Often, depression leaves you feeling like your physical and emotional reactivity has been siphoned off, draining you of the ability to look after yourself. Research says there's a neurobiological reason for this—and it has to do with the brain structure known as the frontal lobes.
Many people struggling with anxiety and depression routinely care for themselves in this exact manner. Just as a child whose basic needs aren't met “melts down” emotionally, when adults don't take care of these same needs, it makes managing their emotions much more difficult.
Self-neglect – aka the inability or reluctance to take care of oneself – is a common sign of depression and other forms of mental illness, and can extend to obvious body odour, poor oral hygiene, or a person regularly wearing unwashed clothes.
Self-care is especially hard for those who grew up in dysfunctional families and/or developed codependent traits. Codependents struggle with self-care because they tend to focus on other people's feelings, needs, and problems, and take care of others, often at their own expense.
If we don't take time for self-care, we can experience increases in anxiety, anger, fatigue, depression, and heart disease (Ali, 2019). Research has shown that self-care can reduce stress and anxiety levels while increasing self-compassion (Shapiro, et. al., 2007).
Diogenes syndrome is when a person does not take care of themselves or their surroundings, leading to poor hygiene and possibly some health and social problems. It often occurs with other conditions, such as dementia. People with the condition often show signs of severe self-neglect, social isolation, and hoarding.
Self-neglect is a general term used to describe a vulnerable adult living in a way that puts his or her health, safety, or well-being at risk.
Often, depression leaves you feeling like your physical and emotional reactivity has been siphoned off, draining you of the ability to look after yourself. Research says there's a neurobiological reason for this—and it has to do with the brain structure known as the frontal lobes.
What can start out as unpleasant (and even scary) physical symptoms, can be a sign of poor self care. Symptoms can include dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pains, heart palpitations, abdominal pain, headaches, GI disturbance, and fainting spells.
Poor physical health can lead to poor mental health, and poor mental health can precipitate or worsen physical problems, causing a vicious cycle that may be hard to break.
Depression Can Look Like Selfishness to the People Around Us
Depression has a way of closing in the walls around you — of populating your mind with so much noise that you effectively lock yourself in a mental prison of your own creation, unable to turn down the volume long enough to focus on anything else.
Are depressed people selfish? The short answer is, no. People who experience depression and anxiety become overwhelmed with emotions. At those times, and they can affect us all at one point or another, we tend to want to pull the covers up over our head and just disappear.
Depression is difficult to overcome because it's a complex mental illness. It can cause negative thinking patterns, low self-esteem, and distorted perceptions of reality. These factors can make it difficult to get out of a depressive state. Additionally, this mental disorder can be very isolating.
And people who have a mental illness can be just as strong--even stronger--than someone who doesn't. Just like someone who has diabetes can still be physically strong, a person with depression could be very mentally strong.
Depression, hypersensitivity, and PTSD can contribute to being wary of things said to us. We may react by overanalyzing, ruminating, and even getting depressed and anxious over interpersonal interactions. For some of us, a simple conversation gone wrong can make us feel sick. So how can we stop doing this to ourselves?
What Is Diogenes Syndrome? Diogenes syndrome is a behavioral-health condition characterized by poor personal hygiene, hoarding, and unkempt living conditions. It is most common in older men and women, which is why it is also called senile squalor syndrome.
Self neglect, often characterised by a dirty, unkempt appearance, may be associated with a number of psychiatric disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and alcohol dependence.
Self-care includes all the things you do to take care of your well-being in four key dimensions – your emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual health.
If you routinely take care of others' needs before your own, then you may have codependent tendencies. In a relationship, codependent behaviors can potentially sabotage your relationship success. If you neglect your personal needs and wishes and care for others instead, then you may begin to feel resentful and empty.
Depersonalization disorder is marked by periods of feeling disconnected or detached from one's body and thoughts (depersonalization). The disorder is sometimes described as feeling like you are observing yourself from outside your body or like being in a dream.
Self-care is a practice
If self-care feels like a chore, rather than a reminder to find and appreciate enjoyment in your everyday life, it's a sign that something needs to change.
Apathy is when you lack motivation to do things or just don't care much about what's going on around you. Apathy can be a symptom of mental health problems, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's disease. It often lasts a long time. You may lack the desire to do anything that involves thinking or your emotions.
Some common synonyms of unconcerned are aloof, detached, disinterested, incurious, and indifferent. While all these words mean "not showing or feeling interest," unconcerned suggests a lack of sensitivity or regard for others' needs or troubles.
freeloader. noun. showing disapproval someone who expects to get food, money, or a place to stay from someone else, without giving anything in return.