How do you know if you’re depressed

[DizzyPhillips]

This really.

I function. I work. I deal with the kids. I can smile and be happy and upbeat

But I feel quite numb and detached. Demotivated. I can’t sleep but I’m always tired. I feel like I don’t feel much of anything.

There was a man raising awareness of this that I listened to today.

His wife recognised it more than he did at the start. He did talk a bit like you, that he could do this stuff but felt detached and always tired

I wonder if doing things differently for a while, or leaning on others for a while might give you a much needed break, or a breather to have time to find out whether you feel better and its just part of the relentless that life can be sometimes, or more.

Mostly depressing is living a life not suited in some way and ignoring it.

*depression

It does sound like you have a constant low mood - how long have you felt like this? Has anything in particular triggered this? The fact that you’re able to function as normal is a really good sign; you’re able to survive (albeit not ‘thrive’). Deep depression can be really debilitating to where people never leave the house, can’t carry out basic hygiene, be employed etc.

Your low mood can be caused by other health problems such as low vitamin d or low ferritin levels etc. Would be worth taking to your GP and having bloods taken if necessary. Your GP would be best placed to diagnose you really.

Hope that you’re able to feel better soon!

I would go to the GP, describe your symptoms & see what they say.

I think it often starts as a feeling of just going through the motions. You read but don't take it in, or watch TV but can't get into it. You eat but the food tastes bland, uninspiring. You look after the kids, but without enthusiasm. You go to work, but it's boring. Your sleep is a little bit off. You can't be bothered to run the Hoover round an extra time, and maybe put off a hair cut or a dental visit.

This builds up, and if you don't get help you may find yourself in the true quicksand of a depressive episode. This is the point at which your beginning to get warning signs to reach out for some help or make some changes.

I was like that. I could work, laugh etc but I recognise thst I wasn't really enjoying my work as much as I did before. There were things I was doing that I couldn't understand why I was reacting the way I did.

I was eating but not really feeling like eating. Wasn't sleeping.
Went to doctor Christmas 12 months ago as the family was around for Christmas and I just didn't want to be there. I love spending time with family but that Christmas I didn't want to be.

When I told my family I'd been diagnoised with depression and anixety they said they'd noticed my mood changing for a while but Christmas everyone said they'd really noticed it then.
I thought I was hiding it well.

Going to the doctor was the best thing I ever did. I even appolgise as I was sure he'd tell me there was nothing wrong, but he was lovely.

I only recognised I was suffering from depression as I realised one day I was putting my family through what my step father put me through as a child.

I was functioning, basic house work got done but a bare minimum, I felt flat/deflated/detached, I was irritable, snappy, burst of anger, guilt, I wouldn't shower for days - just the thought made me want to curl up, when I had time to myself I wanted to do nothing - literally nothing, I'd channel flick or literally be watching TV and taking nothing in.

Definitely go and talk to your doctor. I don’t think depression is something one can easily diagnose oneself: you need a specialist.

Unfortunately depression is a word that’s bandied around so much - I’ve lost count of the number of people including teenagers who I’ve heard say they have depression. I’m not convinced in every case it’s been true. It’s unhelpful because I think it makes people who are genuinely suffering reticent about seeking help

This feels like me

It might be worthwhile taking an online depression test. It can be printed off and taken to your GP if you decide to go that route.
Hope things seem brighter soon.

There are different levels of depression.Dysthmia.is a low persistent mood.I'm sure I've had this in my 20s.Recently I had seasonal affective disorder.Every oct_ March I have little energy.Come spring I realize how low I've been.This is every year at this time.Visit the GP.It's worth checking it out.

My very lovely (and senior) perinatal psychiatrist once told me she thought all diagnostic questionnaires for depression could be reduced to a simple question: are you able to enjoy yourself?

If the thought of things you would usually enjoy doesn’t lift your heart, you’re probably depressed.

This doesn’t tell you the cause - it’s well worth checking bloods for eg low vitamin or thyroid issues, and talking to a doctor about what’s going on in your life, but it’s definitely time to go to the GP if you aren’t able to enjoy things.

I feel like there is a weight pushing down on the top of my head. It feels physical as well as mental.
Zero energy, zero motivation and a overwhelming feeling of why bother, nothing matters anymore.

I always describe depression as being stuck behind the dirty plexiglass of a bus stop. You can see the lovely life beyond but for some reason everything looks distorted, grim, grubby and grey, and you can't seem to touch or reach through.

As a PP said, there are a number of online checklists you can do - fill one in and take it to your GP. The NHS do one that a GP will respect:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mood-self-assessment/

Diagnosis is based on weighing up a number of factors, you don't necessarily have to have particular 'symptoms'. Better to talk to a healthcare professional now, and start accessing potential routes to help, than wait to see if it magically gets better.

Best of luck, sweetpea, I've been there

I think you should see your GP they will know if you have depression or other.
Do you care on how you look ? Or have you lost interest in your appearance ?

For me, it's the absence of pleasurable anticipation. DP suggests a day out, I just see problems. Nowadays what alerts me is that I find excuses not to socialise. If I back out of too many invitations, I know I need to do something to stop myself sinking any further.

And I see my own inadequacies with what seems to me crystal clear objectivity.

Had a discussion yesterday with DP about euthanasia and, eg, my preference to go relatively quickly now rather than hang on and risk something worse. I was utterly astonished to find he didn't want to miss out on life. So is my view the result of depression? I don't think I'm suffering at the moment, I'm planning activities for the future which I couldn't motivate myself to do if depressed.