Is your sadness just a low mood that passes over time, or is it depression? Some symptoms can help you know when to talk to your doctor. ##What is depression? Depression is a common mood disorder. This is a mental health condition that can be serious. Depression can have both emotional and physical symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and behave. It can also damage your relationships. You feel sad and lose interest in life or activities that once made you happy. **Depression is more than just sadness. ** Everyone feels blue, depressed, or sad from time to time. Emotional reactions to life’s ups and downs are natural. It’s normal to feel sad when you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, losing your job, or experiencing disappointment. Occasional low moods are not depression because sad feelings eventually go away. It’s normal to want to be alone sometimes. Downtime can be healthy. You may just want to relax somewhere quiet to recharge. You don’t always need to be around other people or socialize. **Depression is ongoing, not episodic. ** Depression is when your symptoms of sadness and loss of interest in life persist. You feel sad and withdrawn almost every day. Those feelings won’t ease. You can’t escape depression, even though others in your life may tell you to “cheer up” or that you can control your emotions. Depression is not something you can just feel. **Loss of function. ** If you suffer from depression, you may not be able to function normally in your daily life. Depression can affect your work, home life, and relationships. ##Depression Symptoms If you or a loved one has any of these symptoms regularly for 2 weeks or more, they may have depression, not just sadness: - **Sadness. ** You may feel hopeless, depressed, or empty inside. You may cry a lot. You feel worthless, guilty, or sorry for things you have done in the past. - **Anhedonia. **Anhedonia is a common symptom of clinical depression. When you lose the ability to enjoy the things that once brought you joy. You no longer enjoy your favorite hobbies, sports, or movies, and you no longer enjoy being with other people or having sex. - **Sleep problems. ** You may be unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. You may also oversleep and not want to get out of bed. - **Lack of energy. ** You feel tired and sluggish. You move slowly, talk slowly, and take a long time to respond to people. - **Weight issues. ** You may lose your appetite and lose weight. You may also crave unhealthy foods and gain weight. - **Aches and pains. ** You may experience body aches or pains in certain places, such as your back or head, that do not appear to have a physical cause. You may experience muscle cramps or stomach upset. Your pain will not get better with treatment. - **Neglecting self-care. ** You may no longer care about yourself or how you look or dress. You can stop taking regular baths or showers. You may be wearing the same wrinkled or messy clothes all the time, or you may be letting your laundry pile up. - **Angry. ** You may often snap at people, feel angry or resentful, and get angry at minor slights. - **Brain fog. ** You have trouble thinking clearly or remembering things. You lose focus on the task or conversation. It’s hard to make a decision. - **Thoughts of suicide. ** You may have thoughts about death or suicide, or you may want to die. Not everyone with depression has all of these symptoms or the same symptoms. You may experience some of these symptoms sometimes, but not always. Your symptoms may also be more severe or milder than others. ##Depressive symptoms may vary at different stages of life. Children with depression may not want to go to school. They may not perform well in class, or their grades may decline. Young children may become attached to their parents and worry about everything. Teens who suffer from depression may also want to skip school. They may be extremely sensitive, have a poor self-image, or be eating or sleeping all the time. They may even try using illegal drugs or alcohol, or engage in self-harm, such as cutting their skin, banging their heads against a wall, burning themselves, or pulling out their hair. Older adults may suffer from undiagnosed depression because their symptoms are mistaken for normal signs of aging. They may want to stay home and avoid crowds. They may lose their appetite, have trouble sleeping or remembering, or experience fatigue or pain that is not caused by a medical condition. ##How Doctors Can Help If you think you or a loved one is suffering from depression, see a doctor or mental health professional. They can diagnose your condition and recommend treatments to improve symptoms. The doctor can perform a physical exam and review your medical and family history. They may give you blood tests to rule out medical causes for certain symptoms. For example, thyroid problems can cause fatigue and low mood. They will ask about your symptoms. They may give you a questionnaire to fill out about your sad feelings and thoughts. The following are some common depression diagnostic questionnaires: - Beck Depression Inventory BDI-IA - SDS Self-Rating Depression Scale - Burns Depression Checklist (BDC) - Depression Test Scale PHQ-9 Your doctor or mental health professional can also determine whether you have a specific type of depression Depression, such as melancholia, atypical or seasonal depression. ##You can treat and manage depression with help Depression is treatable. Your doctor can prescribe medication and psychotherapy. They can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further treatment. Don’t try to deal with depression alone, and don’t worry that others will look down on you because of your condition or need for treatment. With treatment, you can control your symptoms of depression. **If you have been diagnosed with depression, please do not be ashamed. **There is no stigma around depression or mental health treatment. Others may not understand that depression is a disease, not just sadness. Being in therapy is all about taking care of yourself. **Don’t tell yourself that you are weak, you should be strong in handling your emotions. ** It’s the person, not your diagnosis, that determines your mood. **Learn more about depression and your symptoms so you can understand them. ** Check out support groups where you can talk to other people suffering from depression.
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