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How do I know if I am depressed or just having some down days? You can
go to the depression checklist to rate your symptoms.
Here is a more detailed explanation of some of the symptoms to help you
decide.
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood - The keyword here
is persistent. We all have down days, but when the days turn into weeks
despite efforts to turn things around and when this down mood is combined
with other symptoms then there is cause for concern.
- Sleeping too little or too much - When you wake up tired despite getting
enough sleep, in hours, or when you have trouble going to sleep or staying
asleep, or early morning awakenings, then it might be depression.
- Changes in weight or appetite - weight that either increases or decreases
by 10% or more or appetite changes (either an increase or a decrease)
could be a sign of depressed mood.
- Loss of pleasure or interest in activities - withdrawing from people
and social events, neglecting a garden or hobby, just feeling “blah”
or “don’t care” can be danger signs.
- Feeling restless or irritable - whether is starts looking like PMS
or just being “crabby”, if it isn’t typical for you to
feel this way for a prolonged period, it is time to check it out with
a trusted friend or professional.
- Persistent physical symptoms that don't respond to treatment -pain
in the neck, shoulders, back, or legs that just isn’t going away
is often related to stress or depression.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions - have you
been sitting at your desk and realize that time has past and you haven’t
completed a task that might have ordinarily taken very little time?
Have you been procrastinating more lately? Perhaps you have forgotten
important dates or appointments. Depression could be affecting your
performance.
- Fatigue or loss of energy - feeling tired even after a good night’s
sleep, running out of energy even when the task is not physically or
mentally challenging
- Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless - This can be the most difficult
symptom to identify. Often, we tend to find explanations for these feelings
that seem reasonable to us but not to others. If other people in your
life are encouraging you to get help, listen to them. You don’t
have to continue to feel these feelings. There is always hope!
- Thoughts of suicide or death - Even if you know that you would not
actually kill yourself, it is important to talk with someone about the
thoughts. If the thoughts are getting strong enough that you are thinking
about a plan, it is most likely clinical depression. It is treatable
and can be overcome. You don’t have to continue to feel these strong
feelings. There is always hope!
This checklist is intended only for the purpose of identifying symptoms
of depression, and is not designed to provide a diagnosis or treatment.
Only a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional can make a diagnosis
or determine a treatment plan.
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There is Hope!
Call today for more information
or to schedule an appointment
Contact Priscilla at 321.356.5115. |
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Two locations in the
Orlando area to serve you! |
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