How to tell if someone is sad
It’s Day 15! I can’t believe we’re half way through Suicide Prevention Month and our 30 Day Self Confidence Challenge! I’ve been putting focus on ourselves to make sure we are doing well. But, what about others? Today I’d like to focus on how to tell if someone is sad.
Signs of Depression that can’t be ignored
Depression doesn’t feel good. We’ve all experienced it at some point and at some level. We need to be able to recognize the signs in not only ourselves but also others so that we can help prevent suicide. You never know whose life you can save. Here are 3 tell tale signs someone is depressed:
- Speaking negatively. This can include statements like:
- I don’t care about life anymore
- Or, I feel awful
- I don’t feel okay
- Poor hygiene
- Let’s face it, not everyone has the best hygiene so you need to look at someone’s baseline. If a person is generally clean and suddenly stops bathing, combing their hair or looks unkempt, this is a sure sign something isn’t right.
- Lack of social interaction.
- Granted, we are in the middle of a global pandemic so social interaction isn’t what it used to be. So, being able to tell if someone is avoiding people because they are depressed will be harder to spot. That will mean you may need to make extra effort to reach out to people. It’s hard. I know. We’re all busy and it’s hard to find the extra time to do anything but if you care about the people in your lives, please make an extra effort to reach out even with a phone call. It really could brighten someone’s day. You’ll feel better for it – I promise you.
The elderly
The elderly have an especially hard time. They may have been home bound before but now they’re really home bound. The thing I hear most from the elderly is, “I have nobody to talk to”. That’s why I make it a point to talk to my Dad everyday. It’s only for a few minutes in the evening but I can tell the phone call gives him something to look forward to everyday. I look forward to it as well. And, I’ll remember this forever and be thankful for it.
The elderly population is very vulnerable and it would make a world of difference to someone to help their mood and hopefully bring a smile to their faces. Lifting the sadness they may not even want to admit to could really go a long way.
Looking forward
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. You probably noticed this. If you are thinking and ruminating about things, it’s about the past – something that happened prior to the present moment that is on a constant loop inside your mind. So, this would be true of anyone. If you notice someone talking about the past a lot and how things didn’t go “their way”, it’s another sign that they are sad and depressed and need your help.
So, how do I tell if someone is sad? Start noticing, start paying attention, look outward and you’ll start to notice how just a smile or a “hello” can really help someone.
