Not Just Sadness: Eye-Opening Twitter Thread Schools Us On The Various Signs Of Depression

More than half of the year has already passed and the coronavirus outbreak does not seem to be slowing down for most of the world. While over 6,30,000 people have lost their lives globally, India’s COVID-19 tally has crossed the 12-lakh mark. With millions of people still forced into self-isolation and unemployment across the world, people isolated away from their families are finding it even more difficult to cope with the testing times. A recent study on the psychological impact of COVID-19 in India found that during the initial stages of COVID-19 in India, almost one-third of respondents had a significant psychological impact. 

Also Read: Art Therapy: 7 Artists Who Are Illustrating The Struggles Of Living With A Mental Illness

Despite that, the taboo around mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety, continues to stop people from opening up about it and seeking help. However, with celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Shaheen Bhatt publically speaking about their personal battle with depression, there's a little more awareness about the seriousness of the illness. 

Recently, a Twitter user started a thread on the microblogging site about the various warning signs of depression. Through this thread, she hopes people will actually be able to identify their own or others’ depression. Always confused with 'sadness', depression is actually more than that. Here are the warning signs you should look out for:

Soon after her tweet, netizens started sharing their own experiences, giving us an idea of what depression might look like. They are actually being raw and honest about how turbulent it can get.

According to a 2019 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in four people in the world will be affected by mental illnesses (including depression and anxiety) at some point in their lives. While the treatments are available, nearly two-thirds of people with known mental illnesses do not seek professional help due to the stigma attached to them, the report said. 

It can be very challenging to extend your support to someone who is suffering from a mental health issue which is why paying attention to these signs is crucial. 

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from any mental illness, we urge you to reach out to a mental health professional on these numbers: 

Fortis Stress Helpline: +9183768 04102 

Cooj Mental Health Foundation: +832 2252525 

Vandrevala Foundation: +91 730 459 9836, +91 730 459 9837

Featured Image: Twitter/Unsplash