Am I Depressed?
Clinical depression can manifest as feeling sad and depressed for weeks or months on end—not just a passing depressed mood for a day or two. This feeling is most often accompanied by a sense of hopelessness, a lack of energy, and taking little or no pleasure in things that once gave you joy in the past.
Depression symptoms take many forms, and no two people’s experiences are exactly alike. A person who has clinical depression may not seem sad to others. They may instead complain about how they just “can’t get moving,” or are feeling completely unmotivated to do just about anything.
Clinical depression is different from normal sadness—like when you lose a loved one or experience a relationship breakup—as it usually consumes a person in their day-to-day living. It doesn’t stop after just a day or two—it will continue for weeks on end, interfering with social, occupational, or other life functions.
The symptoms of depression include the majority of the following signs, experienced nearly every day over the course of two or more weeks:
- a persistent feeling of loneliness or sadness
- lack of energy
- feelings of hopelessness
- difficulties with sleeping (too much or too little)
- difficulties with eating (too much or too little)
- difficulties with concentration or attention
- loss of interest in enjoyable activities or socializing
- feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- and/or thoughts of death or suicide
Most people who are feeling depressed don’t experience every symptom, and the presentation of symptoms varies in degree and intensity from person to person. If you feel you may be experiencing depression, feel free to contact me for a free consultation.
