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Oversleeping, overeating can be signs of clinical depression

By Aprille Hanson
Associate Editor

Though signs vary, there are indicators when a person has anxiety and/or depression. Catholic and clinical psychologist Dr. Sherry Simon said key indicators of clinical depression or anxiety can be:

• Sleeping too much or too little
• Overeating or not eating enough
• Tendency to isolate, even beyond the safety requirements due to COVID-19; not reaching out to anyone. 
• Loss of pleasure in activities a person used to enjoy
• Thoughts of hurting themself or others

“I’ve had people tell me ‘I’m probably not going to live beyond this pandemic,’” Simon said. 

Additional “vegetative signs” that indicate a person should seek professional counseling can include sleeping 12 to 14 hours a day and an inability to get up in the morning or sleeping just a few hours at a time, extreme weight gain or loss and suicidal thoughts. 

In an effort to balance body chemistry, Simon said she has talked to some patients about supplementing antidepressants with therapy. 

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