Important to note that "feeling depressed" and "having depression" are two different things.
Everyone feels depressed sometimes. Maybe your mom died, maybe you're getting divorced, maybe you lost your job. Feeling depressed is normal, but it doesn't mean you have clinical depression.
Clinical depression, or Major Depressive Disorder, is a specific condition and people often don't know all the symptoms.
If you experience the following, you may have clinical depression.
- you experience a change in your previous functioning
- symptoms occur for a period of 2 or more weeks
- at least one symptom is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure
- plus 5 of the following, experienced in the 2-week period:
You feel sad or irritable most of the day, nearly every day.
You’re less interested in most activities you once enjoyed.
You suddenly lose or gain weight or have a change in appetite.
You have trouble falling asleep or want to sleep more than usual.
You experience feelings of restlessness.
You feel unusually tired and have a lack of energy.
You feel worthless or guilty, often about things that wouldn’t normally make you feel that way.
You have difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions.
You think about harming yourself or suicide.
(i am not a doctor)