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The early symptoms of depression are sometimes hard to detect. At first they can appear as little more than a lack of energy or motivation and mood may simply appear like an off-day, to which we're all entitled. However, if these days become more regular it can be a sign that a depressive episode is ...
Jerry:
Just wanted to let you know that your sharepost came kinda in a nick of time sorta way.
My Dad goes through bouts of depression that he, himself, admits to.
Lately, he has gone through a spell of not shaving... not getting out of the house... not wanting to go anywhere or do anything... not having any energy to get any chores around his house done. My father is very vain so, to not shave for a week is a sign and so is having his house messy.
He commented to me last week of how he was just tired, wasn't motivated to do anything, just couldn't seem to get interested, etc... and I said "you are lethargic and one of many first signs of depression is lethargy. You need to fight it."
See, I remembered your post here and I too, struggle with lethargy sometimes when a depressive cycle starts and it is a warning sign for me that I've come to recognize over the years. I told him "this PhD on one of my websites for Bipolar did a Sharepost on this and he said..." cause if it was just me he'd not pay me any mind.
He kinda giggled a bit and then acknowledged that yes, it seemed he was lethargic. I told him that one of the ways to just cope with it is to do something, anything, opposite to what he was feeling. If he didn't feel like washing dishes... then wash dishes anyway OR go put some laundry in the wash - just do something instead of just sitting there staring.
Well, a day or so later.. he had shaved and had started getting out again and even took a full day and washed and scrubbed his house. He is still in a mild low mood but he is moving.
Now... if only I could take my wisdom and apply it to myself.... but, that's another story and well, I tend to look after others long before I look at me anyway.
Still... I wanted to let you know that this helped.
Outstanding! I hope your dad pulls around. Thanks for such an encouraging comment.