8 Things People With Hidden Depression Do

They Can Come Across As Very Irritable

Irritability is a commonly overlooked symptom of depression because it does not fit the stereotype. The stereotype of a person with depression is someone that is silent, melancholy, and shy, but people with hidden depression may be more likely to experience irritability, a short temper, and be easily annoyed, rather than reflect the stereotype. People with hidden depression may feel drained by keeping up with all the necessary aspects of life while constantly wearing a facade, and the effect may be a lack of patience and understanding. If a person with hidden depression discovers they are clinically depressed, they will likely be surprised by the diagnoses as will family and friends.

They May Not Appreciate Gestures Of Affection And Concern

While the stereotype of the depressed person is one of being sad, lethargic, and silent, in reality, many people with depression report feeling numb and only briefly experiencing emotions. While people experience depression differently, numbness or emptiness are common symptoms. People with hidden depression will have trouble identifying the cause of their numbness as depression because their symptoms do not fit the stereotype. If a perceptive family member or friend attempts to comfort the person with hidden depression with gestures of affection and concern, the reaction they get might be one of irritation or annoyance because the person with hidden depression will have trouble processing and understanding such gestures, in part, perhaps because of the façade they wear, they may feel they have no need for it.