It’s normal to feel sad, overwhelmed, and anxious here and there in your normal everyday life. However, during a global pandemic, those are feelings you might have every day as you try to work from home, school your children, and stay up-to-date with the news. So what is the difference between those normal feelings and depression? How do you know the difference?
First of all, what is depression?
“Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called a major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.
More than just about the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy, or both.” (MayoClinic)
To break it down further,
Here are some common symptoms of depression:
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of interest in otherwise enjoyable activities
- Change in appetite
- Significant changes in weight
- Self-loathing
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Unexplainable physical aches or pains
- Hard time focusing
- Difficult time making decisions
- Lack of energy to do simple activities
- Significant changes in sleeping patterns
- Increase in anxiety, irritability, and frustration
- Personality changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Depression is persistent and consistent. If you feel some of these symptoms but find yourself jolted out of them when you take a break from the news or social media, you may have Coronavirus Depression, which is circumstantial with the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about Coronavirus Depression, click here.
When should you seek help?
If you feel any of these symptoms, it’s never too early to seek help from your doctor or mental health professional. If you feel don’t feel comfortable with that at this moment, reach out to a trusted friend or loved one and share how you are feeling.
When to seek emergency help?
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Learn how we can help.