Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms You Need to Know
The emotional side of depression goes beyond ordinary sadness. People experience deep sadness, emptiness, and feelings of being worthless or hopeless. Low self-esteem becomes overwhelming, making even small tasks feel impossible.
Loss of interest is a major red flag - when someone stops enjoying activities they used to love, it often signals depression. This connects to feeling like you've lost control over your life. Anger is another common symptom that people don't expect, and it can be directed at others or turned inward through self-harm.
The cognitive symptoms create a negative thinking trap. People develop a negative self-concept (believing they're worthless), a negative view of the world (expecting everything to go wrong), and a negative view of the future (believing things will never improve). This creates a cycle that's hard to break without help.
Remember: These thought patterns aren't realistic assessments - they're symptoms that can be treated with proper support and therapy.