 Hey, Psych2goers. What would your reaction be to seeing your friend posting a bunch of pictures of themselves every single day with the hashtag depression? While many people may think that it's a way for them to get attention, these behaviors may really be a cry for help. The person doing it may actually be struggling with their mental health. So in this video, we'll be looking at some behaviors that may be a sign of depression instead of attention seeking. Number one, you gravitate towards absolutist words. I'm always a failure. Nothing has ever gone right for me. I feel completely at a loss with my life. Sometimes when you hear these words, you may think that the person is exaggerating for attention, but there may actually be an underlying cause for it. Research published in clinical psychological science shows that people with anxiety and depression gravitate towards using absolutist words, which represent absolute magnitudes or probabilities such as always, nothing or completely. This is perhaps due to the fact that depressed people often view the world through a black or white lens, which is manifested in their style of language. Number two, you lash out on social media. Do you use social media to vent or use it as a form of online journaling in a source of catharsis? Sometimes, people who are depressed like to utilize their social media accounts to talk about their problems and frustrations. As said by Ducky Mae, who lives with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, I seek the attention of those around me because their words help battle my thoughts. They argue with my logic or lack thereof. Their encouragement tells my brain to shut up. Their love squashes my self-hate. Their attention starves my negative thoughts of belief and support. Their words save me. So while it may look like attention-seeking, it may really be a cry for help because of the inner turmoil they're experiencing. Number three, you get involved in self-harm behavior. According to a booklet published by the Mental Health Foundation UK, 10% of young people get involved in self-harming behavior. In other words, it's likely that at least two young people in every secondary school classroom have self-harmed at some time. However, we need to actually reframe our perspective on those people who self-harm. It's important to note that self-harm is neither a suicide attempt nor a cry for attention. It can actually be a method that some people resort to in order to cope with overwhelming and distressing thoughts or feelings. We should never make light of any self-harm behavior, no matter the underlying reason behind it. If you're suffering from this or know someone who is, we've included a list of hotlines in the description below. Number four, you talk about depression very often and very openly. How often do you post or write things about your depression? Sometimes you may see people posting videos of themselves or writing posts about their struggles with their mental health. While some may say it's an attempt to gain more views or followers, these open and honest conversations about depression may just be that. An open, honest conversation about the struggles of depression. Instead of thinking that it's all about attention seeking, it may be helpful to remember and understand how crucial and helpful it is to bring awareness to these topics, to reduce the stigma of seeking help. It's important to raise people's awareness regarding this issue so that they can seek the appropriate help that they should get. Did you find this video helpful? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this video with those who may benefit from it. And don't forget to hit the notification bell icon to get notified whenever Psych2Go posts a new video. The references and studies used in this video are added in the description below. Thanks so much for watching and we'll see you in the next one.