Are You Really Depressed Or Just Having a Bad Day?

My friend and I were chatting one day, when she tells me all of the things that were bothering her, ending with “I think I’m depressed”. Now, we’ve all said this at one point or another, and meant it as a joke; but I could tell by the despair in her voice, that she was dead serious. She wasn’t just having a really bad week, or a rough time, but seemed instead to be clinically depressed. And because it is so typically a joking matter, she thought what she was going through was a joke too, and didn’t think it was serious enough to seek help. But I watched her get worse and worse, until her only option was to seek aggressive professional help, and felt terrible that it wasn’t taken more seriously in the beginning. So, to prevent someone else from going through the same thing, I researched the red flags of depression for those who are having a hard time differentiating between a simple bad day, and the real thing: the sooner you realize it, the sooner you can get help. According to helpguide.org, if you identify with any of following signs, it’s time to seek help:

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.

Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.

Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.

Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.

Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.

Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.

Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.

Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.

Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

If support from the people who love you most, positive lifestyle changes and coping skills aren’t enough to get you through depression, it may be time to seek help from a mental health professional. They can provide various forms of treatment, be it medicinal, or therapeutic, depending on your needs.