Depression

How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing Depression?

Everyone experiences seasons of sadness, discouragement, or stress. However, depression is more than a difficult day or temporary sadness. Depression can affect your emotions, thoughts, physical health, relationships, and daily functioning. A person experiencing depression may notice several of the following symptoms occurring most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. If you recognize several of these signs in your own life, counseling can provide support, understanding, and practical steps toward healing.

1) Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
You may feel down, discouraged, empty, or like things will not get better. These feelings may remain even when circumstances seem like they should improve.

2) Loss of interest or enjoyment
Activities, hobbies, relationships, or experiences that once brought joy may no longer feel meaningful or enjoyable. You may find yourself withdrawing from things you used to value.

3) Significant changes in sleep
Depression can affect your sleep patterns. You may experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early, or sleeping much more than usual.

4) Changes in appetite or weight
Some people experiencing depression notice a decreased appetite and weight loss, while others may eat more than usual or experience weight gain.

5) Low energy or increased fatigue
Even normal daily tasks may feel exhausting. You may feel physically drained, unmotivated, or like you are constantly running on empty.

6) Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Depression can make it harder to focus, remember things, complete tasks, or make decisions that normally feel manageable.

7) Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
You may experience harsh self-criticism, feelings of failure, shame, or guilt that seem overwhelming or disconnected from the situation.

8) Feeling slowed down or unusually restless
Some people experience moving, speaking, or thinking more slowly, while others feel restless, agitated, or unable to settle down.

9) Thoughts of death, hopelessness, or not wanting to continue
Some people experiencing depression may have thoughts about death, feeling that life is not worth living, or wanting to escape their pain. If you are experiencing these thoughts, support is available, and reaching out is an important step.

Depression can make you feel isolated, exhausted, and disconnected from the things that once mattered most. The good news is that depression is treatable. Through counseling, you can better understand what is happening, develop healthy coping strategies, process underlying struggles, and begin moving toward hope and healing.