Do I have depression?

If you’ve had low moods for a while, you’re probably wondering whether you’re becoming depressed. It’s true that everybody feels low sometimes, and often it’s just a normal, healthy part of life to have emotional ups and downs. However, if you end up feeling down, gloomy and depressed for a prolonged period of time, you could already be suffering from depression. The following text describes just some of the common signs of depression.

If you aren’t sure your moods are really bad, it’s always useful to see your doctor for their medical opinion. An early diagnosis will also give you the chance to receive proper treatment that prevents your condition from getting worse. Your doctor can also work out if your low mood might be a symptom of another underlying medical disorder.

You may be suffering from depression if the things that you usually enjoy no longer bringing you pleasure. It could also be a sign of depression when you find yourself cut off from people, feeling that you don’t want to engage socially with others. When you’re feeling down, other people can sometimes be so irritating can’t they?

Another sign that you might be depressed is being tired all the time, to the extent that even the smallest of tasks already seem like so much hard work. This kind of tiredness might be connected with having a hard time when trying to fall asleep. If you don’t sleep well at night you may want to oversleep in the morning, putting you out of your normal rhythm. This can lead to not wanting to get up in the morning because you haven’t got the energy to face the day.

If you are depressed, you might feel like you are stuck in a mental mode where you are obsessing about things that make you unhappy. Despite the negativity it brings, you just can’t seem to think about anything else. This makes you even sadder and down.

Another sign is when you find yourself tearful even at the slightest problem. It's common for depressed people to cry for long periods of time. There may even be moments when you find yourself crying without a particular reason. If you're experiencing a general overwhelming feeling of hopelessness your ability to cope with things will be diminished.

If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms of depression, it is important to know that there’s nothing to be ashamed of in acknowledging that you are suffering from depression. This is not a sign of weakness, but rather a mental condition that needs to be treated. What matters is that you're acknowledging it and taking responsibility for doing something towards getting yourself to feel better. It can be a good idea to educate yourself about ways you can use in overcoming depression and low mood. Making small steps to improve your mood will enhance your life, whether or not you're depressed or feeling less than happy with life.

Original article: Do I have depression?.