You have been in a recluse mode for weeks. You are spending your days eating junk food, sleeping, and binge-watching your favorite TV series. And when you finally decide that it is time to get *unstuck* you may start doing these 10 things that other people won’t realize you are doing because you are slowly climbing out of a depressive episode.
1. YOU CAN BECOME OVERLY SENTIMENTAL ALL OF A SUDDEN
Suddenly, you may find yourself become extra clingy and needy, calling your friends and craving their company after being isolated for weeks. Also, you may be more affectionate than usual, giving them hugs and kisses just because. They may think you are only loving, but the truth is, you are grateful for having them in your life and thankful you haven’t lost them during your depressive period when you have isolated yourself from everyone who loves you.
2. YOUR APPETITE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE
You may spend three days eating nothing, and on the fourth day you may end up eating everything in sight. After coming out of a low and dark place, the world still seems dull and smells and taste can be less intense for you. But don’t worry. You will feel like yourself again and you will continue with your diet as you did before your depressive episode.
3. YOU DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE
You avoid being alone because you feel unsafe on your own as you are recovering from your depressive episode. However, you don’t want to tell people that you are afraid to be alone. Rather, you are reaching out to them more than usual and asking to hang out. They serve you both as a safety net and a distraction for you so that you won’t fall back into the depressive loop.
4. YOU BUY SOMETHING NEW EVEN IF YOU DON’T NEED IT
Retail therapy is a thing and you know this more than anyone. Even if you are only window shopping, you feel pleasure because finally, you are out of your house. Plus, if you find yourself a beautiful outfit and you buy it, that’s just perfect. Others may think you didn’t need that suit or dress but they don’t know that it is helping you feel good about yourself again and start loving yourself more.
5. YOU GET AN URGE FOR CLEANING
You have always been organized, but when you sank into depression you cannot do basic things like cleaning the dishes. Your whole apartment looked like a mess because your energy levels were so low that you couldn’t do anything. Therefore, once you started feeling better you immediately got an urge for cleaning and organizing your things.
6. YOUR SLEEP PATTERNS ARE DIFFERENT THAN USUAL
You are finding yourself spending more time in bed than usual in an attempt to shut everything down just for a few extra hours. Sadly, even when you begin to feel better, you may still notice that your sleep schedule is not like it used to be because your body needs some time to synchronize. Moreover, you may get overwhelmed and tired during the day and you decide to take a nap which will make you stay up later than your ordinary bedtime and that’s the reason why others may be wondering why some nights you are sleeping at 9 pm while other times you are online at 2 am.
7. YOU FIND YOURSELF GETTING EASILY TRIGGERED AND OVERWHELMED
You are have not emotionally stabilized yet, and therefore you can get easily triggered and overwhelmed. You may also find yourself crying over petty things and feeling more anxious and angrier than before. Others may think you are not emotionally mature because they don’t know you are getting out of a big meltdown.
8. YOU START POSTING MOTIVATIONAL THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
When you are trying to get out of depression and start feeling normal again, you may find yourself looking for motivational quotes and things to inspire you to move upward. Then, you start posting motivational pictures on your social media accounts because you love the energy they bring to you. Other people may see this as a way of you trying to give them advice and being caring, but they don’t know you are helping yourself heal.
9. YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC ALL THE TIME
You find comfort in music. You also feel better when you hear someone singing the words that are stuck in your chest. You feel relieved as you sing them and that’s why you find yourself listening to your favorite music constantly. It helps you stay mindful, active, and it gives you positive energy and sometimes that’s all you need to feel better instantly.
10. YOU LOOK FOR SOMETHING TO “GET INTO”
You try to stay busy all the time, whether consciously or not. Therefore, people see you pick a new hobby or doing new things they have never seen you do. They may think that you are so happy and fulfilled inside and that’s why you are undertaking all those new things. However, they don’t suspect that you are doing all of them because they are a part of your healing process.
Depression can happen to anyone, anytime. There are typical symptoms of depression, but there are also many other symptoms that can be different for different people. These 10 signs of recovery may seem like normal things that a person does and therefore, they are often unnoticed.
If you see your friend or relative or someone close to you doing these things, talk to them. Be there for them. Because even though they may not say it, they need you more than ever.
