How do you know?

How do you know you’re depressed?

Not certain people in general know how to tell the difference between depression and sadness. It’s fairly simple: sadness doesn't last and people can fairly quickly recover from it. Depression is much deeper, lasts longer, and is more detrimental to one’s health and well-being.

To help with this, here’s a list I have compiled from a lot of reading, making notes, and reviewing numerous checklists, inventories, and observations of depression. These type of tools are often used in counseling or clinical settings to evaluate the level of depression a person is experiencing to better guide treatment.

Please know that depression is not a given, nor is it diagnosed, if you have “ever” felt or thought these things. Pretty much everyone has at one point or another. The diagnosis of depression is based on the level of intensity and frequency these thoughts and feelings are part of daily life. One could say the mind of a person with depression is constantly bombarded and cluttered with sad or negative thoughts, none of which are easily dismissed.

These are not listed in any particular order.

• Persistently sad, anxious or feelings of emptiness.
• Feelings of helplessness about the future.
• Restlessness, agitation, or irritable all the time.
• Pessimistic and hopeless - don’t expect things to work out.
• Worthlessness or feelings of failure as a person.
• Low self-esteem and very self-critical.
• Loss of interest or pleasure in things, people or activities once enjoyed.
• Thoughts about or wishes of hurting yourself, death or suicide.
• Cry all the time - or have reached the point where you just can’t cry, even though you want to.
• Indecisive and struggle making decisions anymore.
• Feelings of the brain being in a fog or disorganized all the time.
• Difficulties concentrating, thinking straight, or focusing on anything for very long.
• Appetite and/or weight has changed.
• Changes in sleeping patterns. Sleeping less (insomnia), or sleeping a lot more than usual.
• Tiredness, fatigue, or decreased energy. Unable to do even simple tasks like you used to, so start procrastinating.
• Body actions feel slowed down - speech, walk, and movements.
• Lack of caring about most things - including appearance or living conditions.
• Feelings you are being punished for something you have done.
• Disappointment, dislike, even hatred of self.
• Socially withdrawn and/or isolated. Feeling “unplugged” and experience inordinate difficulty making small talk.
• Family history of depression.