How do I know if I have depression? 6 signs you should know about

Everyone feels low from time to time, so it’s not always easy to know when these feelings are part of daily life and when it’s time to seek help.

In most cases, low mood is short-term and goes away on its own. If you find yourself asking, “How do I know if I have depression?” it’s important to know the signs that you may need to seek treatment. Seeking treatment for depression is as crucial as addressing any other health condition.

In this resource, we will discuss six key potential signs of depression. When experienced together, these signs might indicate it’s time to talk to your doctor for a thorough evaluation and support. Recognising these signs early can lead to getting help sooner and better outcomes.

Table of contents

• What are the signs of depression?
• When should you seek help for depression?
• Other physical symptoms
• Other psychological symptoms
• What else causes the symptoms of depression?
• Can depression be cured?
• Looking to be assessed for depression?

What are the signs of depression?

Depression affects people in different ways. However, there are generally some common signs alongside low mood that may indicate depression:

You’ve been feeling low or irritable

Depression can leave you feeling low or irritable for most of the day. This will usually persist every day for two weeks or more.

You might have found yourself worrying about past or future events for long periods, or simply feeling sad, cross or tearful.

Sometimes it’s hard to recognise a gradual change – have others noticed that you don’t seem your usual self?

You’ve lost interest in activities that you used to enjoy

Depression can lead to a loss of interest in activities that you enjoy. Perhaps you have been seeing less of your friends or family recently, have stopped going to the gym, or cooking balanced meals.

Focus on recognising changes in what’s normal for you. Everyone has different routines and lifestyles, so it’s not about having perfect exercise or eating habits. Instead, notice if there are changes in your daily activities, as these can be important signs that your mood may be shifting.

You are struggling to concentrate

Struggling with concentration can often be a sign of depression. You might notice that you struggle to focus when reading or watching television, for example, or to follow the thread of a spoken conversation.

This could be affecting your performance at work, or limiting your ability to perform routine tasks such as food shopping.

Again, we are looking for a change in what’s normal for you. If concentration has always been something you find tricky, this might not be a worry.

Your energy levels are low

Feeling exhausted is one of the most challenging effects of depression. Finding the energy to do anything – even getting out of bed – can be a huge effort, and you might find yourself feeling frustrated at not being able to do things that used to be seemingly easy.

Your sleeping and/or eating patterns have changed

Often, it is said that a reduced appetite is a sign of depression. In fact, eating more than usual can be just as indicative of low mood as eating less.

The same goes for sleeping. Both sleeping more than your usual amount and sleeping less are warning signs that you might have depression.

Early morning waking – that is, waking several hours before you would normally expect to, and struggling to get back to sleep – is another common sign.

You’ve been preoccupied with feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Feelings of guilt and worthlessness can show that depression may be affecting you. This might be a case of feeling like you’re in the wrong, or that you’ve let people down, or that you are a burden on those who are close to you.

Often, these ideas are disproportionate to the event that has triggered them. A good way to test whether these ideas might be out of proportion is to ask a trusted friend or family member whether they would feel the same way in your shoes.

When should you seek help for depression?

Remember that these signs aren’t a sure way to know you have depression, and there are other, perfectly good reasons for each of these experiences. It’s also important to know that there are several types of depression, and each can present in different ways.

If you recognise yourself in most, or all, these signs, then it is probably time to see you doctor.

How do you seek help for depression?

Visiting a GP is always a good first step, as they can refer you to more specialist services if necessary. This may require being added to a wait list so check with your local service to find out more about wait times.

Otherwise, if you’d like to see a mental health professional, consider making an appointment to see a psychiatrist who will be able to give you a diagnosis and advise you on which treatment might work best for you, or even a clinical psychologist.

Other physical symptoms

Below are some of the other physical symptoms that you may experience when you are suffering from depression:

• Unexplained aches and pains, such as headaches or stomach issues
• Changes in weight, whether loss or gain, without a clear reason
• A decrease in energy or chronic fatigue
• Changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping excessively
• Neglecting personal hygiene or grooming habits

Other psychological symptoms

Below are some of the other psychological symptoms that you may experience when you are suffering from depression:

• Increased feelings of anxiety or restlessness
• Difficulty making decisions or indecisiveness
• Heightened sensitivity to sensory input, like noise or light
• Feelings of emptiness or detachment from reality
• Irritability or mood swings that seem out of character

What else causes the symptoms of depression?

As we understand it, depression is an accumulation of several factors. Some of the following factors may be a root cause of depressive episodes.

Life events

A general rule of thumb to ask is: is my mood a reaction to something? It’s very normal for our mood to dip in response to difficult life events: a bereavement, loss of a job, a relationship breakdown, and so on. It might still be advisable to talk to a mental health professional, as this can help you to develop coping strategies. However, the good news is that, except in very severe cases, the symptoms of depression should lessen over time without the need for medication.

Substances/medications

Depressive symptoms can also be a reaction to a substance: regular and/or heavy alcohol use is often associated with low mood. Certain recreational drugs, and even some prescription medications, such as the contraceptive pill, can also have the same effect.

If you are worried that the medications you are taking might be affecting your mood, do not stop taking your medication but do talk to your prescribing doctor as soon as possible.

Physical health

Depressive symptoms are also frequently associated with physical health problems. If this could be the case for you, it is important to see your GP, who can take a holistic view of your healthcare. Often, getting on top of pain, sleep difficulties or inactivity can directly improve your mood without the need for specific mental health input.

Mental health

There are other mental health diagnoses that have similar symptoms to Depressive Disorders. Bipolar disorder is characterised by bouts of low mood, followed by periods of elation.

Schizoaffective disorder is characterised by low mood accompanied by symptoms of psychosis, such as hearing voices, seeing things that others cannot see, and/or having ideas that are not shared by your social groups.

If you think that your symptoms might be indicative of either of these conditions, it is important to seek professional care. This will help to ensure that you get the most effective care, as these are unlikely to go away by themselves.

Can depression be cured?

The good news is that one study found that 52.1% of patients tested achieved full recovery with treatment. Your age, the duration of your symptoms, having a family history of depression, and co-occurring mental or physical health difficulties might all affect this.

Some researchers believe that you're more likely to relapse into depressive episodes if you have already had a higher number of episodes. There is also an increased risk of suicide associated with severe, long-term depression. This is why it is advisable to seek treatment as soon as possible if you think you might have depression.

The good news is that both medical and psychological treatments for depression have a strong evidence base, and new treatments are being developed all the time. In fact, one of the best predictors of treatment success is how closely you follow your treatment plan.

Looking to be assessed for depression?

Take the first step toward understanding depression and discussing assessment options.

Contact us now at 0203 761 7026. Alternatively, get a better idea of whether you have the symptoms associated with depression through one of our online tests.

The test is an indicator only and not meant to replace a full assessment by a qualified clinician.

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