Am I a depressed person?

Everyone feels sadness at times. It's a normal reaction to life's disappointments, problems, and occasional bouts of loneliness. For many people, there may not be a single event that triggered their feelings of sadness.

How do you know when sadness is more than just passing feelings? When is the best time to seek professional help? Depression is a mental health disorder and is currently defined as feeling sad most of the day over a two-week period and/or having a persistent loss of pleasure or interest in activities over a two-week period. There are additional clinical criteria, but this can give you a start to understanding if you are experiencing sadness that will pass or a depressive episode.

If you find yourself thinking, "I think I am depressed," you should know that the signs and symptoms of depression are recognizable and that treatment is available to help you. The key to dealing with depression is to recognize the symptoms, know when to seek professional help, where to find help, and to follow through with the treatment plan.

Why do I feel depressed?

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine also wanted to know why people sometimes feel depressed for long periods of time. They found that at least 10% of people in the United States will go through a major depressive disorder sometime within their lifespan.

They also determined that major depression occurs twice as often in women as in men. Stanford researchers have been able to link the main causes of depression to genetics, physical factors, and psychological factors.

While researchers remain unclear about the exact cause of depression in various individuals and what percentage may be due to genetic factors, they suspect that genetics play a role in major depression in about 40% to 50% of cases.

If you've been diagnosed with depression, there's a fair chance that someone else in your family had depression also. Barring genetic links, there might be a physical cause within your body, or you might be going through an incredibly difficult emotional time.

Regardless of the cause, it's important to seek help so you can begin the appropriate course of treatment as soon as possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Early signs of depression can begin slowly, and without treatment, they may worsen over time. If you have an overwhelming feeling of sadness and your sadness is causing physical symptoms, you should seek help from a professional. If depression lasts for more than two weeks, that's another sign to seek professional help.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to see if you are experiencing any symptoms of depression.

• Are you having trouble concentrating? 
• Do you keep forgetting the details of things? 
• Do you struggle with decision-making? 
• Do you have trouble sleeping and you're tired all the time? 
• Do you have constant feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, pessimism, or hopelessness? 
• Are you restless and irritable? 
• Are you overeating or undereating? 
• Do you have physical symptoms that won't go away even after treatment? 
• Do you just feel blank, like a black cloud is continually hanging over your head? 
• Have you lost interest in things you once enjoyed? 
• Have you thought about suicide or made an attempt to end your life?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions may be a sign to seek support.

Why is depression so common?

Chances are pretty good that even though you've been to an infinite number of family gatherings, you don't recall any of the seniors of the family talking about depression or mental health challenges. That's probably not because it didn't exist back then, nor was it because it wasn't as common as it is today.

The most reasonable explanation for why depression is so much more commonly discussed today is because we now understand it better, so are able to identify it more consistently. In the past, many people didn't know what depression was, let alone what to call it. Even if they were familiar with it, they didn't get treatment for it because it simply wasn't available back then.

The answer to the question, "Why are so many people depressed?" may be nothing more than the fact that we now accept depression as a medical condition, which encourages us to understand it better, and to talk about it more freely.

When to seek help for depression

First, if you or someone you know is depressed and having thoughts of harming themselves or others, they need professional crisis help now. Don't delay! Call your local suicide hotline or go the nearest emergency room right away.

Other than a person in crisis who absolutely needs help right away, there is no exact answer for when to seek help. You can seek help as soon as you are ready, which tends to be a prerequisite for benefitting most. You don't have to suffer for any certain period of time. You just need to be ready to seek help and talk to someone. If depressive symptoms are causing problems with your relationships, work, friends, or family, a licensed counselor can help.

Having symptoms of depression doesn't mean that you have depression, and you don't have to have clinical depression to benefit from treatment. You could be going through a really difficult time and talking to a counselor could make a positive impact. If you want to give it some time, seek help if your symptoms don't get better within a few weeks, especially if you are having changes in your sleep, energy, appetite, focus, and motivation. Even if you don't receive a formal diagnosis of depression, early treatment can help prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

The journey of seeking professional help

You have several options for seeking professional help for depression. Some people start with a counselor and some start with their primary care physician. There is no single test for depression; however, there are ways that doctors and counselors can screen for depression. Usually, they start with a physical and mental health history and a depression screening. A doctor may run tests for other medical conditions that could cause symptoms of depression.

Both a doctor and a counselor will likely ask you many questions. They will want to know what your symptoms are, when they started, how severe they are, and how long they tend to last. Since depression is often genetic, they may want to know if anyone in your family has had depression or other types of mental illnesses. They will probably also ask if you've had similar symptoms in the past, how they were treated, and whether the treatment was successful. People living with depression sometimes try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol so you may be asked about that as well.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

After the assessment—whether you see a doctor or a counselor—you should be given a treatment plan. A treatment plan is what it sounds like, a plan for effective intervention. This could include taking an anti-depressant, how often you will have therapy sessions, and specific things you will address while in therapy. A counselor should provide you with coping skills and exercises that will help alleviate your depression. Some people only see a doctor and some only a counselor—many do both. It's your choice. Many doctors recommend talk therapy, and many counselors recommend a visit to your doctor.

What happens if depression goes untreated?

If you choose to delay getting professional help for depression, symptoms could worsen. Symptoms could last for months or years and cause deep emotional pain. Some people may report they get better on their own, but treatment is the recommended practice for someone experiencing depression.

It's especially important for people who are having thoughts or discussions about suicide to get immediate help from a crisis suicide counselor or a first responder. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, do not wait. It is imperative that you reach out immediately.

Seeking treatment as soon as you are ready and willing to make some changes will likely mean that your depressive episode will be shorter in length and severity.

Online counseling

Not everyone who is feeling depressed can make it to traditional face-to-face appointments. This may be due to a busy schedule or living in a rural area. The good news is you no longer have to go to a physical office to get counseling. With BetterHelp, you can get started with a licensed professional counselor anywhere that you have an internet connection and a smart phone, tablet, or computer. You will be matched with a qualified counselor who can help you work through your depression, whether it is a depressive episode or adjusting and coping with something that is creating feelings associated with depression. 

Additionally, you don’t have to worry about compromising on quality of care for the convenience of online therapy. Research has found that online therapy is just as effective as its traditional in-person counterpart in the treatment of depression. A 2020 review of available details found that online therapy was effective in reducing symptom severity in patients with depression at a comparable rate to traditional therapy, offering long-term results that improved quality of life.

Don't wait—reach out and get matched with a counselor today!