Depression

Common Symptoms of Depression:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

So maybe you aren’t sure how serious your depression is, you just know that you aren’t feeling the way you should. What should you do?

It’s easy to keep your feelings buried deep inside and just hope they go away. But it’s important for you to talk to an adult you trust. Explain what’s going on, and ask if they’ve noticed some of the same symptoms in you lately. Often just talking about your feelings and sorting out how to handle your stress helps a lot.

Sometimes talking isn’t enough. If that’s the case, a visit with your family doctor can initiate an in-depth talk about what is going on. They will review your symptoms and evaluate the impact these feelings are having on your day-to-day activities. A clinical diagnosis of depression could be determined by a doctor or psychiatrist if you have experienced these symptoms consistently for an extended period of time.

No matter if it is depressed feelings or clinical depression, there is hope and healing. Open up about how you’re feeling so you can get the help you need to feel better again.