If you are wondering about your mental health or if you could have depression, you might wonder what depression actually feels like. Maybe you feel like you are depressed, or someone recently told you that you seem depressed. It’s crucial to understand what depression is and isn’t and that if you think you could have depression, you seek appropriate treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
A common misconception about depression is that it’s similar to feeling down or sad. While many individuals with depression experience sadness, depression frequently feels much more significant than emotions that come and go in response to life events or whether you are in a good mood.
Symptoms of depression may last months or years, making it difficult, if not impossible, to carry on with daily life and maintain normal healthy relationships. Depression has the capacity to disrupt careers, relationships, and even simple daily tasks, such as housework and self-care.
Typically, symptoms of depression must last a minimum of two weeks for mental health professionals or doctors to consider a patient depressed.
For some, depression can feel like:
- Life lacks joy or pleasure — for example, someone with depression may not enjoy things they once did and feel like nothing will ever make them happy or satisfied again.
- It’s difficult to focus or concentrate — Making decisions, reading, or watching television can seem exhausting to people with depression as they may be unable to think clearly or follow what happens.
- Everything is hopeless — People might think that it’s impossible to feel good or happy again or that nothing good will ever happen to them again.
- Little or no self-esteem — those experiencing depression may feel worthless or a failure at everything. Some tend to dwell on negative events and experiences and are unable to identify positive qualities in themselves.
- Difficulty sleeping — Falling asleep at bedtime or staying asleep all night might feel almost impossible for someone with depression. They might wake up early and not be able to go back to sleep. Others may sleep excessively but still wake up feeling tired or unrested, even though they’ve had extra hours of sleep.
- Low or nonexistent energy levels — some individuals have difficulty getting out of bed or simply feel exhausted all the time, even when they get enough sleep. Some feel too tired to perform simple, daily tasks.
- Little or no appetite — Sometimes, people with depression feel like they don’t want to eat anything and must force themselves to eat, resulting in unintended weight loss.
- Cravings for comfort foods — While some don’t want to eat, others find solace in consuming foods they particularly enjoy. Unfortunately, they tend to overeat, craving comfort foods, which can lead to unintended weight gain.
- Physical aches and pains — Some have frequent or extreme headaches, nausea, body aches, or other pains with depression.
Do You Feel Depressed? Contact the Mental Health Professionals at South County Psychiatry Today
Many people mistakenly believe that being depressed is a choice or that they simply need to muster up a positive attitude. Yet, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Depression is a genuine mental illness. Unlike typical worry or sadness that all people experience from time to time, depression can feel all-consuming and hopeless.
At South County Psychiatry, we can help you work through depression with many options for treatment. To schedule a confidential consultation, contact us today.