
How To Tell When You Are Depressed – If you think you may be depressed, first you need to understand the signs and symptoms to look out for.
The page has been medically reviewed by Dr Natasha Bijlani (FRCPsych, MBBS), Consultant Psychiatrist based at Priory Hospital Roehampton London in October 2021.
How To Tell When You Are Depressed
Feelings of unhappiness and despair are a normal part of everyone’s life. It’s natural to feel sad or helpless from time to time in response to life’s daily challenges. However, when these feelings start to become overwhelming, to the extent that they seriously affect your life, you may suffer from depression. It is estimated that more than 280 million people worldwide have depression.
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People experience depression in many different ways. Signs and symptoms will vary from person to person, as will the occurrence of each of these symptoms. This makes it difficult to suggest some “early” signs of depression. However, there are some common signs of depression that you can look out for if you or someone you know thinks they are struggling with depression.
If you experience any of the above signs of depression, it does not mean that you are clinically depressed. It’s normal to experience low mood, sadness, and other similar emotions throughout life, and these symptoms may be a sign of these experiences rather than depression.
The symptoms of depression can vary greatly from person to person, as can the severity of those symptoms. For those who suffer from depression, it is likely that your symptoms will affect your daily activities, work, social and/or family life.
Listed below are symptoms of how you may feel if you are struggling with depression, and how your body may respond to depression.
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If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression, you may feel like you no longer enjoy anything, even things you used to enjoy, and you may find it hard to motivate yourself to do anything.
If you have had suicidal thoughts or know someone who has, you should seek help immediately. Contact a suicide helpline such as Samaritans, ask for an urgent GP appointment or go straight to your nearest hospital’s A&E department. For more information, visit our crisis support page.
In some cases, depression can also lead to physical symptoms, such as chronic pain or gastrointestinal problems. If you experience any of these symptoms or are concerned about your mental health, it is important to seek professional help. With the right treatment and support, it is possible to manage depression and improve your quality of life.
If you are depressed, your mood is likely to be unstable, fluctuating from day to day. Some days you may find it easier to manage your emotions and overcome the challenges you face. You may feel more positive and optimistic, and find it easier to push difficult feelings aside. You may not feel sad or hopeless (a major symptom of depression) and instead feel more in control of your thoughts and feelings.
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There will also be days when you feel incredibly low and depressed. The symptoms you experience may feel more noticeable and you may feel that the days ahead are going to be very difficult. Some days you may feel irritable and have outbursts of anger, other days you may be very overwhelmed and tearful.
Everyone who has depression experiences it differently, but they all have highs and lows. Sometimes you may feel stuck in a never-ending cycle, but other days you may experience moments of positivity and happiness.
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Certain circumstances in your life can make you more vulnerable to depression. It is rarely the only cause, but such life events can combine with other factors to cause depression;
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However, your age, gender, and other circumstances in your life can affect your likelihood of suffering from a type of depression, whether it’s dysthymia, bipolar depression, or clinical depression. It can also affect the types of symptoms you have.
Statistically speaking, depression is more common in women than in men. One large-scale survey published in the journal Psychological Bulletin found that women and girls are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men.
Although depression is less common in men than women, it should also be noted that men are less likely to talk openly about their feelings, dampening their feelings and increasing the likelihood of further problems. In fact, while 77% of men admitted to having suffered from depression, anxiety or stress in their lives, 40% said they had not shared their feelings with anyone.
Depression can be a reality no matter what your age, but statistics show that 7% of people over 60 suffer from it, which is more than those under 60. In general, the older you get, the more likely you are to experience the physical. effects of depression, such as fatigue and unexplained pain.
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Unfortunately, depression also affects a number of children and adolescents. If you are concerned that your child or teen is suffering from depression, pay attention to changes in behavior at home or at school. Signs and symptoms may include:
Regardless of your gender, age, or life circumstances, know that depression is a treatable condition, and help is not only available, it’s what you deserve to get your life back on track.
If you feel that the symptoms described above are having a detrimental effect on your life, it may be time to seek professional help. The first place is your primary doctor, who can give you professional advice and diagnosis.
To make a diagnosis of depression, your doctor will assess your mental state and look for specific symptoms. In
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, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria used to diagnose depression, clinicians should look for two “core” symptoms:
Doctors doing the evaluation will try to see if one or both of these symptoms have been present for at least two weeks.
Alternatively, you can seek treatment for depression here at the Priory, where we can work with you to develop a recovery plan to suit your needs and circumstances. We offer intensive inpatient stays, weekly therapy sessions that fit around your life and work commitments, and online therapy that allows you to recover from the comfort of your own home.
Depression is a mental illness, not a sign of weakness. You can make a full and long-lasting recovery. Get the support you need today by contacting us and talking to one of our highly trained mental health professionals about the challenges you’re experiencing.
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“People shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. So many people stay at home and shut themselves up. I think it’s the wrong move.”
For details of how the Priory can provide you with mental health and wellbeing support, please call 0330 056 6020 or make an enquiry. For professionals interested in referrals, please click here. This page has been clinically reviewed by Olivia Dornan (BA, BACP) Integrative Therapist and Therapy Services Manager at Priory Hospital Barnt Green.
Sadness is a normal human emotion that we all experience from time to time, while depression is a longer-term mental health disorder that can have a negative impact on many aspects of your life.
Recognizing the similarities and differences between sadness and depression can help us better understand our overall well-being. It can also help us recognize the level and type of support we need for our overall mental health.
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Sadness is a daily feeling that every person will experience in their life. You will generally feel tearful, upset and low spirits.
Feeling sad usually has a direct trigger that you will probably be able to identify. Sad life events are a common cause. This could be anything from failing an exam, losing a job, ending a relationship or losing a loved one.
In general, feelings of sadness will diminish, especially if those negative triggers are reversed or some time has passed since the event.
Depression is a mental health disorder that can have an overwhelming effect on your ability to enjoy life and function normally. It causes persistent feelings of sadness for many weeks and months. Depression statistics show that more than 250 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
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The causes of depression and sadness can often overlap. Traumatic or negative life events can lead to a diagnosed mental health condition such as depression, but for some people it can cause feelings of sadness over time.
Depression has many other causes as well. Your genetics, personality traits, and childhood experiences can all play a role in the development of depression.
Many people with depression require professional support and treatment to see an improvement in their mood. Treatment for depression includes talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressant medication.
Feeling sad in the moment is a disturbing and all-encompassing experience. You may think you are depressed and it won’t get better. These emotions should be taken seriously, but there are some key differences that may suggest that you are feeling sad, rather than depressed:
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Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and anxiety-like emotions that will be almost constant for days and weeks.
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