How do you know if you are depressed or not? People often use being sad and being depressed interchangeably. Depression is not just a mere feeling of sadness, the reality of it is much more complex. It is normal to feel sad but remember sadness comes and goes but depression stays for a long time. There are some very evident differences between them.
So if you’re doubting if you’re really depressed or just sad, then these are the depression questions you need to ask yourself.
1) Do you still enjoy the things you liked before?
When you’re sad, you can easily start feeling better if you watch something you like or after pursuing your favorite hobby. However, if you’re depressed, you no longer find interest in things that you used to before.
2) Do you feel sad about a particular event or everything?
Feelings of temporary sadness can often be directed towards a specific reason such as illness or changes in life. On the other hand, if you’re depressed, you can’t really point out one specific reason why you feel a certain way.
3) Have you noticed changes in your eating and sleeping habits?
If you’re upset over something, you will still hold the desire to eat your daily meals or get a decent amount of sleep. If you’re depressed, you start noticing drastic changes in your eating or sleeping habits.
Battling both sadness and depression requires effort. Talk to a loved one or get help by booking an appointment with a doctor. Our mental health counselors are always available to help you.
