Depression isn’t just about sadness; it can also bring out irritation, a lack of love, and restlessness. For me, these symptoms shaped my relationships without me even realizing it. When I was depressed, I’d snap at people, lose interest in the people I loved, and feel restless and unsettled. I didn’t understand why I was acting this way, but it was clear that depression was distorting how I saw and interacted with the world. It wasn’t just sadness, it was something much more disruptive.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder that I understood what was going on. Once I began managing my depression, I started recognizing how much these negative patterns were affecting my relationships. Learning to control the depression meant I could also control the irritability and detachment it caused. If you’re struggling with something similar, getting the right support and recognizing these signs is the first step in breaking the cycle.