Do you think you may be struggling with depression? There are certain signs and symptoms of depression that can help individuals better identify if they’re living with depression. While depression is typically thought of as being sad, depressive disorders are more than just feeling sad. Symptoms of depression can be devastating and debilitate normal life, making it hard for a person to do their daily tasks and take on responsibilities, including taking care of themselves. A better understanding of what depression is and the symptoms of depressive disorders can help people living with depression identify whether or not they could benefit from treatment.

Some Signs of Depression to Look Out For

Depression may feel different from person to person. But, identifying some of the signs of depression in people who are diagnosed can help people who are living with depressive disorders better understand if they may be living with depression themselves. Some people experience symptoms of depression such as:

• feeling hopeless about life
• experiencing exhaustion and fatigue on a daily basis
• losing appetite or binge eating
• falling short of taking care of one’s hygiene
• diminishing self-confidence
• having difficulty concentrating
• experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, etc.
• not getting enough sleep due to sleep disorders or sleeping too much
• apathy about things once enjoyed

Is Depression a Choice or is it Something That Can be Controlled?

Depression is a mental health issue that may be the result of depressive disorders. It is not a state of mind that a person can just snap out of or “choose happiness” instead. Depression is often the result of non-functioning areas of the brain that are not releasing essential mood-stabilizing chemicals. So, the myth that depression is a choice or something that is controllable by a mindset is completely false. People who are living with depression must know that it is not their fault, but there are things that can be done to aid in the process of healing such as identifying causes of depression, triggers of depressive disorders, learning new coping skills, psychiatric treatments, and holistic methods.

Are There Specific Causes of Depression?

Some people may be at a higher risk of developing depressive disorders. While there is no one singular cause of depression, there are some things that can lead to the development of depressive disorders. Some of the risk factors and causes of depression include:

• having family members that also have depression
• being diagnosed with physical injury or illness
• abusing addictive substances
• traumatic events
• using specific medications

When do I Know It’s Time to Get Help for Depression?

If you think you are living with depression, you may not think it’s bad enough to get help. In fact, many people living with depression never get professional help because they are simply used to living with symptoms of depression or think that they can manage symptoms of depression on their own. However, there does come a point when a person living with depression should get help. You should consider reaching out for help with depression if:

• you are having thoughts of suicide
• you’ve acted on thoughts of suicide by self-harming
• you are using addictive substances to cope with symptoms of depression
• symptoms of depression are keeping you from enjoying your life, taking care of responsibilities, or taking care of yourself

Getting Help for Depression – What to Expect

When you reach out to professional mental health specialists about getting help for depression, there are a few things you can expect. Firstly, you’ll be assessed by a mental health specialist to determine a diagnosis of depression. Then, you will speak with your mental health care providers about available options for treatment and set goals for your treatment plan. Once you have a plan in place, you can start to utilize a number of approaches to find what truly works for you.

Delray Center for Integrative Medicine offers a number of approaches for people who are struggling with depression. Specifically, we offer help for people living with treatment-resistant depression. Find out more about the services we offer on our website and reach out for help today.