Depression Checklist: How Do I Know If I Am Depressed?
How Do You Know If You’re Depressed?
How do you know if you’re depressed? Depression is one of those illnesses that can be tricky to self-diagnose. For instance, if you’re feeling sad, are you just having a bad day – or week? Is it just a rough time in your life? Or is it depression? If you have a difficult time concentrating, are you suffering from depression or are you just distracted? If you don’t feel like going out with your friends and would rather stay home alone, does that mean you’re suffering from depression?
Everyone has bad days. We all get sad, lonely, frustrated, distracted — and we all cry. We all experience these emotions. The problem occurs when you feel these negative feelings on a regular, frequent basis. It’s especially problematic when these sad feelings have a damaging impact on the quality of your life.
Persistent sadness, anxious feelings and excessive loneliness are all things that can cause problems in your relationships, your job and impact your family life.
If you think you or someone you care about are depressed, please go through our depression checklist below to see some of the symptoms of depression. If you have three or more of these symptoms, please contact us for a consultation.
Depression Checklist: Warning Signs & Symptoms of Depression
How can you tell if you’re depressed? Here are some warning signs of depression. If you have three or more of these symptoms there’s a high likelihood that you are depressed:
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Thinking things like “People would be better off without me.”
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequently run late, have difficulty remembering details and making a decision
- Feel exhausted and have decreased energy
- You feel guilty, worthless and/or helpless
- Feel sad, hopeless or pessimistic
- Feel irritable or angry a lot
- Irregular sleep patterns – insomnia, wake up in the middle of the night or wake up too early
- Excessive tiredness
- Frequently cry – sometimes over seemingly “little” things that would normally not upset you
- Socially withdraw from friends and family
- You lose interest in activities or hobbies that you used to enjoy — including sex
- Gaining or losing weight – without trying
- You have a low self-esteem or feel bad about yourself
- Frequently have unexplained headaches or other physical problems
- You start drinking or doing drugs
- You prefer to be alone
(NOTE: If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, call 911 or get help right away!)
Are You Depressed: We Can Help With A Variety Of Depression Treatment Options
If you’re experiencing depression, it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Depression is treatable.
Mental health professionals have a variety of treatment options we can use to help you get through your difficult time. Call us today to schedule an appointment and get started feeling better.