Do you ever feel like your friend is ignoring you or being a little distant sometimes? Or maybe he or she doesn’t hang out with you or anyone else as often as they used to. There could be multiple reasons for this. Maybe they’re having family issues, maybe they can’t be honest with you or they’re feeling guilty about something. Or it could be something else even. And one of the reasons could be that your friend is going through depression.

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and sometimes a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. So, if your bestie is going through depression, there are certain signs you need to keep a lookout for.

1.  They’re pessimistic about the future
   

Does your friend feel hopeless about their future? When you ask secretly-depressed people about their plans, they’d either act dismissive, curt or avoidant. But in truth, they often struggle to find meaning in their life and instead view it in a negative light. They likely have thought hard about it, but they always seem to end up just short of making sense of it. These feelings stem from a feeling of inadequacy and can cause mental anguish to both them and their close friends.

2. They have a hard time concentrating
   

Do you often lose your friend’s attention when you speak with them? Are they losing their train of thought during conversations way too often? This shows memory and concentration issues, a common symptom of depression. This worsened memory state makes it even harder for them to have an honest chat with their friends and family. Since it’s hard and draining for them to articulate it, they end up pushing their thoughts aside and further concealing their burdens, which doesn’t solve any problems. It helps when you can make a safe space for your friend for an honest conversation. Being patient with their scattered thoughts gives them confidence that you’re there for them.

3. Their body undergoes big changes

Does your friend sometimes complain about pains and aches around their body despite the absence of external injuries? While depression is primarily a mental health issue it can present itself in our bodies too. Gaining or losing weight are some signs of depression, as well as backaches, digestive problems, headaches and chronic conditions. Research reports that people with masked depression are more prone to common pain than those who don’t suffer from the illness. So, if they have unexplainable aches and are in a constant downcast mood, depression might be something they’re facing.

4. They get unusually quiet

Does it feel like your friend’s energy has been sapped for seemingly no reason? While it’s normal to just have nothing to say at times, a pattern of long silences may be a sign of something stirring up underneath. While asking them whether they’re fine could temporarily bring their minds back to reality, they’ll eventually resort back to keeping everything to themselves as a coping mechanism. They may not feel sad, per se, but instead feel a pervading feeling of dread and emptiness, internally asking themself, “What’s the point?” Although they try to appear normal and could successfully do so, enjoying a conversation with friends still feels different. They’d much rather retreat to the solace of silence instead.

5. They keep conversations surface level

Does it sometimes feel like your friend has a brick wall put up? Secretly-depressed people can enjoy and have normal conversations, but when you pry on their innermost insecurities, they can feel the burn of the pain again, which forces them to hole back up. Feelings of betrayal from the past could resurface, transporting them back to how bad it felt during a time when they felt the brunt of the impact. Although their composure doesn’t waiver and they don’t break down or lash out, they’ll stick with the solace of safe topics because they know those topics won’t ever hurt them.

6. They smile to hide their pain away

Does your friend tend to brush off their feelings and smile them away instead? What makes depression more sinister is the ease with which one can hide it all behind a smile. They force a facade of happiness to free others from the burden of dealing with their problems. However, there are times where signs of this facade show behind the cracks and reveal a shell of a lonely, sad, and hurting human in its wake. In cases like this, sharing your concern with them and offering them emotional support may help them significantly. While it might feel like prodding into their business, they need to hear it’s okay to share their burden with others. In times like these, knowing your near and dear ones support you can help to a great degree emotionally and might also encourage them to seek professional help. So, it’s better to let them know that you’re there for them, but not push the conversation any further if they are unwilling.

Please note that these signs are for informative purposes only. They’re not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional if you’re struggling or if you know anyone who is.

Article by Nathuli Malwana

The post 6 SIGNS THAT YOUR BESTIE’S HIDING THEIR DEPRESSION appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMweEpGlu_U
Butter – BTS

Butter is a song by the popular South Korean boy band BTS released as a digital single on May 21st, 2021 through Big Hit Music and Sony Music Entertainment. This song is the band’s second English single after Dynamite and it’s a disco-pop, dance-pop and EDM track. Butter easily becomes listeners’ favorite earworm, with its distinctive baseline and crisp synth sounds. Butter puts forth BTS’ unique charm that no one else can pull off. The fun and witty lyrics brimming with positive and bright energy instantly uplifts moods. The song was a commercial success, topping charts in a bunch of countries as well as Billboard’s Global 200 chart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNi_6U5Pm_o
Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo

Good 4 U is a song by American singer and songwriter, Olivia Rodrigo. It was released on May 14th, 2021 through Geffen and Interscope Records, as the third single from Olivia’s debut studio album, Sour. The single is an upbeat song blending rock, pop, punk, grunge, emo and alternative styles. Its staccato baseline, energetic electric guitars and explosive drumming, with lyrics addressing a former lover who moved on quickly after a break up, keeps you hooked til the end. Good 4 U received a nomination for Best Music Video at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. The song reached number one in 23 different countries and it peaked within the top 10 in more than 20 territories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0yjYUFKAE
Peaches – Justin Bieber

Peaches is a song by popular Canadian singer Justin Bieber, featuring vocals from Daniel Caesar and Giveon. It was released on March 19th, 2021 through Def Jam Recordings, as the fifth single from Bieber’s sixth studio album, Justice. This amazing song with good lyrics, blooming hooks and lively verses will keep you immersed. Need I say more? Peaches hit the Billboard Hot 100, giving Bieber his seventh #1 hit on the chart. The song topped both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. as well as charts in several other countries. It also received these five nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards; Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, Best Music Video and Song of the Year with the most credited co-writers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ASj1L6_sY
Easy on Me – Adele

Easy on Me is by English singer and songwriter Adele and it was released on the 15th of October, 2021 through Columbia Records as the lead single from her fourth studio album, 30. This was the first song she released in nearly five years and lyrically, Adele addresses her nine-year-old son Angelo, explaining to him her divorce from his father and beseeching him to be “easy on her”. The track is a minimally produced pop ballad, set to a prominent, sombre piano, and propelled by sparse bass beats. Easy on Me was an international success, entering the top 10 in 40 territories and topping the charts in 27 of those. It broke the Spotify and Amazon Music records for the most streams for a song in a day or a week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orJSJGHjBLI
Bad Habits – Ed Sheeran

Bad Habits is a song by Ed Sheeran and it was released on June 25th, 2021 through Asylum and Atlantic Records, as the lead single of his fifth studio album, =. The song received mixed reviews from music critics, who compared its sound and style to the works of The Weeknd. Bad Habits was a commercial success, peaking at #1 in 28 countries and the song proved to be particularly successful in both the United Kingdom and Ireland and also became the best-selling single of the year in both countries. Also, the song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaFd8ucHLuo
Abcdefu – GAYLE

Abcdefu is the major-label debut single by American singer GAYLE released on August 13th, 2021, through Atlantic and Arthouse Records. The track is a mixture of pop rock and pop punk consisting of minimalistic sonics, jagged guitar work and a climax with a massive sing-along chorus. This song has topped the Billboard Global 200 and peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the U.S. abcdefu has topped the charts in a bunch of countries such as Austria, Finland, Germany, Malaysia etc. The song has also become very popular among the TikTok community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTHLKHL_whs
Industry Baby – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow

This song is by the two American rappers, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow, and it was released on the 23rd of July 2021 through Columbia Records. It’s the third single from Lil Nas X’s debut studio album, Montero, and is of the genre pop rap. This track follows up the international success of the lead single, Montero (Call Me by Your Name). Industry Baby debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in August, and became Lil Nas X’s third and Jack Harlow’s first #1 single on the chart. The song also received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiBgLOcuKU
Up – Cardi B

Up is a song by Cardi B, an American rapper. The track is a mix of hip hop and trap with drill influences, and was released on the 5th of February, 2021 through Atlantic Records as the second single from Cardi B’s upcoming second studio album. The song reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making her the only female rapper to top the chart with multiple solo singles. Up has received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 2022 Grammys. Cardi B also performed this song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in March, 2021.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il0S8BoucSA
Shivers – Ed Sheeran

Shivers is a dance-pop song by Ed Sheeran and it was released on the 10th of September 2021 through Asylum Records and Atlantic Records as the second single from his fifth studio album, =. The song hit the top of the charts, dethroning Ed Sheeran’s previous single, Bad Habits. Shivers also topped the charts in other countries and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3xkL7qUAc
Need to Know – Doja Cat

Need to Know is a trap-pop song with elements of melodic rap, bass-heavy R&B, and disco, by American rapper and singer Doja Cat. It was released through Kemosabe and RCA Records on the 11th of June, 2021, as the sole promotional single from her third studio album, Planet Her. The song became a top 10 hit in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United States. It is also nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qod03PVTLqk
Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) – Elton John & Dua Lipa

This song is a disco song by Elton John and Dua Lipa, produced by Australian trio PNAU. It was released through EMI and Mercury Records on August 13th, 2021, as the lead single from Elton John’s 32nd studio album, The Lockdown Sessions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYDRA5JPLE
THATS WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X

THATS WHAT I WANT is a song by American rapper and singer Lil Nas X. It was released on September 17th, 2021, through Columbia Records, as the fourth single from his debut studio album Montero. The track is of the genres pop and pop rock with elements of power pop, as the song is backed up by acoustic guitar and a breezy rhythm. The song became a top 10 hit in ten countries, including the US and the UK and it debuted at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 at a chart issued in October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EVVKs6DQLo
Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

This is a pop, pop-rap, bubblegum-pop, dance-pop, R&B and disco song by Doja Cat, featuring American singer SZA. It was released on April 9th, 2021, as Planet Her’s lead single, through Kemosabe and RCA Records. Kiss Me More became a #1 song in a bunch of countries and reached the top five in eighteen countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. It also earned three Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDBbnmKpqQ
Drivers License – Olivia Rodrigo

Drivers License is Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single which was released on the 8th of January, 2021, through Geffen and Interscope Records, as the lead single from her debut studio album, Sour. The song is a power ballad blending bedroom pop, indie pop and power pop styles with elements of folk and indie rock. Drivers License received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards. It also topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and made Olivia the youngest artist ever to debut atop the chart. As of August, 2021, the song has over 1 billion streams on Spotify, ranking amongst the 100 most streamed songs of the platform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6swmTBVI83k
MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name) – Lil Nas X

This song by Lil Nas X was first previewed in a Super Bowl LV commercial in February 2021. This hip hop, electropop song was released on March 26th, 2021, through Columbia Records and it served as the lead single and title track from Lil Nas X’s debut studio album Montero. The song is noted for its queer themes, including its sexually explicit homosexual lyrics. Montero (Call Me by Your Name) debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, giving Lil Nas X his second #1 hit on the chart after Old Town Road. It topped the charts in 20 other countries including Canada, France and the U.K. and received nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Music Video at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cii6ruuycQA
Deja Vu – Olivia Rodrigo

Deja Vu by Olivia Rodrigo was released on April 1st, 2021, through Geffen and Interscope Records, as the second single from Olivia’s debut studio album Sour. The track can be described as an ethereal mid-tempo psychedelic pop, pop rock, art pop and indie pop song. Deja Vu debuted at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking the second consecutive single from Sour to enter the top 10 of the chart after Drivers License.

The post TOP SONGS OF 2021 … BY NATHULI MALWANA appeared first on ChoKoLAAte Blog.