Sometimes we feel sad without understanding why, and many of us experience grief or low mood that may, at times, develop into depression. It is possible to feel very sad and distressed without it necessarily being depression.

However, if you still feel low after two weeks and also experience other symptoms, it may be a case of depression. Studies show that nearly half of all women and about a quarter of all men experience depression at some point in their lives.

When you are affected by some form of depression, it can feel as if you are seeing the world through dark-tinted glasses. This means you tend to notice what goes wrong and interpret situations negatively. Looking back, you mainly remember difficulties and failures. The future also appears bleak, and you assume that nothing will get better.

“Depression is the reward we receive for being good.”

Common symptoms include sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Life often feels meaningless, and it becomes difficult to feel genuine joy about anything. Things you usually enjoy no longer feel pleasurable.

Often, one or more triggering factors for depression can be identified, but far from always. For individuals with a high level of vulnerability to depression, no clear external triggers are necessarily required.

If you are feeling depressed, you are not alone. Between 180–300 million people worldwide suffer from depression, which according to the WHO (World Health Organization) should be treated in some form. Over the past 30 years, depression has gone from being one of the least understood illnesses to one of the most extensively researched. Today, it is known that more than 80% of those affected can recover through therapy, medication, or a combination of both. However, it is common that many people suffering from depression do not realize they need help.

In this depression test, you can get an indication of whether you may be at risk.

If you answer “yes” to most of the questions below, you may be experiencing some form of depression.

• Do you feel sad or low for most of the day?
• Have you become noticeably less interested in almost everything?
• Have you been feeling exhausted?
• Do you find yourself sleeping too much?
• Have you noticed uncontrollable irritability or sluggishness almost every day?
• Do you feel that you have significantly less energy?
• Do you have recurring feelings of worthlessness?
• Do you have a reduced ability to think and concentrate?
• Do you have recurring thoughts about death?
• Do you feel empty inside?
• Do you feel more anxious and nervous?
• Do you find it difficult to relax and enjoy yourself?
• Have you stopped participating in activities you used to do?
• Have you gained or lost weight?
• Have you noticed that your sleep has worsened recently?
• Do you experience excessive and recurring feelings of guilt?
• Do you feel helpless and hopeless every day?
• Do you struggle to make decisions almost every day?
• Do you have a generally pessimistic outlook?

I have experience working with therapy for mild depression. In cases of severe depression, you should primarily contact your primary healthcare center.