How can I tell if I’m experiencing depression?

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Life is complicated!

Because of that, it can sometimes be confusing to tell when we’ve shifted on the spectrum from mental health into what would truly be a mental disorder.

All of us occasionally feel sad, experience a short-term mood, or feel confused, but such things are usually considered to be a problem when a person is experiencing anxiety or depression, or with their cognitive function or impulse control. When these experiences are persistent and begin to cause significant impairment with a person’s life, they are likely experiencing a mental disorder.

So how can you tell if you’re just sad, going through a mood, or are actually experiencing depression? Signs a person is experiencing clinical depression (“major depressive disorder”) may include:

      • A sad mood that lasts for at least two weeks.
      • Experiencing anhendonia, which is loss of interest in things that usually were fun or pleasurable.
      • Loss of appetite.
      • Sleep disruption.
      • Crying spells.
      • Changes in attitude – you become negative and can’t seem to shake the mood.
      • Sense of helplessness.
      • Sense of hopelessness.
      • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
      • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things.
      • May experience suicidal thoughts.
      • Persistent irritability.
      • Socially isolating yourself.
      • Trying to self-medicate, e.g., drinking more.
      • Tiredness or lack of energy.
      • Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.
      • Children may act out more and have behavioral disturbances, feel sad, and become more irritable.
      • Change in the way you interact with others and how you see the world that is very impactful. This could even include the way you view God, such as thinking the Bible doesn’t apply to you or that God has forgotten about you.

There are several possible causes of depression (learn more about that in another post here), but if you’re experiencing several of these symptoms, you should seek help from your physician or a mental health professional. Unlike a temporary sad emotion or passing mood, major depressive disorder isn’t something you can just “shake off.” The good news is that depression can be treated and can be overcome with proper care.

Scotty