Here are 10 questions to ask yourself to help determine if your sadness could be depression. If you have any concern about your mental health, always check with a professional.
- Do you have unexpected, intense sadness that lasts longer than a few days at a time? Unless a major life change, such as an illness, divorce, or loss of job has occurred, long-lasting sadness is a sign that you need to see a professional for evaluation.
- Are you experiencing thoughts of suicide? If you are imagining that the world would be a better place without you, or if you think the only way you’ll every be happy is to end your life, you need to seek help immediately. Call 911 or go to your ER.
- Are you fatigued or lacking in energy? People who are depressed often feel drained for days or weeks at a time. They may be unable to get out of bed or go to work.
- Do you have feelings of hopelessness? Believing that your life will never improve or get better, or that you’re stuck in a situation you can’t control, can be a sign of depression.
- Are you using alcohol or drugs to manage your mood? People who are depressed will often use alcohol or drugs to try and manage their feelings of sadness.
- Have your eating patterns changed? Some people engage in overeating, while others have a hard time consuming food and lose weight.
- Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy? Going out with friends, attending sporting events, exercising, and sexual activity are all things that often stop when a person experiences depression.
- Do you feel worthless or guilty? Depression can cause people to experience guilty feelings when they have done nothing wrong.
- Are you losing your temper or fighting more than you used to? For some people, their sadness or depression comes out as anger. Teens may get into fights at school; adults may argue or scream at their spouses.
- Are you becoming more irritable? Like anger or hostility, increasing irritability can be a sign of depression.
The above questions are not a way to diagnose depression. Their purpose is to help you determine if you should seek help. Only a medical professional can determine if the sadness you’re experiencing is depression. If you’re in doubt, see your doctor. Depression is a serious illness, but it can be treated.
Is it Sadness or Depression? 10 Questions to Ask Yourself | Sorting Out Your Life.
I’m just concerned that the number listed for an emergency is 911 rather than 000 or (m 112).
Regards.
Hi Meg – if anyone dials 911 in Australia it automatically connects to 000 but I understand your concern. Regards
Scary insight to how to determine if you may well be depressed… also the fine line between being sad and depressed…
When you think about it a lot of Young People use alcohol/drugs these days to change their moods whether it be from bad to good or their attempt to get from good to even better.
Consequently the other indicators will begin to appear as a pattern in their day to day lives, especially when their primary use of alcohol/drugs is to get from a bad to good mood.
I think children and young people today need to be taught about the impacts Drugs and Alcohol will not provide relief from sadness or grief, but if they choose to use alcohol/drugs as a way to deal with the sadness /depression it will only cause not only their physical health but also their mental health to deteriorate!!