Does depression affect how bright you perceive colors?
Does depression affect how bright you perceive colors?
I feel like the colors I've been seeing for the past few years seemed darker than like, say, 10 years ago. Like less contrast.
15 comments
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Yup. Depression dulls the experience of living in many ways that aren't talked about enough. It's not just being sad, it's a fundamental change in the perception of all this... gestures wildly
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Yes.
That one of the signs from which I can tell it is happening.
Just sitting around with people and all of the sudden it is like a cloud moved in front of the sun and there is no cloud in front of the sun. I asked.
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When I started taking anti depressants yes, the colours seemed much more vibrant.
So anecdotally, yes, my depression definitely affected how I perceived colours.
Music was the thing which changed the most, it’s like it went from 2d to 3d, really hard to explain, but much much more enjoyable.
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Your antidepressants might be LSD. (Kidding, of course)
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Well, it is one of the most effective antidepressants...
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Ooh I can help maybe! :) Anecdotally, yes, colour can change like that, and it can go back to how it was before.
I started SSRI medication 10ish years back and it felt like everything was in some HD technicolour. :) It honestly was overwhelming. I get spells where it's muted again, usually that's my internal sign for "ooh I'm likely a bit burnt out and should stop".
Beyond the quick answer though, I hope you're getting by okay and things pick up in some way ♥️
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If you think you're depressed, please go see a doctor. Therapy does work and modern antidepressants aren't anywhere near the nightmare of side effects they used to be. Seriously, you can feel better all the time and it is way easier than you might think.
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While I agree that it's a good idea to seek help, antidepressants do have significant negative side effects for some people, and aren't really that effective long term. And therapy can take a long time to help, if it does at all.
I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but the last sentence of your comment feels a bit insulting.
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Anecdotally, when I was manic (aka pretty much the polar opposite of depressed), colors seemed way brighter.
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I've noticed the same thing, whereby colors appear dull when I'm depressed and vibrant when treatment is working. But also note that colors naturally appear less vibrant as we age due to changes in our eyes and brains. For example, the lens of the eye yellows, and photoreceptor cells degrade.
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Um... I'm not even 25 yet, I hope I'm not going blind lol
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Losing color sensitivity =/= going blind. Most people have until around age 30 before these changes are noticeable, but it can hit earlier if you have a lot of UV exposure or health issues.
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I didn't notice it before, but now im on the right meds, everything seems brighter and better. i didn't realise how badly my brain was doing at the time.
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At my worst, I couldn't handle much light at all. Always had my curtains drawn and lights off or at least really dim.
On the rare occasion I would step out in the sunlight, I felt like a vampire
When I could will myself to go to the store, it was always in the middle of the night
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Yes, it does. It's scary how much perception changes
15 comments