How Do I Know If I’m Depressed?

Depression isn’t just feeling sad or having a bad day, it’s a heavy, unshakable presence that can make every part of life feel harder. It’s not just in your mind; it can take over your body, your thoughts, and even your sense of hope. Depression often feels like a cloud you can’t escape, leaving you exhausted, empty, and stuck.

Common Signs of Depression:^[1]

A Low Mood That Never Lifts
Feeling sad or down most of the time can leave you disconnected from the things that used to make you happy. It’s not just a passing feeling, it’s a weight that’s always there.

Losing Joy in What Once Brought You Happiness
Hobbies, friendships, and passions may now feel meaningless or draining, making it hard to find motivation or pleasure.

A Body That Feels Tired and Worn Down
Fatigue, trouble sleeping, or changes in appetite can make your body feel as heavy as your emotions.

Constant Self-Criticism
Depression can fill your mind with feelings of worthlessness or guilt, even when there’s no reason to feel that way.

Difficulty Thinking Clearly
Even simple decisions can feel overwhelming, and staying focused might feel impossible.

Dark Thoughts That Won’t Go Away
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide are serious signs that depression is taking a toll.

Seasonal Patterns That Weigh You Down
If your symptoms worsen with seasonal changes, you could be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is linked to reduced sunlight and weather shifts.

Source: Causes and Risk Factors of Depression (verywellmind)

Will Depression Ever Go Away?

While depression might not fully go away for everyone, therapy can help people manage it and lead fulfilling lives with proper treatment. It is helpful to have an understanding of factors causing you to have depressive episodes and make supportive changes in your life. If left untreated, depression can become worse and lead to other health problems.

The impact of depression on health:^[2]

Chronic Health Conditions: Untreated depression can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes.
Increased Risk of Substance Abuse: Many people turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope, which can lead to dependency and worsen overall mental health.
Worsening Mental Health: Depression that isn’t treated can evolve into severe disorders, such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.
Impaired Cognitive Function: Long-term depression can affect memory, decision-making, and cognitive abilities, making daily tasks even more challenging.
Social Isolation: Ongoing depression can push you to withdraw from friends and family, deepening feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Source: Kristen Bell on Living with Depression and Anxiety (Self - Youtube Channel)

Can You Overcome Depression?

Yes, depression is treatable. With therapy, many people find significant relief from their symptoms. Depression counselling helps you understand the root causes of your depression and helps you to manage it effectively. Therapy can guide you toward recovery and help you regain a sense of hope in your life^[3]. You don’t have to face depression alone, help is available, and therapy can make a meaningful difference.

Reaching out can feel intimidating, but it’s an important step toward healing.

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How Does Depression Affect Your Relationships?

Depression doesn’t just weigh on you, it can have an impact on your relationships as well. You may inadvertently create a sense of distance and experience misunderstandings in relationships.

Here’s how it might show up:^{[4, 5]}

Struggling to Communicate: Depression can make it difficult to express how you feel or engage in meaningful conversations. This may lead to misunderstandings and frustration.
Pulling Away Emotionally:You might feel the need to retreat, avoiding closeness to protect yourself from vulnerability. Unfortunately, this can leave others feeling shut out and create a sense of isolation for everyone involved.
Leaning on Loved Ones Too Much: Depression can make you crave constant reassurance or support, which, over time, might feel overwhelming for your partner or friends.
Feelings of Guilt and Helplessness: When those who care about you want to help but don’t know how, it can lead to frustration on their part and guilt on yours, creating tension in the relationship.

While depression can put a strain on your relationships, it’s important to remember that help is available. With support and the right tools, you can rebuild connections and create a stronger foundation with the people who matter most. Couples counselling and family counselling can also be beneficial in addressing some of the causes of depression.

Can Therapy Really Help Me with Depression?

Yes, therapy can help you manage and heal from depression. Each person’s recovery time varies and therapy often requires consistent effort. It is a collaborative process where you and a therapist specializing in depression counselling work together to:^[6]

Identify and understand patterns: You will learn to recognize the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your depression.
Develop coping strategies: You will be offered practical techniques to manage your symptoms and improve your mood.
Address underlying issues: You will explore the root causes of your depression, whether they’re related to past trauma, unresolved emotions, or current life challenges.
Use of tailored approaches: Each client’s treatment plan is customized since individuals may respond differently to various therapies. One of them being Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help shift negative thought patterns. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to improve interpersonal relationships, social experiences, address unresolved grief, and navigate conflict in relationships to help reduce depressive symptoms. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to introduce mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy techniques for improving awareness and practice radical acceptance of thoughts and feelings to reduce the likelihood of relapsing into depressive episodes.