We all talk about depression but do we really know if the feeling of anxiousness or dullness is just another mood swing or actually something that you should be worried about. If the feeling of sadness or frustration stays for prolonged period of time but you still manage to get through your day just about fine, you could be suffering from walking or smiling depression. The symptoms are hard to recognize since they don't fit the classic picture of depression - that of constant dullness, tears or emotional outbursts - but if left unacknowledged, it can be as dangerous.

The less severe depression is clinically referred to as Dysthymia or Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) and is said to be a long term depression that is not as severe as major depression. But is it similar to walking depression? Well, it is quite similar but can vary in the way it affects your life. A person with walking depression tends to experience milder and fewer symptoms than someone with a full fledged depression and they are able to get through their social and professional functions without these symptoms getting in their way. While a person with Dysthymia or PDD will find more disruption in their day-to-day functioning.
While it may seem that walking depression isn't really dangerous, the truth is that people suffering from it do not get emotional support that they need. Since it is a hidden occurrence, such people tend to feel lonely. The worst part is, since they are not really aware of their situation and are constantly fighting the feeling, they end up undermining its effect on their emotional and mental well being.
Let's go through the tell tale signs of walking depression: You don't feel positive emotions for habits that earlier gave joy Have you felt that the same experiences and habits that once used to give you positive emotions, now fail to spur that feeling? In fact, it now leads to despair. Most people may think that they have outdone the hobby or habit and that's the reason they don't feel excited enough but in reality they may be suffering from walking depression.

You avoid social interactions

You find it overbearing to attend events or parties that require you to interact with people on a social level. You cancel plans last minute because you would rather spend time alone at home. So much so that you are withdrawing from people who are close to you. This happens because you anyway tend to put a lot of effort going through the day and extending that beyond regular hours makes you feel exhausted.

You are always finding ways to escape the feeling of emptiness

Being idle makes you anxious and that's why you look for ways to get busy with binge watching Netflix or playing video games for hours at end or just sinking yourself in alcohol. You keep going back to these unhealthy habits and still feel anxious and restless, because deep within you know it is not right for you.

You feel irritable without any reason

You were an easy going person before but now little things are enough to blow your lid and make you feel impatient and short tempered. If this feeling persists for a longer period of time, you are suffering from walking depression and you need to talk to someone.

Source: indiatimes.com