How Do I Know If I Am Depressed?
You struggle to keep on task and stay focused but your mind keeps wandering making the simplest of jobs take unusually long periods of time. Is it ADD or depression?
You can’t seem to get motivated to do anything even things that you enjoy or used to enjoy. Is it laziness or depression?
You have trouble getting to sleep and when you do you struggle to stay asleep waking up several times a night thinking about the same thing over and over. Is it anger or depression?
You are tired all the time to the point of exhaustion where exercise is not even an option because it drains you of the last bit of energy you have. Is it sickness or depression?
You wonder if life is even worth living or if you are really contributing something of value to your family or your work. Is it a mid-life crisis or depression?
You are sad more than usual crying at commercials, movies, and other people’s problems but struggling to be emotional about your own issues. Is it avoidance or depression?
Your weight has increased and the food that used to bring you pleasure is tasteless so you find yourself eating more to get the same effect. Is it an addiction or depression?
You don’t feel like going out with friends and prefer instead to stay at home alone because no one seems to understand you. Is it loneliness or depression?
You feel guilty for things you have done in the past and believe that you are worthless. Is it remorse or depression?
Don’t self-diagnosis. The problem with diagnosing your own condition is that depression can look like any one of the above issues: ADD, laziness, anger, sickness, mid-life crisis, avoidance, addiction, loneliness or remorse. This is why it helps to have someone from the outside looking in on your life to see if you really are depressed or if something else is the problem.
Depression is not a momentary thing. If you lose a document on your computer, you will be sad and even feel slightly depressed because it took you forever to write it but the feeling is not long lasting. Rather, depression is something that dominates your life for a long period of time such as over several months and can be seen in more than one area of your life. So if work is driving you crazy and every time you go into the office you feel sad and hopeless but when you go home and kiss your kids you are able to enjoy your time with them, it is not depression.
Do look at your circumstances. Depression can be caused by many environmental factors such as the loss of a loved one, a decrease in daylight, bad news about a physical condition, your child’s behavioral problems, your spouse’s lack of attention, an out-of-control addiction, change in financial status, loss of employment, separation/divorce, or hormonal factors such as PMS, pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause. It is normal to feel depressed during these times and since every circumstance is different, one person may feel depressed for a day while another may feel depressed for a year.
Depression comes in many forms. There is not one type of depression rather there are many different forms of depression. There is mild, moderate, severe, one-time, chronic, bi-polar, manic, seasonal, traumatic, postpartum, dysthymic, catatonic, melancholic, atypical, medical, cyclothymic, rapid-cycling, substance-induced, suicidal, and psychotic. Knowing the type of depression you have often determines the treatment for the depression.
Don’t wait. The bottom line is if you think you are struggling with depression, get professional help from a doctor or counselor. There are very few types of depression that get better just with the passage of time; many of the other forms of depression actually worsen if left undiagnosed and untreated.
You can get better. There is help. There is hope.
Posted under: Depression Writings from Christine
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