You want the best for them. No matter if it’s your partner, sister, mother, grandmother, niece, daughter, co-worker, or any other female influence in your life.

You want to be there for them, no matter what. Through the good times and the bad times. You want to be able to show up for them like they always seem to do for you.

But you’re noticing some signs and symptoms that have been a little concerning. They haven’t asked you for help, but you can’t shake the feeling that something is going on. Plus, they also haven’t been fully acting like their normal, happy-go-lucky selves.

You suspect there’s a larger issue at hand, but you also don’t want to approach them in a negative way where they feel the need to get defensive. You also don’t want to tiptoe around the subject or just sweep it under the rug.

If you suspect that a woman if your life is dealing with depression, here are some of the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Changes in Eating Habits

Depression can have a negative impact on a person’s eating habits. Some individuals may not be hungry at all. They may feel that food doesn’t really taste good, or they may not even have the energy to grocery shop, cook, or eat anything. Other individuals may try to fill the void they’re feeling with food. Either one of these drastic changes can be a sign of depression. On top of that, if someone you love has shown noticeable signs or fluctuations in their body or weight, it could also be an indicator of depression.

Changes in Sleeping Patterns

Another big change that depression can cause is in an individual’s sleep schedule. Depression can cause individuals to either sleep too little or sleep too much. The anxiety that an individual struggling with depression faces may be keeping them up at night, making it more difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep at night. The lack of energy from not getting a proper night of sleep can cause individuals to want to stay in bed all day or sleep during the day when they’re supposed to be productive.

Showing Intense Feelings

Depression can cause a lot of mood changes. If you start to notice that someone in your life is dealing with anxiety, sadness, irritability, grief, tension, nervousness, or even crying outbursts, this emotional shift can be a huge indicator that something isn’t right. Another way you can notice emotional changes is if they’re no longer interested in activities they once enjoyed.

Next Steps

Depression is a very serious mental health issue. It’s not something that can just go away on its own. If you suspect that anyone in your life is struggling with depression, it’s important to encourage them to seek help and support as soon as possible. The longer that these signs and symptoms go untreated, the worsen they can get over time.

Approaching the topic of conversation may feel like a difficult one to navigate, but you can find ways to bring it up to make yourself and the individual feel safe and secure in the conversation.

Let the person know that you’re there for them no matter what. Share what you’ve been noticing and ask if and how you can help. Depression makes it even more challenging for someone to complete simple daily tasks. You can try to lessen the burden on them by offering to complete some of these tasks for them. You may even be able to encourage them to seek additional support or offer to drive them to any of their appointments.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about therapy for depression, reach out to us today to set up a consultation.