6 signs you might be depressed (and how to get help)

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. Everyone experiences sadness, grief, anxiety, and stress. But if you’re struggling to get out of bed every day, are losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, and generally feel like life isn’t worth living, you might be dealing with something more serious: depression.

Depression is a real and treatable medical condition that affects millions of people each year. It’s more than just feeling blue; depression can cause physical changes in the brain and body that can make it difficult to function day-to-day. If you’re wondering whether or not you might be depressed, here are seven signs to look for:

1. You’re not sleeping—or you’re sleeping too much.
We all need different amounts of sleep, but most adults need around 7-8 hours per night. If you find yourself either unable to fall asleep or sleeping for 12 hours or more each day, it could be a sign that something is off. Depression can cause insomnia, as well as excessive daytime sleepiness.

2. Your appetite has changed—for better or for worse.
Whether you can’t stop eating or have lost your appetite entirely, changes in eating habits can be a sign of depression. That said, it’s important to remember that not everyone experiences appetite changes when they’re depressed. So if your appetite is normal but you’ve noticed other changes on this list, don’t discount them just because your eating habits are unchanged.

3. You’ve lost interest in activities you used to enjoy.
If things that once brought you happiness—hobbies, spending time with friends and family, sex—no longer interest you, it could be due to depression. When someone is dealing with depression, they often lose their ability to experience pleasure from everyday activities (this is known as anhedonia).

4. You’re gaining or losing weight without trying to.
Weight gain or loss is another common symptom of depression. If your clothes are fitting differently but your eating and exercise habits haven’t changed, it’s worth mentioning to your doctor. Sudden weight gain or loss can also be a sign of other underlying medical conditions, so it’s important not to ignore this symptom even if you think it might be due to stress or emotional eating/loss of appetite.

5. You’re moving or speaking more slowly than usual.
Have people been commenting on how sluggish you seem lately? It could be more than just fatigue—depression can actually cause physical changes in the body that make it hard to get moving (this is known as psychomotor retardation). So if you find yourself moving more slowly than usual or slurring your words when you speak, it’s worth mentioning to your doctor.

6. You’re feeling hopeless, worthless, and guilty all the time . . .
If negative thoughts are constantly running through your head—you feel like things will never get better, that you’re not good enough, that it’s somehow your fault that you’re feeling this way—you could be dealing with depression. These negative thoughts are called cognitive distortions, and they’re a major symptom of depression (and other mental health conditions).

Sources: https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/7-signs-of-depression#1 , https://www.healthline..com/health/signs-of-clinical-depression#changes-in-eating