Depression is a prevalent form of mental illness that affects over 300 million people globally. According to the World Health Organization, it is a condition that impacts those of all ages but is easily misdiagnosed.

One of its chief symptoms? Tiredness. You may not understand why you are tired so much or why someone you know just wants to sleep all the time, but it could be a major sign of mental suffering.

A Twitter user and mental health advocate who goes by the handle @PJ Palits decided to break down the reasons behind it on social media.

Airing out her own struggles with depression, Palits discussed how the brain is always jumping around, even when trying to fall asleep. This starts a pattern throughout the night that entails waking up and non-peaceful sleep.

For the “average” person, it takes seven minutes to fall asleep.
Imagine crawling into bed exhausted and it takes the average of an hour to fall asleep, instead of seven minutes. Every nap and bathroom break and the brain relaxation delay begins again.

— ραℓιτѕ (@PJ_Palits) January 20, 2018

 

She continued:

“These are people whose sleep is frequently disturbed and who spend their nights tossing and turning instead of resting. Sometimes they’re awoken by noises, pain, an inability to keep body parts still, by loud noises inside of their heads, vivid dreams and many other reasons.

These are people who put an immense amount of effort into focusing on the task they’re supposed to do or perform, while their minds are trying to carry them down other paths or while they are struggling to remember just what those tasks are.

These are ppl who are in a constant war w/their own brain, ppl who are battling their own thoughts & fears; hearing every day from their brains they arent good enough,strong enough,skinny enough,that ppl dont like them or that they should hav done better just to list a few things

It’s like living on a rope bridge swaying in the wind over a canyon while you’re afraid of heights, and hearing, “I don’t understand what you’re complaining about, the bridge is secure. Suck it up and deal with it. I can do it, so you can too.”

Palits also shared that people with depression who say they are “just tired”, don’t always show visible signs, but it really means they need a support person, a hug, or some understanding. She implored people to be empathetic and patient with those believed to be lazy or stuck when they’re really not.

According to Psych Central, fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of depression and can make everyday tasks tougher. Things like washing dishes, watching TV, and enjoying social experiences are extremely difficult – and draining.

As Palits explained, sometimes people living in the heaviness of depression are not able to make the correlation between the condition and their tiredness. What is also concerning is the fact that a large percentage (nearly 80%) of people with depression receive no treatment.

With or without sleep, it can rob someone of their energy, making them feel exhausted all the time. The same thing goes for food, as depression can also decrease one’s appetite thus lowering their energy.

If you can relate to what’s described in these tweets, it is important to have a person or people around you who can support, understand, and hug you when you need it most. More vital however, is finding a professional to speak with about the condition.

Sources:

ZME Science