Depressed people can often feel physically exhausted as if they're dragging around a heavy bag of bricks. It's a problem that's been documented in psychology journals, but this has never been put on display before.

In the last decade, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people who are diagnosed with depression—especially among young people. One reason for this trend may be a rise in mental health issues related to exhaustion. In today's digital world, we're all expected to be constantly connected and up-to-date. But in reality, our brains are not built to handle this constant connectivity. "We're all getting busier, we're all doing more work, but we're not getting more sleep and we're all getting more stressed," says Daniela B. Giorgi, author of "Rethinking Burnout." "People are getting exhausted."

The good news is that we can learn to manage our mental health so that we can be more productive, feel less stressed, and have a stronger sense of well-being. We’ll take a look at the 4 ways depression affects us.

1. Depression is A Disorder of Thought, Feeling, or Behavior

There is no doubt that depression is an illness, but it’s also a condition that affects all aspects of someone’s life. It is a disease of the brain, and therefore, a mental disorder. People who have depression experience a significant amount of psychological distress. They feel sad, hopeless, and guilty. Depressed people may also experience physical symptoms such as changes in sleeping and eating habits, loss of energy, and feelings of worthlessness. It is important to remember that depression can affect anyone at any age.

2. Mood Swings Can Be Dangerous

The mood swings that accompany depression can be dangerous and life threatening. When depression starts to dominate your mood, the danger of suicide increases. However, there are ways to deal with these mood swings and make them manageable. The first step is to talk about your feelings with your doctor. They may prescribe medications, such as anti-depressants, or refer you to a therapist who specializes in depression. There are also self-help techniques you can use, such as exercising, eating healthier, sleeping more, getting out and socializing, and talking about your feelings.

3. The Brain Hijacks Our Emotions

The way our brains work, and in particular, our emotions, makes us vulnerable to emotional hijacking. That means that it’s easy for advertisers and marketers to play into our emotions when we’re looking for something, and they are able to convince us that something is the ‘right’ thing for us to buy. Our emotions also change depending on how we’re being treated. If we feel like we’re being looked after, we’re much more likely to buy the things we want than if we feel like we’re not being looked after.

4. What’s Happening in the Brain When We Are Depressed?

Research shows that when we experience major depression, our brains change. In particular, there’s increased activity in areas of the brain responsible for emotional processing. Our thinking and planning abilities also decrease, which makes it difficult for us to act and move toward the goals we set. Our brain’s executive functions (in charge of our actions) become impaired as well.

In conclusion, if your depression has you feeling completely exhausted all the time, try taking a break. Set aside a certain amount of time each day for yourself. Do something you enjoy like reading a book or listening to music. Spend time with friends and family, even if it’s only for a few minutes. You could also take a long walk around the block. Try not to give in to the temptation to stay in bed all day. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude. If you try to push through, you could end up making things worse. Also, seek help from your doctor if you think you might have depression. There are many different treatments that you can try out. If you are struggling with depression, you can find help at https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/ or call us at 1-866-531-2600.