Depression looks different from person to person. If you’re quiet or outgoing, this can change how depression manifests. Sadness is normal at times, but depression lasts longer and feels worse.
It can feel like a dark cloud over your head. The shape of this cloud depends on numerous factors, like whether you’re more of an introvert or extrovert. Knowing these differences helps find the right depression treatment.
What Does It Mean if I’m Feeling Depressed?
Being depressed is more than just feeling sad. It’s when sadness sticks around for weeks. You might stop enjoying things you used to love. You might feel tired all the time or find it hard to think clearly.
Depression can happen because of brain chemicals, hard life events, stress, or family history. Sometimes, we make depression symptoms worse without knowing it, such as staying away from friends or finding unhealthy ways to cope. It’s not your fault; it’s a mental health problem that needs help.
Differences Between an Extrovert vs. Introvert
We all deal with people and social events uniquely. If you’re an introvert, you might need more alone time to feel better. Small talks with close friends might be your preference over big parties. Often, introverts are deep thinkers and ponder before speaking.
As an extrovert, you may feel better when you’re around people. Meeting new people and chatting might be your comfort zone. Being at parties and having many friends are both often also associated with extroverts. Most people are a mix of both introversion and extroversion. But the differences affect how you spend time with others and how depression might show up.
Physical Signs of Depression in an Introvert and Extrovert
Depression presents in different ways, depending on the type, as well as your personality.
Introverts
When introverts get depressed, it’s often hard to see from the outside. They tend to turn inward with their pain, making their symptoms less obvious to friends and family.
Isolation and Withdrawal
Introverts pull back even more when depressed. They skip get-togethers and may stop calling back. Time alone usually helps them, but with depression, it turns into harmful loneliness. They worry they’ll be a burden if they reach out.
Self-Criticism and Negative Thoughts
Their minds become very harsh places to navigate. Small mistakes can feel disproportionately huge. Often, harmful thoughts about themselves can occur and be very difficult to shake. This makes everything seem worse than it is.
Difficulty Expressing Emotions
Even when hurting inside, introverts find it hard to say how they feel, processing emotions internally. This often causes them to hide their struggle behind a quiet exterior. Many may look fine on the outside while feeling awful, which can worsen loneliness.
Sensitivity to Stimuli
Regular noises, lights, and crowds can start to feel overwhelming. Going to stores or offices can get harder. This ties in with the withdrawal and self-isolation sign. Many introverts with depression find that home is the only place they can manage.
Extroverts
When extroverts get depressed, it often shows up in how they act. Their usual upbeat and social nature might change in ways that surprise everyone around them.
Irritability and Aggression
Depression can turn a friendly extrovert into someone who gets upset easily. They might snap at people they care about over small things. Most people don’t see these changes as signs of depression and can be confused for general moodiness.
Restlessness and Overactivity
Depressed extroverts often can’t stay still and keep themselves busy to avoid their feelings. This isn’t a healthy coping method for depression, as the pain can fester into something worse. This also disguises the struggle from loved ones, prologining help.
Excessive Socializing or Avoidance
Some depressed extroverts go to more social events than usual while feeling empty inside, and others stop seeing friends and family entirely. Both these big relationship pattern changes are signs of trouble. Like overactivity, these tactics are means to avoid facing depressing feelings.
Overcoming Depression: Help for Extroverts and Introverts
Depression looks different for everyone, but professional help can pave a healthier way forward. The best support is tailored to how you or your loved one thinks and functions. Introverts often do well with one-on-one therapy, writing in journals, and quiet thinking time. Extroverts often feel better with group therapy, moving their bodies, and planned activities.
At Aftermath Behavioral Health, we create treatment plans customized to align with the level of care you need and your recovery goals. Whether you need one-on-one attention or time with others in similar situations, you can learn to manage depression safely.
