5 Unexpected Signs That You're Depressed
You're not sad or overwhelmed, but maybe stuff has nonetheless gotten to you. Here are overlooked signals that you might need a little support to get back to feeling better, happier and more yourself.
By Jessica Migala
Your cravings are out of control.
Feeling moody before your period and having carb cravings? Totally normal a few days out of the month. What's not normal is if you have carby, sugary cravings most days of the month. In a 2010 study, people who were possibly depressed ate 8.4 servings of chocolate per month, compared with healthy individuals who ate 5.4 servings per month. "There's a natural carb craving that happens both when you have your period and when you're depressed," Holland says. Your brain is searching for a pick-me-up from serotonin—it temporarily makes you feel that everything is good. "Carbs provide an insulin spike that drives the raw materials your body needs to make serotonin across the blood-brain barrier," she says. Hence, the chocolate craziness.
Published 04/28/2015