Sometimes recognizing depression is like a light bulb moment for my clients—they recognize the signs of depression loud and clear. But other times, it’s more like trying to solve a mystery, piecing together seemingly unrelated clues to uncover the bigger picture of what’s really going on.
There are some unexpected ways depression can sneak into our lives. And while the cause might not be obvious, the outcome is the same: a heavy weight on your shoulders, clouding your thoughts and dimming your zest for life.
Below we examine five surprising signposts for depression you might not have seen coming:
1. Dad Blues: The Lowdown on Male Postpartum Depression
Dads can get hit by the post-baby blues too. It’s not just about changing diapers and sleepless nights; it’s about navigating a rollercoaster of emotions that can leave dads feeling irritable and emotionally numb.
An article in Clinical Neuroscience sheds light on this, defining PPD as an episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) occurring soon after the birth of a child. There are no established criteria for PPD in men, but it could show up over a year, bringing symptoms like irritability, restricted emotions, and depression.
Risk factors include a history of depression in either parent, poverty, and hormonal changes. PPD in dads can also be associated with anxiety disorders and have adverse effects on the father, the family unit, and the developing child. Treatment involves therapy and pharmacotherapy, so clinicians must screen for depression in men during the first year postpartum and offer treatment or referrals as needed.
2. FOMO Frenzy: How Fear of Missing Out Can Lead to the Blues
Ever find yourself scrolling through social media, feeling like everyone else is living their best life while you’re stuck in a rut? That’s the sneaky power of FOMO.
But here’s the thing: it’s not just about feeling left out of the party—it can actually spiral into full-blown stress, anxiety, and loneliness, paving the way for depression to sneak in through the back door.
The World Journal of Clinical Cases suggests that the best treatment for FOMO and its related conditions is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT tackles the distorted cognitions fueling these conditions, along with addressing underlying anxiety and focusing on any predisposing factors like past experiences of being the odd man out and self-esteem challenges.
3. The Perfectionism Trap: When Good Isn’t Good Enough
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been a perfectionist. Guilty as charged, right? While striving for excellence isn’t inherently bad, it can become a slippery slope when it’s driven by an unrelenting fear of failure.
I’ve seen clients caught in this perfectionism trap, where every tiny flaw feels like a personal failure, leading to a heavy load of self-doubt and, you guessed it, depression.
Until recently, researchers weren’t sure if perfectionism caused stress or if stress caused perfectionism. A study in the Springer Journal examined how perfectionism, stress, and depression are linked over time. The findings revealed that one type of perfectionism, called “personal standards,” led people to feel more stressed later on, though it didn’t directly cause depression. Another type, “self-critical” perfectionism, didn’t directly cause stress but predicted later depression. This suggests that perfectionism can trigger stress in different ways.
4. Pain & Blues: How Chronic Aches Can Weigh Down the Mind
Living with chronic pain is like carrying around a backpack filled with rocks—it’s heavy, it’s exhausting, and it can wear you down both physically and mentally. And as we now understand it, the mind and body are more connected than we ever realized.
The Mayo Clinic shares how pain and depression can exacerbate each other in a vicious cycle. Depression may manifest as unexplained physical symptoms like back pain or headaches, which can be the first sign of the condition. Chronic pain can contribute to mood disturbances, affecting sleep, causing stress, and leading to low self-esteem due to work or social limitations. Depression often accompanies pain related to health conditions like diabetes or cancer. Treatment for both pain and depression may be necessary.
5. Workaholic Woes: Burning Out on the Road to Success
We live in a hustle culture where being a workaholic is practically a badge of honor. But what happens when the pursuit of success starts to feel more like a never-ending marathon? Burnout, my friend. And behind that burnout is depression.
An article in PLoS One details a survey researchers did to look for links between workaholism and psychiatric disorders, where they surveyed 16,426 workers from 16 to 75 years old. They found a strong link between being a workaholic and dealing with symptoms of ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression. It’s like they’re all in cahoots, making work life a bit more complicated.
The good news is there is help for depression, no matter how it manifests itself. At Oaks Counseling Associates, we want to provide a safe space for you to share whatever makes life harder right now. That way you can start to untangle the web and reclaim your mental well-being, one conversation at a time. A free 15-consultation is only a click away.
This blog was written by Chelsea Koutroulis, M.Ed., LPC-Associate, CST. Koutroulis is supervised by Megan Pollock, MS, LPC-S, CST.
