When To Know If I Feel Depressed

Depression can be understood as a condition of feeling so sad or lonely for a long time that it already has an impact on normal everyday tasks or activities. Additionally, this condition may also even produce other feelings and negative thoughts.[2]

Consulting a doctor would be the best option if you ever have the question ‘When to know if I feel depressed?’ in mind or feel that your sadness affects the things you do on a daily basis. Also, note that seeking support early may alleviate the possibility of depression getting worse.

Just like many people, you might be curious as to how to know if you have depression.

Although depression is completely different from the usual and easily bearable feelings of sadness and loneliness, it is a common condition in many people. From 2020 to 2021, affective disorders like depression affected around 1.5 million people aged 16 to 85 in Australia.[3]

Those who have depression may feel that life is joyless. A constant and lasting feeling of sadness affects sleep and the enjoyment of activities they’ve taken pleasure in doing before. [4]

Depressed people may also feel hopeless or pessimistic regarding their lives. This causes their self-talk to be completely negative, hence the possibility of having even lower self-esteem. As they feel down, they may also tell themselves that they are worthless or a failure.[5]

Aside from these feelings, the condition may also cause people to be unable to concentrate or be appetised by food, which both prevents them from taking good care of themselves.[6] 

There can even be more ways depression can manifest, with even more risk factors and causes that are associated with it, including major events in life, underlying illnesses, medications, and even genetics, to enumerate a few.[7]

That’s why at Mosh, you can take a short questionnaire about your mental health before doctors can prepare a personalised recommendation that will be based on your existing situation. This will help avoid confusion and give a clearer picture of what is truly going on. 

After that, you and your Mosh doctor can talk about the said recommendation. Apart from the question ‘When to know if I feel depressed?’ you can ask questions about other mental health concerns, such as ‘What does anxiety feel like?’ and ‘How to reduce stress?’

Depression can manifest both physically and mentally,[8] so when asking ‘When to know if I feel depressed?’ it’s also important to check how its symptoms show up physically. 

There are many possible physical symptoms of depression, as the condition can affect the body in a variety of ways. Some common physical symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, aches and pains, and decreased interest in sex.[9]

Depression can also lead to difficulty remembering details and making decisions. In more severe cases, it can cause thoughts of suicide or self-harm.[10]

While one may suffer from the many symptoms of depression, the said manifestations can also be similar to ones that other conditions cause. Some health problems that can mimic depression signs are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and low thyroid levels, among others.[11]

With Mosh, you can get connected to an expert team interested in helping you out and determining what’s best for you. Find an Australian doctor that matches your interest by making use of search filters according to their specialty, profession, and gender. They can also prescribe treatment options that suit you.

There are various types of depressive disorders, which all have their own levels of severity. Moreover, the type depends on the symptoms, timeline of the symptoms and the duration of those symptoms. [12]

However, when asking yourself, ‘When to know if I feel depressed?’ just remember that whether you are unsure of your condition or the type of depression you have, professional and medical help is available. 

Some common types of depressive disorders include:[13]

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)- MDD is often diagnosed by doctors whenever the symptoms of depression have been present in a patient for at least two weeks.
• Persistent depressive disorder- Sufferers of this persistent condition have had it for at least two years. It is also referred to as dysthymia. 
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)- It is comparable to premenstrual syndrome, but the difference between the two is the severity of the symptoms. Those who suffer from PMDD may have emotional changes, irritability, negative thoughts, and anxiety, which are all heightened. 
• Postpartum Depression (PPD)- MDD with onset during pregnancy or within 4 weeks following delivery and occurs in up to 10% of mothers.
  
  Additionally, beware that taking a quick depression test online may only show an indication of the condition, not a complete and correct diagnosis.
  This explains why it’s important to check your condition with a doctor to accurately find out whether there are underlying conditions or a different cause or problem. Doing so will pave the way for choosing a treatment that would work best for your case. 

Mosh doctors can recommend the most suitable option within twenty-four hours after carefully reviewing your assessment, should they deem it necessary. But remember that treatment can only be prescribed by doctors alone.

Moreover, as we are all online, you can connect with our expert team conveniently wherever you are. Text and call consultations are also available. 

In addition to ‘When to know if I feel depressed?’ you may also ask your Mosh doctor about other health concerns, such as how to calm anxiety or how to reduce stress.

Take the next step towards betterment today; do it with Mosh.