8 Signs Someone is Secretly Depressed

The hidden depression symptoms.

The word “Depression” has become more familiar these days, due to the massive diseases spread.

“World Health Organization” reported that more than 264 million people suffer from depression worldwide in 2020.

Many factors can cause depression, like death, a break-up, job loss, financial stress, among other triggers.

At some level in our lives, we had terrible days that last for a short period, where we felt a depressed mood, some changes in appetite, reduced interest in activities once enjoyed.

Accompanied by some feelings of worthlessness and guilt, sleeping issues, difficulty thinking, which leads to fatigue and energy loss, etc.

But depression is more in-depth than many expect; it’s when a person experiences a severe and persistent low mood, profound sadness, or despair.

And once those symptoms are long-lasting, here, we are talking about “Depression.”

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”

― Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral’s Kiss.

I experienced depression in the past, and I tried as much as I can to hide my feelings. I was forcing myself to smile in public, but when I go back home, I felt that dark cloud of negative emotions surrounding me. I pretended to be well, but inside I was in much pain.

Smiling Depression, hidden Depression, and high-functioning Depression referred to a clinically depressed person who tries to keep his depression a secret from the others.

Have you ever heard of a celebrity that killed himself?

Many celebrities seemed that they’re having a fancy life, money, and beloved by many people, ending with killing themselves.

Wikipedia demonstrates a long list of suicides in the 21st century.

The most and foremost reason for suicide is a mental illness.

The suicide of the comedian Robin Williams is one of the examples. He is known for his infectiously funny and good-natured personality.

Williams also battled drug and alcohol addiction as well as severe depression.

“He was always warm, even in his darkest moments. While I’ll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there’s minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions.” -Zelda, Williams’s daughter.

People may look joyful, successful, and pleasant, making you believe that their lives are perfect. But the truth, that they’re suffers from mental health.

So here are eight signs of a hidden Depression :

1- They feel emotions on a much deeper level:

Do you become emotionally volatile in response to a simple question or comment?

Those who are secretly depressed will often feel more intensely than usual because of how much they bottled up inside.

They’re more susceptible to crying, getting upset, or even having a full-fledged breakdown.

My family used to call me “too sensitive” because I cry easily. They don’t know that I’ve tried so hard to hold myself, but sometimes I can’t control it.

In some way, you feel unbalanced for being more affectionate and loving towards others, while also you’re more angered and saddened.

Wich makes you uncomfortable and hard for you to socialize with others due to those frequent mood swings.

2- They are less positive and optimistic:

Did you used to be positive and optimistic, but suddenly you become pessimistic?

You often feel that you’re internally struggling with many dark thoughts that you’re too afraid to share.

Sometimes you’re overcome by some doubts and negative feelings that you can’t take it off from your mind, and you find it too hard to tell somebody, so you keep it for yourself.

3- They are obsessed with being the best:

Depression makes us less enjoyable in our daily lives, but that doesn’t lessen our ability to make more efforts to distract ourselves from all the negativity that we’re feeling.

That inner feeling of worthlessness, push us to imposes ourselves and market a better version of us.

So we find ourselves fighting in showing that we are good, and we still can do good things.

4- They have sudden mood swings:

That reminds me of my menstruation mood. Those changes in hormones give a sudden change in an emotional state.

Everybody has mood swings, and they are a natural part of most people’s lives, but it becomes a real problem when someone experiences intense mood swings and lasts for more than a few days.

During a mood swing, a person may quickly switch from feeling happy and upbeat to feeling sad, irritable, or angry.

In some cases, mood changes are reactions to your environment or circumstances, but it becomes harder for you when there is no logical reason for these changes.

These changes amplify the symptoms of depression and make enjoying things you used to love incredibly tricky.

5- They’ve started abusing drugs and alcohol:

Alcohol and drug addiction are reasonably common for hidden depression, as I mentioned above, the comedian Robin Williams, battled drug and alcohol addiction, and severe depression.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (A.D.A.A) finds that approximately one in every five people who are depressed also has a substance use disorder.

Your mind starts looking for something that makes him forget that pain, and when he finds it, he holds onto it, then it stops being occasional and becomes regular and then turns into dependency.

So that’s why depressed people are usually addicted to something (work, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.).

6- They’re always out of it lately:

In the past, I struggled with depression, and I remember there are times where I was so unfocused, at some point, I forgot My English exam, and I took a zero mark.

Do you often forget important things even if you set a reminder for yourself?

People may think that you’re just lazy, and you’re acting like a child, but depression makes it harder for you to finish tasks or keep yourself motivated, affecting your grades or work performance.

Difficulty concentrating and remembering is one of the symptoms of depression.

The depressed person often has a hard time keeping their train of thought, and they have difficulty with decisions, they even struggle with remembering recent events.

7- They feel bad asking for help:

Do you feel that you’re struggling to ask for help even if you need it, but you just can’t? When someone’s trying to conceal their depression from others, they find it hard to ask for help. It’s just that feeling of never want to burden anyone else with what they’re going through.

So you keep pretending that there is no problem, hoping that you can fix it all alone.

8- They always try to look or act happy:

Hidden depression is when we hide our feelings and negative thoughts. We don’t like our inner senses to be exposed. It makes us feel vulnerable and insecure. So we tend to keep our sadness, or whatever is bothering us, to ourselves, and pretend to be happy.

Usually, we keep denying that something is wrong, even if we know, there is, which is lead to “sign 7”.

We are afraid to ask for help, so we pretend all the time that everything is okay and we have no problem, we won’t let others see us cry, or be sad, so we make excuses about why they can’t see as much.

Many patients often feel the need to keep their struggle a secret; they’re frightened to be judged, shamed, or mistreated because of the negative stigma surrounding mental illness.

Does this remind you of anyone?