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Life is no piece of cake. It’s full of trials and tribulations, highs and lows, that leave us feeling elevated at times and entirely down or full of regret at other times. However, some people feel more lows than highs or experience low points for much longer than others. Sometimes these experiences of feeling depressed can last weeks. The causes of these feelings can be environmental or physiological. How long and how intensely does someone feel low before it’s time to seek help?
Symptoms
Sometimes the difference between feeling down, feeling depressed for a while, and living with depression is slight, and the lines between these different states become blurred. But, there are clear signs of depression you can look for within yourself to understand if your feelings of sadness are more than that, if they are, in fact, symptoms of clinical depression. For more information on depression, including a depression test, visit Mind Diagnostics. Here are some significant indicators of clinical depression:
Loss of Interest
If you don’t look forward to things or no longer enjoy doing the things you used to enjoy so much, then you may be suffering from a loss of interest. Withdrawing from once enjoyable activities or loss of interest in sex or intimacy is a sign of depression.
Anxiety
While they can occur independently often, anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. Suppose you experience nervousness, tense feelings, rapid breathing, increased heart rates, shaking, intense worry, trouble focusing, or feelings of dread. In that case, you may be dealing with anxiety, a telltale companion of depression.
Trouble Regulating Emotion
If you are fine one moment and trouble the next, experiencing mood swings between relaxation then anger or crying, you may be experiencing another symptom of depression. Though, bear in mind, difficulty regulating emotion can be associated with other conditions, also.
Feeling Hopeless
If you’re feeling like there’s no point in doing anything, or you’re experiencing feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem, then you might consider this an indicator of depression. People who live with clinical depression often feel hopeless about life or feel overwhelming guilt or shame about their life in general.
Fatigue
People living with depression often don’t sleep well or sleep too much but always feel fatigued. Fatigue is a major symptom of depression because the disease zaps away your energy and motivation to participate fully in life.
Unhealthy Eating Patterns
People living with depression may lose their appetite altogether, leading to weight loss and malnourishment. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people with depression may overeat to cope with overwhelming feelings brought about by the disease.
How do you know if you’re depressed?
If you relate to any of these symptoms, especially two or more, and have lived with these feelings for an extended period, you may be living with depression. If this is the case, you don’t have to continue feeling this way. Rely on a support network, whether that’s family or friends or mental health professionals. Create a space for yourself to talk about how you’re feeling in an environment and with people whom you trust and who will support you. You’ll also need to see a professional to receive a diagnosis.
Seeking a Diagnosis
Receiving a depression diagnosis will open the door to much-needed services that will help you learn how to cope and thrive despite clinical depression. Many people feel improved symptoms after adopting healthier lifestyle habits, more exercise, a well-balanced diet, better sleeping habits, medical support, and mental health support.
Treating depression
Various means to treat depression exist across various disciplines such as medicine, mental health practices, lifestyle, meditative practices, mindfulness, and physical wellness. Speak with your healthcare provider and mental health professionals to devise a treatment plan that specifically addresses your symptoms and mental health needs.
