How Do You Know If You Have Depression?

Depression affects all ages, genders, and ethnicities, without discrimination. According to Mental Health America, “Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 8% (21 million) of American adults each year and 15% of youth (3.7 million) ages 12-17 are affected by major depression”. 

There are many factors that may increase your risk for depression to include; genetics,  medical conditions, personality characteristics, environment, life events, life experiences and even medications. Everyone is different and experiences depression slightly differently. It is important to figure out what is contributing to your symptoms of depression. Since most of these factors are beyond your control, it is clear that depression isn’t something you could have prevented or should be embarrassed of.

Your genetic makeup and biological constitution dictate your cellular processes. You don’t have the power to control or influence them. It is your body; you can’t trade it for another, but you can do your best to keep it healthy. The key is to know what makes you more susceptible to depression and what the symptoms are, so you can seek professional help promptly when needed.

Depressive Symptoms: Are You Depressed?

Sadness and loneliness are natural responses to some life circumstances. However, if your sadness becomes persistent and intense leaving you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, don’t ignore it. You deserve to feel better and help is available.

If you have depression, Mental Health America says you may experience several of the following symptoms:

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Middle of the night or early morning waking
  • Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
  • Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as chronic pain or digestive disorders)
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless
  • Thoughts of suicide or death

These symptoms can also be experienced by people without depression. Further, while these are the most common, the type and intensity of symptoms can vary from one person to another. This can make recognizing depression on your own difficult, particularly among children.

Finding Help for Depression

Depression is treatable. Therapy can be an effective intervention to help you find remission and improve the quality of your life. Depression can be overwhelming, you aren’t alone. 

Carolina Counseling Services in Sanford contracts with skilled, licensed therapists who know how to treat depression. Finding the therapist that is right for you is made easy by our kind and caring Scheduling Team. Call today to schedule your first appointment. Online counseling sessions are available, making getting the care you deserve easier than ever before.