Persistent melancholy and lack of interest are hallmarks of depression, a mood illness.
Clinical depression, also known as major depressive illness, has many adverse effects on a person’s mental and physical health.
1.  Spending Binges
Do you feel you spend too much money?
Do you frequently try to hide your financial transactions?
It’s normal for depressed people to engage in excessive shopping behavior, either physically or virtually, as a way to escape their thoughts and feelings and increase their sense of worth.
However, the benefits of “retail therapy” are just temporary because the underlying causes of sadness are not addressed.
Remember that manic behavior, such as going on a shopping spree, may indicate bipolar disorder.
2.  Imbibed To Excess
Around 30% of those suffering from significant depression also have a problem with alcohol.
You might be one of them if you turn to alcohol whenever you feel down or anxious.
While it may seem like a good idea to have a drink when you’re feeling sad, alcohol is actually a depressant, and drinking to excess can make your depressive episodes worse and more frequent.
3.  Forgetfulness
Foggy or forgetful thinking may be a symptom of depression.
A prolonged state of depression or stress has been shown to increase cortisol levels in the body.
The memory and learning regions of the brain may atrophy or become impaired as a result.
Memory loss associated with depression appears to be more severe in the elderly.
4.  Excessive Internet Use
Enjoy interacting with others online more than in person? Investing an excessive amount of time online?
A possible indication of emotional distress.
Studies have demonstrated a correlation between high levels of depression and excessive Internet use.
5.  Obesity and Binge Eating
A 2010 study from the University of Alabama discovered that young adults who report being depressed tended to acquire weight more around their waist — a risk for heart disease. Binge eating has been associated with depression in other research, especially among middle-aged adults.
These issues may respond to treatment for depression.
6.  Shoplifting
Depression affects almost one-third of retail thieves.
Those who suffer from depression often feel helpless and unimportant, yet shoplifting can give them a sense of control and significance.
It can also provide a surge to combat the numbness that sometimes accompany despair.
Shoplifters who are depressed value their own sentiments more than the material goods they steal.
7.  Ache in the Back
Suffering from a persistent backache?
Several studies have found that depression involves risk and danger, increasing the likelihood of developing chronic low back pain.
Approximately 42% of persons with chronic lower back pain also suffer from depression.
People don’t typically link sadness with physical discomfort, which can go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.
The same is true for depression; both are heightened in chronic pain.
8.  Overwrought Feelings
Many depressed people hide their feelings. Some of the time, they reveal too much.
They are prone to fits of anger and rage. Extreme emotions like despair, hopelessness, concern or fear may be expressed.
A lot of people are mired in self-doubt or unnecessary guilt.
The crucial factor is an abrupt shift in attitude.
9.  Smoking
Struggling to kick the habit of smoking?
Depressed people are twice as likely to become smokers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those who suffer from depression are more likely to be heavy smokers (more than a pack a day) and to light up within the first five minutes after waking up.
Those who suffer from depression are less likely to kick the habit, but they can.
Effectiveness of antidepressant medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in smoking cessation programs.
10. A Failure to Care for Oneself
What does buckling up have to do with feeling down in the dumps?
One of the symptoms of depression and poor self-esteem is a sudden deterioration in one’s ability to care for oneself.
The warning signs can range from little infractions, like failing to buckle up or wash your teeth, to major ones, such as ignoring severe health issues, like diabetes or heart disease.
If you seek treatment for your depression, you will likely start prioritizing your own health again.
