.
It’s lasting a long time
We all have ups and downs emotionally. We have hard times at work, tough situations with our families, and complicated relationships. It’s normal to feel sad, even to feel sad pretty often. However, if you’ve been feeling sad for a long time with no improvement, it may be a sign that you’re experiencing depression. Typically, our emotions come and go, good and bad. When you’re feeling something not so fun, you can hold on and tell yourself that better feelings are around the corner. If you’re not feeling any of those good feelings- like joy, contentment, happiness- and you haven’t been for a period longer than two weeks, it could be depression.
It leaves you feeling numb or hopeless
Another sign that your funk is something more serious is if you regularly feel numb or hopeless. As we discussed above, part of being a person is experiencing feelings, all the time. Sometimes you might feel like you feel too many feelings! Depression is sneaky though, and it can often make you feel numb or hopeless. You might not feel much of anything at all, good or bad. You might feel like you’ll never feel anything other than this. Depression is wrong, though - you can feel things. You just may need more support to deal with your depression so you don’t feel so numb.
People who love you have asked you if you're okay
A lot of us think we’re really good at hiding when we’re struggling, but the people who love us can usually tell. If you’ve had people who care about you ask if you’re doing alright, maybe they’re seeing something that you aren’t. You might think you’re hiding your struggle but when people know us really well they can pick up on when we’re having a hard time. Sometimes you might just be feeling a little blue and they catch you at a bad time. However, if multiple people who care about you have been concerned that you’re not yourself, they may be onto something. Know that it’s okay to ask for help!
Dealing with depression can be a lot different than how we see it in the media. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of depression so you can tell if you’re just in a funk or depressed. If you’re not feeling like yourself and want to talk about it, our clinicians can be a source of support for you.
