How to Recognize Depression in Yourself

Many times we feel 'down in the dumps' but how do you know if it's more serious than just a bad day? While this can be moderately challenging as you are looking inside of yourself, it's important to do this when you've been feeling 'down in the dumps' for a long time. The sooner you detect depression, the sooner you can get help and live a healthier life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen or Pencil
• Paper
• Quiet Place

1. Find a quiet place. You're about to do some soul-searching so make sure you have the time and quiet area that you'll need.
2. Write down how you've been feeling lately. Try to write down how you felt the past 7 days. It may be hard to remember at first but try to write down as much as you can.
3. Look over your list and ask yourself how long you've been feeling that way. If you've been feeling the same for the past 7 days, or longer, seek help. It could be a situational thing (i.e. you broke up with your boy/girlfriend) or it could be more serious. Either way it's best to get help as soon as you can.
4. If none of this works for you, check out depression websites and see if any of the symptoms/emotions associated with depression relate to you (sometimes it's easier to go through a list and just answer 'yes' or 'no').

Tips & Warnings

• Common emotions associated with depression are: hopelessness, numbness, sadness, despair, guilt, anger, loneliness, low feeling of self-worth, suicidal sadness (this is different from regular sadness as suicidal thoughts accompany this feeling), persistent feeling of 'who cares?', and apathy.
• Other symptoms included: lack of self-confidence; withdrawal from friends, family and life events (i.e. if you used to go to all school related events and now don't); giving away personal items; suicide 'talk' (i.e. no one would care if I wasn't here); poor memory; poor appetite; lack of concern for personal appearance/hygiene; lack of motivation; poor decision making; and cutting or physically hurting oneself.
• Don't try and treat depression on your own. Make sure you get the help you need.
• Don't feel embarrassed or ashamed that you have depression. It is a common mental illness and the only thing you should be concentrating on is getting better.