Am I Suffereing From Depression? Have You Asked Yourself This Recently?

Have you ever asked the question “Am I suffering from depression?” The mere fact that you have asked this question is not a reason to get a prescription for an antidepressant. There are symptoms to consider first.

These are some of the symptoms of depression… poor sleep, too much sleep, feeling tired, irritable, unexplained sadness, a severe lack of motivation and not the occasional feeling of laziness everyone suffers, and a feeling of hopelessness. You will only be considered to have depression when you have one or more of these symptoms consistently for two weeks or more.

The problem lies in the simple fact that people feel depressed from time to time. However, clinical depression is persistent. Others may tell you to snap out of it but when you are truly in a depressive state, it is impossible.

Am I suffering from depression or am I going through a rough patch? Life changing events and tragedies like a death in the family or a divorce can spiral you into a dark pit of dread and gloom. There is good reason for the emotions and feelings of dread. When those emotions become all encompassing, then you may want to seek help.

Basically, you have to ask yourself if your state of mind is interfering with your ability to function normally. Am I able to complete tasks as usual in spite of my current dreary outlook? Am I unable to maintain healthy relationships with coworkers, friends and family because of my mood? Am I suffering from depression really?

These questions are never easy to answer, especially when you are in the emotional throws of a life changing event. Talking to a professional is a good idea but remember to try and stay objective rather than letting your dreary feelings get in the way of a real diagnosis.

If you would like to find out how to manage your depression effectively without medication and all its nasty side effects visit the Self Help Books Store for more details.