Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and can last for long periods. Depression is a serious mental illness that can happen without warning and can cause problems in your daily life.
This is how depression looks:
- An intense sadness that lasts 2 weeks or more
- You lose interest in the activities you used to enjoy
- You may feel tired, exhausted, or lack energy.
- Negative thoughts that persist about oneself, others, and the world
- Resignation from social situations
- Physical symptoms include muscle pains, appetite loss, and disturbed sleep patterns.
Are you noticing these changes in yourself? You might notice a decrease in energy if you do. You may not be able to make it out with friends or make an effort to socialize. You may have also stopped engaging in activities that make you happy and engaged.
Depression can cause drastic changes in your outlook, behavior, and thinking. These drastic changes can often make it difficult to recover and worsen depression. You are less likely to make friends if your energy levels and motivation drop. You may even decide not to work and avoid any important responsibilities.
You will experience a decrease in positive emotions if you stop participating in activities you enjoy. This can lead to depressive symptoms that are already present. It can also make it very difficult to break the vicious circle. This is called the Lethargy Cycle.
If you neglect your tasks, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you have to do. You may feel guilty or disappointed that you didn’t finish work on time. Depressive symptoms can become worse when this happens.
You might feel more negative emotions as your depression worsens. This can harm your overall functioning. Research has shown that dreams can be disturbed as well. The more negative emotions experienced, the more likely you are to dream. You will feel tired and lethargic because dreaming happens in the REM stage, where you do not get deep sleep. Not getting enough sleep can also affect the strength of your cells, which is crucial for your immune system’s proper functioning. This can make you more susceptible to disease and illness over time.
Breaking the Lethargy Cycle
Breaking the cycle of low mood and lethargy is a key area to focus on when treating depression. It is possible to end the depression cycle of lethargy, even though it can be difficult.
Experts recommend that you gradually increase your involvement in enjoyable and purposeful activities to help reverse the cycle of depression. Pleasurable activities are activities that bring you joy. These activities include reading a book, watching a favorite movie, or eating a delicious meal. You can also talk to friends on the phone. You can feel accomplished by doing purposeful activities, such as cleaning out your home, cooking, or finishing an assignment.
These 2 activities should be included in your daily schedule. These activities will make you feel happier. Positive emotions and feelings of accomplishment and mastery will begin to emerge. These feelings can increase confidence, boost motivation, and improve energy levels. You will feel happier about life and be able to keep your depression at bay.
You need to take action if you want to feel better. This can be particularly difficult when you start your recovery journey. We recommend that you start small. It is important to remember that changing takes time and patience. Although you may not feel immediately better, you will begin to notice an improvement in your mood over time.
