How do I Know if I am Depressed?
While it is common for us all to experience low points in our lives and to feel sad and moody at times, our low mood and sadness will pass and we again enjoy and appreciate our lives – our personal and family relationships, our friendships, and our careers and working lives. Life is mostly good.
Problems arise when our low mood and sadness do not pass and it begins to interfere with our capacity to relate to those around us and to function well in our lives. If feelings of sadness, emptiness or despair do not subside and persist over long periods of time then we may meet the criteria for a diagnosis of Clinical Depression.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?
- Persistent feelings of low mood and sadness
- Feelings of despair, hopelessness and worthlessness
- Feeling teary with difficulty controlling emotions
- Anxiety or feelings of panic
- Irritability or anger
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Memory lapses or indecisiveness
- Loss of motivation
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Loss or change of appetite
- Insomnia (inability to sleep)
- Loss of libido
It is not uncommon for some people to have suffered for years from mild to moderate or clinical depression without it ever being diagnosed. Such underlying depression may have resulted from our childhood and family experiences. At other times significant events such as separation and divorce, serious illness, losing our job, the loss of an important friendship, or the death of a loved one can trigger depression.
Mild to Moderate and Clinical Depression can be very well treated with counselling and psychotherapy or appropriate anti-depressant medication or a combination of both. Sometimes people feel concerned about taking anti-depressant medication but in my clinical experience it can have an uplifting impact in conjunction with good psychotherapy reducing the debilitating effects of depression on our psyche, our body and our nervous system.
If you would like more information or would like to make an appointment, please contact Diana.