Depression

Feeling depressed is a fairly late symptom of a depressive episode. Just like with manic episodes, the first signs and symptoms of depression are subtle. Your friends and relatives might notice the first signs before you. If they do they are in a position to give you a heads up that you may be starting to get depressed so you could change your medications. This is why Family Inclusive Therapy (or FIT) works, and this is why we have the Family Center.

The first signs of depression are changes in your activity level and the type of things that you do, which could become more pensive or solitary. 

• You may want to stay at home rather then see your friends
• You may feel like relaxing instead of exercising.
• You may also start looking different before you feel depressed. You may look sadder or less cheerful then normal or wear different clothes. 
• Your thoughts may become more pessimistic or less optimistic. 
• Even changing your radio station from a news station to music could be the first sign of depression. 

Only after all these things happen, you may start to become conscious of feeling depressed.  I talk more about this in my book “Talking to Families about Mental Illness.”