Most people know what it feels like to be depressed, after all, life is full of challenges. However, depression can be a sign of something worse, something that not only negatively impacts your mental health. It also impacts your overall wellbeing and quality of life. Here are some common words used by people who may need extra love and care, dealing with depression.
Speech Can be Revealing
The way people speak reveals a lot about how they’re feeling and several studies show the common words or phrases spoken by people who are depressed.
1.Depressed People Say Never
Depressed people have very little hope that things will improve or go their way. As such, they use the word “never” often. For example, “Good things never happen to me.” It shows their pessimistic outlook and implies they may not feel worthy of good things.
2. Or Depressed People Say Always
Conversely, someone who is depressed may frequently say always. For instance, “Bad things Always happen to me.” Or, “I always end up feeling disappointed.”
3. Depressed People May Say “Completely”
The study, examining over 6,000 participants, found that depressed people are more likely to use “absolutist words” which includes the previously mentioned words as well as describing a situation as “completely” one way or another. After all, life’s moments are rarely black and white and people with good mental health are open to all possibilities.
4. They Say Me
Depressed people often struggle to see anything beyond their own existence or feel lost in the crowd. As such, they spend more time focused on themselves and their problems than what’s going on around them.
5. They Say I and Myself
Similarly, depressed people talk more about “I” and “myself” than they use second and third person pronouns. “This pattern of pronoun use suggests people with depression are more focused on themselves, and less connected with others,” explains Mohammad Al-Mosaiwi, a “PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Reading. “Researchers have reported that pronouns are actually more reliable in identifying depression than negative emotion words.”
6. Depressed people Use Negative Descriptions
Depressed people are more likely to describe themselves, their feelings, and situations as “lonely,” “sad,” or “miserable.”
7. Worthless
Depressed people use the word useless frequently, especially when referring to themselves. Typically, they have low self-esteem and don’t feel like they have much to offer others.
Depression stats
Interestingly, WHO estimates over 300 million people are depressed worldwide and the numbers jumped significantly between 1999 and 2014, increasing by over 20%. Furthermore, around 800,000 take their lives annually, Mohammad wrote in an article published by Vice in 2018.
Timeframes are Important
Researchers note that while many of these words indicate someone is depressed, it’s more concerning how often or for how long these terms are used. While it’s common for people to be depressed, there is a range and some cases are more severe than others. In some cases, gentleness, understanding, and support can help significantly. However, others may need more care to treat their symptoms, including treatments like counseling or medication. Meanwhile, there are also obvious signs that depressed people experience or exhibit.
Signs that Someone is Depressed
Symptoms or behaviors of depressed people, according to FitFoundMe:
- Persistent negative feelings such as sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest, guilt, and low self worth.
- Irritability, frustration, or extreme mood swings.
- Difficulty with decision making, concentration, or memory loss.
- Thoughts or plans of suicide.
- Disrupted eating and sleeping patterns.
- Unexplained pain or gastrointestinal discomfort.
Supporting Depressed People
- Empathize with and validate their feelings
- Encourage them to eat healthy well balanced meals consistently, preferably on a regular schedule.
- Ensure good hygiene practices and a consistent sleep schedule.
- Spend time regularly in nature, namely green and blue spaces like a place with a river or pond, or a park with lush grass and trees.
- Encourage them to seek treatment options like counseling, medication, or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Depressed People Need More Love
There’s an alarming number of depressed people in the world and the number seemingly continues to rise. Many people suffer from unresolved childhood trauma, while others may have some form of brain injury. Either way, a person’s self-image can become warped, and an extra dose of love or encouragement is a small but powerful gesture as the people we love face their internal battles and feelings.