Silent Storms: The Atypical Form of Depression You Need to Know More About

Approximately 280 million people suffer from depression on a global scale.

The figure is harrowing but doesn’t give you the complete picture because depression isn’t always visible. Sometimes, people experience symptoms related to it but can’t pinpoint what they’re suffering from. In other cases, they know they have a depressive disorder but conceal the problem because they fear shame and embarrassment.

It’s called hidden depression, and it can be just as brutal (if not more) on a person’s mental health, physical condition, social relationships, and overall quality of life.

What Is Hidden Depression?

Hidden depression, also known as smiling, walking, or masked/concealed depression, is when you can’t tell when someone is going through a mental health issue.

From an outsider’s perspective, people suffering from it could appear happy and productive—as if they’re living their best lives. There’s a lack of visible symptoms, so it often goes unnoticed. But, in private, they often deal with negative thoughts, feelings, and an unrelenting condition of sadness.

Depression Signs and Symptoms

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of silent depression, so you can seek and give help when it counts.

Here are some tell-tale depression symptoms to watch out for:

1. Abandoning Hobbies

Depression commonly involves a lack of passion or interest in your favorite hobbies.

While it may not seem consequential — after all, we all grow out of things we used to be interested in, it could tank your mental health and well-being. Since enjoyable activities can put you at higher levels of positive psychosocial states, lower total cortisol, and lower levels of depression, the opposite could be true when you abandon activities that used to bring you joy.

2. Physical Symptoms

Silent depression doesn’t just affect your mental health; it also manifests physically.

According to a 2004 article, it could cause back pain, chronic joint pain, limb pain, and tiredness. There are also concerns surrounding gastrointestinal problems and psychomotor activity changes. A 2011 article also discusses fatigue as a residual symptom of this mental health disorder, which could affect one’s cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being. This could lead to impaired performance as well as a deterioration in family and social relationships.

If that isn’t concerning enough, studies also claim it can be a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.

3. Changes in Appetite

Appetite and weight changes are variable diagnostic markers of depression.

While some patients display increased appetites in response to emotional stimulus, (leading to weight gain), others tend to lose their appetites and start skipping meals due to low moods, causing a dip in their weight.

This can further fuel their depression and impact their mood and energy levels.

4. Personality Differences

Depression is more than just sadness. Those affected by it often have symptoms of overt or suppressed anger which can be brought on by fear, hurt, or disappointment.

Some people could also become quieter and more withdrawn, only engaging in shallow discussions or conversations due to a lack of interest or because they don’t want to share their negativity. Fear of judgment can also be a valid cause for hiding it.

5. Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk, driven by damaging and critical thoughts like “I can’t do this,” “It’s all my fault,” and placing unrealistic expectations on yourself can aggravate and perpetuate depression. It can give you a pessimistic view of the world. Unless you are able to take stock of your feelings, it could lead to greater helplessness and poor self-worth.

6. Problems With Attention and Concentration

People with depression often have concentration difficulties that can impact their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. However, further studies are needed to study the link between attention impairment and other aspects of depression in greater detail.

7. Putting on a “Happy Face”

To maintain some sense of normalcy in their lives, people who suffer from depression often put on a “happy face” to try and protect their loved ones from the harsh realities they’re experiencing. This is evident from a 2007 qualitative study conducted on pregnant women and research conducted on men’s experiences of depression.

8. Sleeping Too Much or Too Little

Sleep and depression are often intertwined. About ¾ of depressed patients display symptoms of insomnia. It leads to alterations in the brain’s neurotransmitters, seriously impacting their quality of life by causing difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep as well as increasing wakefulness during the day.

9. Alcohol Use

Drinking alcohol leads to a release of endorphins—the feel-good chemical that acts as a stress and pain reliever. Since it gives feelings of pleasure, alcohol ingestion often goes up among those suffering from depression. It’s why the two often co-occur, especially among men who use it as a coping mechanism.

10. Use of Self-Focused and Absolutist Words

A 2018 research article shows that the use of absolutist words—such as always, never, completely, nothing, etc.—is elevated in the natural language of those affected by anxiety and depression. They also use many self-reference words like I, me, and myself during negative memory recalls.

Treatment: How To Deal With Depression

If you’re suffering from this atypical form of depression, there’s hope in sight.

There are different options for depression treatment, including:

Cognitive behavioral therapy: A common type of psychosocial therapy that aims to change your emotions, behavior, and thoughts for the better.
Holistic approach: Some evidence suggests that relaxation techniques could be effective in reducing distress. The same is true for sports and exercise to a certain extent.
Antidepressants: Medication can be beneficial in alleviating depressive symptoms, but you must see your doctor regularly to monitor how the treatment is going. Your mental health practitioner will also adjust the dosage based on your progress.

With the aid of an experienced professional, you could also try sleep deprivation therapy or electroconvulsive therapy to get rapid and significant relief from depression.

If someone you love is suffering from silent depression, try to be there for them. Include them in activities, book a consultation with a psychiatrist, and find resources for treatments through websites like SAMHSA’s National Helpline.

Take Home Message

Depression can be scary. It can make you feel stuck, less than, and judged.

But it’s a terrifying state—a vicious cycle, really—to be trapped in.

Living with it can be exhausting, but you don’t have to do it alone. You can always reach out for help when you need it and rely on your support system.

If you feel you can’t get help from your loved ones, get medical treatment for depression through a psychiatrist. Mental health professionals can help you navigate the murky waters of this mental health condition so you can welcome happiness back into your life.