Am I Depressed?
Are you wondering if you are depressed? Please know that depression is affects millions of people globally. Depression is not the same as “feeling down”. Depression can make you feel hopeless, sad, and helpless which can affect your daily life and activities. Feeling sad or discouraged once in a while is normal, but if these feelings continue for more than a month, then it may be depression or related to grief. In order to know if it is depression and you need the assistance of a therapist or medical provider, here are some of the most common symptoms to look out for.
1. Loss of Interest
If you have lost interest in activities that you previously enjoyed, such as spending time with friends, hobbies, and work, this could be a sign of depression. You may feel unmotivated, and even the simplest tasks may seem stressful.
2. Mood Swings
Depression can cause mood swings, leading to feelings of anger, irritability, and sadness. You may feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster, and the slightest thing could trigger an outburst.
3. Fatigue
Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, or oversleeping. You may find it difficult to get out of bed or feel exhausted even after a night's sleep.
4. Withdrawal from Social Activities
If you've started avoiding social gatherings and isolating yourself from friends and family, it's a sign of depression. You may feel like nobody understands you, and it's easier to be alone.
5. Appetite Changes
Depression can also affect your appetite, causing you to lose or gain weight. It can also affect your eating habits, making you overeat or undereat.
6. Changes in Personal Hygiene
Depression can make it hard to have the energy or motivation to take care of yourself including taking a shower, brushing your teeth, and and other regular hygiene activities. If you are having changes in caring for yourself, it is a common sign that your depression is becoming moderate to severe and you most likely need professional help.
If you've experienced any of the above symptoms consistently for two weeks or more, it's time to seek help. Depression is a treatable condition, and there are several options available, including therapy, medication, and support groups.
A Special Note about Depression and Teens
In some ways many of the symptoms of depression are similar to the “symptoms” of being a teenager. Remember teenagers are not the same at home as they are with their friends or at school. Most teens are sleep deprived and have changes in their sleep cycle so the key is noticeable changes. In other words, are there noticeable, recent changes in sleep, hygiene, appetite, weight gain or loss, or, especially, changes in social activities. When in doubt, always have your teen assessed for symptoms of depression or anxiety. It’s harder to be a teenager now than in any time in modern history - they have gone through a pandemic and so much more.
A Special Note about Men and Depression
It can be somewhat harder to notice symptoms of depression in men. Men are good at hiding or masking their feelings because society continues to give men the message to “such it up” and that some feelings are better off ignored so that the man can be “strong”. Men tend to be more irritable than women when depressed.
