Any one of these things is enough to bring on the blues. Face it, life is a roller coaster of emotions. Unfortunately, we all encounter sad emotions at times. It’s perfectly normal to feel down in the dumps during the tough times.
However, there are also times when sadness is unexplained and persistent. Depression is a condition that can affect anyone at any time, and many people may experience a bout of depression once in their lives but never again, while many others will have repeated episodes of depression that require medical intervention to control.
Now the tricky part of depression is that it may be difficult to distinguish from normal everyday sadness or mood swings. A couple of days of feeling blue might not qualify as depression, but then again, it might. Understanding the symptoms of depression may help you determine whether you are simply “in a funk” or suffering from this condition.
10 Signs You Could Be Depressed
When evaluating your experience and trying to determine if what you are experiencing is depression, consider the following symptoms. If you believe you are suffering from these symptoms, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider for guidance on how to treat or manage your condition.
- Feelings, Something More Than Feelings: If you feel sad, empty or anxious for a prolonged period of time, you may be suffering from depression. If your feelings fluctuate or seem to last only for a day at a time with extended periods of relief between episodes, mood swings could be to blame. However, if you have any concerns about your mental health at any time, it never hurts to contact your doctor or therapist to discuss your experiences.