“Am I Suffering from Depression?” 5 Signs to Help You Find Out

Due to numerous cases of depression encountered in the world today, it is common to hear someone asking this question regardless of the situation they are in.

Consider the many times you have seen or heard the expression, “This is so depressing” on media. It seems to dominate every other TV show all the way down to comedies and cartoons. Characters speak of being depressed whenever things don’t go the way they would have wished.

Think of the character Squidward from the cartoon Spongebob. Have you ever wondered if he suffers from depression? Sure, he comes across many terrible incidents, but so does anyone else in real life. Would you say he suffers from depression or just has a bad day from time to time? Consider people around you who say they are depressed. Are there incidents in their lives that make them see themselves as depressed?

Experiencing multiple incidents of sadness doesn’t cause or guarantee that you are suffering from depression. Instead, evaluating underlying circumstances helps in making an informed conclusion. First, it is worth noting that depression can occur due to a hereditary problem. That goes deep into your biological makeup.

Getting into a new situation such as parenthood or painful situations recurring in your life can also cause depression. The causes vary from person to person. However, if you find yourself experiencing unusual sadness, seek clinical advice. Your doctor will help you decide if what you are going through is related to mental health or not.

Valid Statistics On Depression

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 2015 report, 6.7% of all U.S adults have experienced at least one major episode of depression. The majority of the affected adults range between the ages of 18 and 25 and most of them are women.

A report given by Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) in 2016, states, “While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.5 years old.” Both reports indicate that most of these cases, though detected, go untreated.

Before concluding that you are suffering from depression, it is important to note that depression presents itself in different shades. In some cases, grief may dominate. Again, depression affects people of all ages, economic status, academic ability and even race. It has the potential of attacking anyone in different seasons. In fact, it is one of the leading mental health conditions in the world today.

By consulting your doctor when you suspect that you are suffering from depression, you save yourself from becoming a victim. If the mental condition you are experiencing is brought about by other health issues, then your doctor can intervene. He or she can advise you better as to whether there is a need for further help from a psychiatrist.

What Symptoms Should You Look Out For To Know If You Are Suffering From Depression?

While self-diagnosis may not provide you with adequate knowledge to know if you are suffering from depression, you should watch out for these major pointers.

1. Psychological changes You find yourself snapping for no apparent reason, more often than not. This is one of the most dominant feelings. Things that you considered a non-issue drive you to the edge causing you to lose your temper and stay in a bad mood for a long time.

A sense of guilt and shame may also overtake you making you feel less important. This makes you feel like you are a burden to people around you and that you are better off dead.

You may also feel overwhelmed with grief causing you to break down in tears at the least provocation, or even when there is no provocation at all. These emotional changes can bring about anxiety, strain, and instability.

2. Withdrawal from previous interests

There is a set of activities you enjoy doing and people you like spending time with. These define your taste and are an important way that the people around you are able to identify you.

When depression kicks in, your taste changes in a dramatic way. You begin to disassociate with people who were once a part of your circle, in favor of solitude. This is because you feel that you are not worthy of their time. You have less zeal to engage in such relationships; even with a spouse or a best friend.

You may also feel uninspired to pursue projects you once cared about. Small but important activities become an uphill task, denying you the ability to keep up with your goals.

This could include grooming your own body, sports, shopping, or hobbies. Instead, you desire to do things that didn’t mean much to you before because they provide you with some sense of comfort. Phrases like, “I don’t feel like it” and “I just can’t do it” become a part of your vocabulary.

3. Unexplained change in weight

Did you know that your brain is heavily involved in your eating habits? Hunger and appetite are not mere physical conditions. This explains why, when you are suffering from depression, your eating habits change, affecting your weight.

While you may have been a healthy eater, you find yourself embracing junk food. While that offers consolation, it also ushers in weight gain and later bad health. The opposite is also possible. Your brain fails to trigger the hunger and appetite signals causing you to lose interest in food. General loss of appetite or being a picky eater contributes a lot to unhealthy weight loss.

4. Changes in sleeping pattern

By default, many people sleep at night and stay awake during the day. If you are suffering from depression, your sleeping pattern may differ. Excessive sleepiness while at work despite having slept all night may occur; a condition known as hypersomnolence.

In a different scenario, your night is dominated by waking moments while your day may or may not give you much opportunity to rest. With such major changes in your sleeping patterns, your productivity is compromised.

5. Changes in body performance

Reduced performance can also happen when you are depressed. This ranges from your physical abilities such as walking and speaking to your ability to remember things. The way that you perceive yourself and your general health is also compromised.

You may notice unusual aches and pains in your body that you knew nothing about before the feeling of depression stepped in. Common pains include headaches, aching jaw due to clenching, stomachache, and cramps. If you had existing health problems, the pains may occur more often than before.

Christian Counselors Ready To Help You Take Your Life Back From Depression

Now that you have found this information, you have a better understanding of depression. If you are experiencing any of these changes, consider seeking help right now.

There are many people in the world today who after carrying out the self-diagnosis, hold back and never seek medical attention. That doesn’t make them feel any better; instead, it aggravates the state of depression. We, at Seattle Christian Counseling, have many counselors who have been working with various people suffering from depression. We are here for you.

Call us now; our desire is to help you take back control of your life and live the meaningful life that you deserve.