3 Signs You Struggle With The Stress-Depression Connection

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If you are a Black Christian professional or entrepreneur who has been under a lot of stress lately and started experiencing some symptoms of depression, keep reading to discover three tell-tale signs that you may be struggling with the stress-depression connection.

There’s good stress, which is strongly associated with in-the-moment productivity. In the short period that it shoots up your adrenaline, cortisol, and energy levels, it can make you feel superhuman, juggling responsibilities like a PRO or putting in work assignments despite all the odds stacked against you. However, it can quickly become harmful stress when it happens too frequently and lasts for long hours.

Chronic stress is characterized by physical distress, sleep problems, mental confusion, irritability, changes in eating habits, changes in social behavior, persistent feelings of frustration and pressure, and many more. It has also been proven to increase the risk of depression and burnout.

But that’s not all!

Research has found that the relationship between stress and depression is bidirectional. Just like stress can cause depression, depression can increase your susceptibility to being stressed, and both can worsen each other. So, unless you become aware of your high-stress levels and seek help, it is possible to be locked in a vicious cycle of the stress-depression connection.

Sign 1: You stop doing things you enjoy

Being too engaged with your stressors, ignoring your stress symptoms, and unknowingly falling in and out of depression, you may begin losing interest in things that make you happy.

Having abnormally high levels of stress hormones can impair your body's ability to produce serotonin and dopamine so that you don't feel happy doing things you once enjoyed. When this happens, you may start shutting out any activity guaranteed to give you happiness or inner peace because you feel it would be a waste of time.

When you start to lose sight of things that make you happy or stop enjoying them the way you used to, you may be on a fast road to depression.

Sign 2: You are in a burnout phase

If you feel drained, unmotivated, suffer sleep disturbances, and don’t even find relief in exercise or movements, you may be struggling with the stress-depression connection.

When you are stressed, you are still expected to get positive results from working out; it should help reduce your body’s stress hormone levels and stimulate the production of endorphins that work to elevate your mood. However, if you have no energy or motivation to exercise and feel your energy levels deplete rather than increase when you do, you may be in a burnout phase.

Do you wake up feeling tired but with just enough energy to do your routine activities (e.g., bath, eat, take care of the kids, commute to work, etc.) until in the evenings when you experience an energy crash?

Then you may need to see a licensed mental health professional to educate you on how your stress has progressed to adrenal fatigue and depression and what you should do to feel better. At Comfort Counseling Center in Houston TX, Boston MA, and Fort Lauderdale FL we help black Christian Professionals and Entrepreneurs navigate through high stress and depression.

Sign 3: You feel undeserving of rest

Experiencing chronic stress over a long time can take a toll on your physical health. It can affect your sleep health and reduce your productivity level, but that’s only the beginning.

Working under stress can create the illusion that you are not doing enough. You may be struggling with the stress-depression connection if you’ve been working extra hours, trying your hardest to balance your life at work, home, and in the faith community, but still think you could be doing better.

Despite knowing that you aren’t functioning at your optimal state, being under chronic stress is propelling you to push yourself instead of taking a rest. After all, stress itself is a fight-or-flight response that creates a must-struggle-to-survive simulation. 

You are giving so much of yourself away and refuse to find the time to replenish all the energy you've lost. And you forget that you can't pour from an empty cup.

If you are experiencing any of the signs discussed in this blog, we recommend that you seek help from a licensed mental health therapist. If you or your loved one is in need of stress management counseling, depression counseling or Christian counseling in Houston TX, Boston MA, or Fort Lauderdale FL, contact Comfort Nyeswah-Wiafe, LMHC, LPC for your complimentary consultation. We only offer online therapy. If you are ready to invest in your health, we are here to support you.

As always, we’d like to be clear that this blog post isn’t intended as professional counseling or clinical advice. If you’re in need of support, please consider speaking to a professional to be evaluated.

If suicidal thoughts are present, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room if you are worried about yourself or a loved one taking their own life.