By: Jessica Taylor, LPC What do you imagine when you think of a person who is depressed?  I am guessing that what comes to mind is someone who is sad and experiencing negative emotions that might even lead to suicidal thoughts.  What you might not know is that depression can show up in sneaky ways. Sure, depression can be contributed to by situational factors, but some individuals can experience symptoms of depression for no apparent reason at all.  Some individuals experience symptoms of depression because their brain is not producing enough serotonin.  If this is the case, they may not feel sad, but rather experience other signs of depression.  If you worry that this might be you, ask yourself the following questions.  Feeling more Irritable or Angry Have you noticed that things that used to not bother you at all are making you angry?  Do you experience “road rage?”  Are your loved ones feeling as though you are always mad at them?  Irritability is a common sign of depression!  When we are experiencing internal distress, we tend to become irritated by external factors much more easily.   Feeling More Tired than Normal Is it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, even if you got a full night of sleep?  Are you feeling exhausted most of the day for no apparent reason?  Do you feel like you just want to stay in bed and sleep all day?  If you are getting a decent amount of sleep and continue to feel tired, it is important to first rule out any possible physical conditions.  If your experience of feeling like you can never get enough sleep is not caused by a medical condition, then it is possible that this is your body’s way of trying to tell you that you are experiencing depression.   Noticing Sudden Changes in Weight Are you eating less or eating more than usual?  Both can point to depression.  Some people have the experience of not feeling hungry and others might use food as comfort when they are feeling stressed out or sad.   Not Feeling Motivated to do Work or Tasks at Home Have you noticed that you are sitting at your desk just “zoning out” rather than working?  Maybe it’s because your mind feels blank, or maybe you are distracted by other things.  Does the idea of completing even simple tasks at work and home feel overwhelming?   Wanting to Spend more Time Alone Have you found yourself canceling plans with friends, or not making plans at all?  Does the idea of leaving your home make you feel anxious or overwhelmed?  Have you started to have negative thoughts about your relationships and interactions with the people you care about (such as “they won’t care that I’m not there, anyway”)? Feeling Bored by Activities you Once Enjoyed Have you stopped doing the things you once enjoyed?  Do you find the idea of trying a new hobby unappealing?  These feeling of apathy are subtle but might point to a lack of serotonin production.   What You should Do If You Think That You Might Be Depressed If you think that you might be depressed, ask for help!  Your symptoms of depression might be the ‘sneaky’ kind, but traditional treatment of depression can still help.  Call a therapist, tell them what you are experiencing, and ask if they think therapy might be helpful for you.