The third Monday in January has been given the title ‘Blue Monday’, which is widely regarded as the most miserable day of the year.
With the holidays finally behind us, the gloomy weather continuing, darkness falling before most people have finished work, and many trying to cope with the post-Christmas financial pressures, it’s no wonder that countless people are struggling.
According to the Emphatically, a consultant psychiatrist who regularly shares crucial mental health advice on social media has highlighted three early indicators of depression that can clarify whether you have it or not.
Professor Ahmed Hankir, who has more than 426,000 TikTok followers, posted a video outlining what he described as three “early warning signs” of depression.
He emphasized that anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms is at risk of developing depression.
“Depression can suck all the energy out of your body,” Ahmed said, adding: “But it’s not just physical exhaustion from minimal to no exertion, it’s also emotional and mental exhaustion.”
The expert continued: ‘Depressed people often don’t have the energy or motivation to get out of bed and can easily lie in bed all day and do nothing at all.’
“A depressed person may lose all interest in activities he once enjoyed, including his favorite hobbies. Depressed individuals may experience something called anhedonia,” the psychiatrist further explained.
“The fact that you experience one or all of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you will develop depression,” concluded Professor Ahmed Hankir.
If you think it’s not just Monday blues and you have more than one symptom consistent with depression, see your doctor or GP. They will then come up with the most suitable treatment plan for you.
