Living with clinical depression can affect your life in many ways. You may experience a variety of symptoms, some of which can feel overwhelming and prevent you from living a fully productive life.
According to GoodRx Health, you may qualify for Social Security disability Insurance depending on the type of depression symptoms that affect you. Learning to identify them may help strengthen your claim and provide you with the assistance you require.
Sleep disruption
While depression can affect your activity level and urge you to remain in bed or lie on the couch much of the time, you may have trouble sleeping when you go to bed at night. You might experience several symptoms related to this issue, including:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Vivid dreams or nightmares that wake you
Over time, sleep disruption can cause brain fog, lethargy and decreased mental ability.
Feelings of hopelessness
While most people experience times of sadness or hopelessness, with clinical depression, you may experience them with more intensity. You may feel hopeless about a variety of situations, such as a lack of employment or financial trouble. This type of symptom could last for weeks.
Weight gain
Depression can cause you to turn to unhealthy coping habits, such as overeating. The symptoms you feel may cause you to crave carb-heavy meals and snacks, which often results in noticeable weight gain. A lack of activity, combined with overeating as a coping mechanism, may cause other medical issues, such as pre-diabetes.
The symptoms of clinical depression may vary depending on how much stress you experience on a daily basis.
