A sneaky Process

If there were a device connected to your mind indicating the risk of falling into depression, even the most advanced one would struggle to detect its onset. Mental health conditions are generally difficult to anticipate and, even in our times, hard to accept. Depression insidiously embeds itself in various forms and situations, making it challenging to predict why, how, and when it will manifest in an individual. This invisible nature of depression adds to the guilt felt by those suffering and complicates social acceptance. The invisibility leads to doubts about the reality of the psychological state, with common remarks questioning the truth of the condition. Comparisons with others who have endured life's hardships without falling into depression are also frequent.

One thing is certain: no one chooses to fall into depression. It is an extremely slow process that can take months, sometimes years, to fully infiltrate and express itself in the daily life of an individual facing this psychological distress. Depression is a primary alert signal from your body, informing you of emotional instability and personal dissonance.

Fatigue: The Catalyst of Darkness

Depression affects all profiles regardless of personal and professional situations, social status, or intellectual level. A common denominator among us all is fatigue. The first thing to monitor closely is your fatigue level. Whether physical, emotional, or both, a body that is too physically or emotionally tired will struggle more to face the following day, overcome challenges, and maintain the personal engagement and motivational sphere necessary for daily management.

Overstraining yourself, either physically or emotionally, inevitably leads to excessive emotional fatigue. The central consequence of emotional or mental fatigue is an increasing inability to envision the future. Overexerted, the body logically loses the ability to imagine upcoming events, actions, or challenges. In an advanced state of exhaustion, mental projection diminishes, leading to an inability to visualize one's future and motivations. What was initially a long-term outlook reducing to just the current year, then only months, weeks, until reaching a point of being unable to get out of bed.

The First signs

Fatigue is the primary enemy of well-being and the favored companion of depression. However, it's merely the catalyst of an emergent psychological state, not the origin of the troubles it causes. Depression is essentially a consequence of a series of events and behavioral postures that don't align with who you truly are. In simpler terms, depression signals that the life you lead isn't right for you. Like an overextended elastic band, with one end being the life you lead and the other, the life that truly suits you, a sequence of decisions contrary to your nature slowly places your mind in situations leading to oppressive perceptions, eventually immobilizing your zest for life.

It's crucial to recognize when you've reached a breaking point, which is often the most complex aspect to identify. For some, this breaking point might be obvious, like the onset of anxiety attacks, the peak of mental paralysis, causing both physical and mental stagnation. For others, it might manifest over longer periods, with a tasteless experience of life, mechanical daily routines, or regular substance use.

Regardless of how depression manifests, the sliding phenomenon always follows the same pattern:

Frustrations > Denials > Anger > Depression

Observing these stages enables better understanding of what happens when you direct your life in ways that don't suit you. Frustrations can be varied, either imposed or chosen. Hence, it's common for people to judge depressive states, if those affected should have taken control and realized what was happening in their lives and minds. This external perspective might seem easy, but it's challenging to identify when your life transitions from a minor shower to an unending rain, violent winds, a storm, and finally the eye of a cyclone. If you've never experienced depressive symptoms, the uncontrollable nature and multifactorial aspects make it nearly impossible to anticipate a slide into a depressive state.

Generalized Blockages

Depression is an intense and diffuse emotional shock state. It causes numerous blockages - sensory, cognitive, social - and can also manifest through somatization, both visible and invisible. Organ failures, skin manifestations, or self-harm are just a few possible associated consequences of depression. These examples aren't systematic, and fortunately, most depressive states don't include such symptoms, but they can occur. Vigilance is crucial if you suffer from depression, to better prevent potential negative outcomes.

These blockages and somatization are the result of unexpressed frustrations converting into repressions. The accumulation of undesirable situations gradually alters an individual's motivational capacities.

Reversing the Path

This reminder, this warning signal from your mind and body, is critical. Depression forces an individual to reassess their life, personal goals, and how they see themselves among others. Medication, including antidepressants and anxiolytics, isn't mandatory or inevitable. The relative efficacy of these substances should be frequently monitored by a professional to verify their helpfulness or counterproductivity in resolving depression.

 In the journey leading to depression, focus on a holistic view of the individual's life. The path to depression varies, and therapy is needed to reverse the path that led to this psychological shock state. Analyze each significant situation, whether in work, love, family, personal ambitions, or self-image, to understand, analyze, and release them, tracing back to the origins of the discomfort.

Practicing Self-Assessment

In addition to focusing on expressing oneself and addressing the triggers of the mental state, it's also important to guard against the collateral damage and harmful routines associated with depression. Depression often comes with eating issues, either excessive weight gain or loss. The disruption of daily rhythm is another critical aspect to observe. Many depressed individuals initially fall into a disorganized daily schedule. Day blends into night, leading to severe sleep difficulties and insufficient recovery to face major emotional upheavals and frustrations triggering depression. To minimize the risk of sliding into a depressive syndrome, always take care of yourself by recognizing early signs of disruptions in your daily routine. This simple method will help you better face life's questions, manage your emotions, and ward off depressive symptoms.