Single Post

Everyone can get the blues — especially when you’re facing tough times. It’s a normal part of life. Stress, the loss of a loved one, divorce, and financial trouble can all play a role in contributing to depression. However, depression that persists longer than two weeks and that negatively affects your daily life is a more serious condition that requires extra help to overcome.

But how do you know if your sadness is depression? Because it can be difficult to assess, we have assembled some of the most common symptoms of depression. You may or may not experience all of these symptoms, but if you are concerned, it’s best to seek help.

You’re not yourself.

When you’re depressed, you may feel empty or apathetic. You may not care about the things that you once enjoyed, and you may isolate yourself from family and friends. If you’ve noticed a change in your personality — or you just don’t feel like you — there is help. You don’t have to spend every day feeling like a shell of the person you once were.

You’re angry or irritable.

Depression can often be disguised as other feelings. Especially in men, depression can come across as anger or anxiety. Although it is common in men, women can feel this way, too. You may be extra sensitive, especially to rejection or criticism, and that may cause you to lash out. All of these are very common symptoms of individuals who are experiencing depression.

You feel hopeless, unworthy, and/or guilty.

You may find that you feel like nothing you do is ever good enough — and feel extreme guilt when you make a simple mistake. If you feel like there’s no way you’re going to feel better and that nothing can be done to pull you out of your sadness, you’re likely depressed. The good news is that you can beat depression with the right tools. Seek help if you’re feeling hopeless.

You’re sleeping a lot — or not sleeping at all.

Major depression can affect the way you sleep. Many people may find themselves sleeping for extraordinarily long periods of time without ever feeling refreshed. Or, you may wake up very early in the morning, unable to go back to sleep. You may have insomnia. Depression is not only mentally taxing, but it takes a physical toll as well. If you find that you’re feeling tired all the time and not getting a normal night’s rest, you may be depressed.

Overall, depression is a complicated condition, and it’s not always easy to pinpoint why it occurs. The reality is that depression affects roughly 14.8 million Americans. It can arise from a traumatic event, hormonal or biochemical imbalance, or it can even be inherited. You are certainly not alone if you are experiencing the symptoms above. If you or a loved one are showing signs of the above symptoms, it’s time to take a step forward towards getting some relief. We can help.