What depression feels like?

It’s normal to experience periods of low mood or sadness as a response to events throughout life, but persistent feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or worthlessness may indicate a bigger issue. Depression is a very commonly diagnosed mental health condition.

Depression is a mood disorder with a range of severities that may impact how you feel, think, and how well you function in daily life. Depression will be different for each person, but some of the common impacts are:

• Concentration or focus becomes challenging, which makes daily decision-making difficult. Some people describe this as feeling as if they’re in a fog.
• Loss of joy in activities that were once enjoyed is reported. Sometimes it can feel as though the joy once experienced will never return.
• Sleep difficulties tend to manifest as trouble staying asleep or falling asleep. This contributes to feeling too exhausted to do things, and the low energy can make it hard to get out of bed or perform once simple activities like eating or getting dressed.
• Aches and pains with no physical cause are reported. Body aches, headaches, muscle pain or tension, and stomach upset may occur.

There are several types of depression, each with different guidelines for the duration, severity, and grouping of symptoms. Clinicians and doctors use family history, an interview, and diagnostic criteria to help determine what sort of depression you may be experiencing. Understanding exactly what your symptoms help medical and mental health professionals tailor your treatment to fit your needs.

Other commonly reported depression symptoms include:

• Sadness
• Loss of interest in things
• Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt
• Irritability
• Disturbed sleep
• Appetite changes
• Low energy
• Trouble concentrating
• Isolation
• Thoughts of death or suicide

If you are thinking about suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to support a crisis counselor. If you’re in immediate danger, visit your local emergency room or call 911.

Depression is a serious issue. Although severity may vary, the symptoms above generally describe what those with depression may experience. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms noted, visit your medical doctor or licensed mental health professional to get started on the path to treatment.