How do you know when it's depression and not just a few down days?

[TeaAndBisquits]

Just that really.

I've feel like I've got so much going on at the moment and I can't seem to muster up the energy to do any of it. I feel totally overwhelmed.

My DH has taken the kids out for lunch and to the park as I just can't focus on anything and just feel really fragile and emotional and kind of numb.

I've been laying in bed all day and there is so much stuff to do. I have zero enthusiasm for anything today!

I've felt like this once or twice in the last year, for maybe a week or two at a time.

How do you know when it's more?

I would go and have a chat with your GP. They normally get you to fill in a questionairre, you can find the questionairres online too if you want to have a look beforehand.

I think it's usual to take a longer term view...I'm not a doctor but I have depression. If things have been 'bad' for over a fortnight without any improvement/more often just deteriorating I begin to suspect that things aren't great. A week or two I'd see a general life up and downs/tiredness. But then my bad episodes tend to last months.

Is there anything that you can think of that triggers these periods?