Depression Test: Do You Have The Symptoms of Depression?

It can be hard to identify symptoms of depression in yourself, especially if you have been feeling low for a long time and your low-state starts to feel like the norm. We put together this depression test so you can use it to get insight into the severity of your symptoms.

Just remember — depression should never be self-diagnosed.

It is always recommended that you seek professional help who can properly diagnose you. If you need immediate assistance for an emergency, please call 911. Or if you’d like to talk to a licensed professional right away, please call us at 813-609-6946.

Otherwise, if you are interested in learning more about the possible depression symptoms you may be exhibiting, please take this short depression test.

Depression Test: Answer Yes, No, or Maybe

The following is a list of questions for you to answer to determine whether you may be experiencing depression.

Find a quiet time to do this test, listen to how your mind and body are doing, and answer the questions of this depression test honestly for you to have a clearer idea of your mental state.

Consider your thoughts.

• Are you having difficulty concentrating?
• Have you been struggling more than usual when it comes to making decisions?
• Are you struggling with remembering details?
• Are you feeling guilty all the time about every little thing and finding yourself obsessing over what you could have done?
• Do you feel constantly helpless?
• Do you believe that you cannot change your circumstances for the better?
• Do you often experience feelings of hopelessness and other negative thoughts?
• Do you feel worthless?
• Are you constantly irritable and restless?
• Are you suffering from anxiety?
• How about panic attacks? Are they getting worse?
• Have you been thinking of suicide in any way?
• Do you believe it is easier if you weren’t here anymore?
• Have you been blowing up on every little thing?
• Do you feel empty and numb, as if your feelings suddenly went away?
• Have you been spending too much time on Facebook, Instagram, online shopping or another addicting online activity?
• Do you feel like you cannot go one day without indulging in these online activities?
• Are you daydreaming excessively? Is it taking up more time than your actual life?
• How’s your self-esteem doing? Is it especially low lately?
• Are you constantly on the edge of tearing up?
• Have you lost your motivation to do anything?
• Are you getting enjoyment out of your life?
• Do you feel guilty if you suddenly experience happiness?
• Do you feel like you don’t deserve to experience joy in your work or your personal life?
• Are you spending too much time worrying about everything, even the things you shouldn’t be worrying about?
• Have you been obsessing over your past failures lately?
• Do you keep blaming yourself for things that weren’t your responsibility?
• What about self-loathing? Have you been especially hard on yourself lately?

Consider your body.

• Are you constantly tired?
• Has your energy decreased?
• Are you suffering from insomnia? You could be waking up too early or sleeping more than usual.
• Are you overeating — binge eating until it hurts, or have you lost your appetite?
• Do you suffer from persistent aches, cramps, severe headaches or digestive problems that you cannot seem to ease?
• Is this chronic pain you are suffering from?
• Have you been drinking alcohol more than usual?
• Have you given up on your physical appearance?
• Have you been speaking or moving slower than usual?
• Are you suffering from constipation?
• Have you lost your sex drive?
• Has your menstrual cycle changed pattern suddenly?
• What about your work? Are you doing well? Has your performance worsened?
• If you are a smoker, have you been smoking more than usual?
• Have you been indulging in reckless behavior? This can range from excessive alcohol consumption to reckless driving or dangerous sports that you don’t usually participate in.

Consider your relationships.

• Have you been telling yourself that nobody cares about you?
• Have you lost interest in the things you loved to do such as hobbies, sports, and other activities?
• Have you been avoiding your loved ones?
• Do you think it is better not to be around them so you don’t burden them with your bad mood?
• Have you been avoiding social activities more than usual?
• Are you struggling in your home life with your family?

Depression Test Results

Go through your answers, and count all of the yes, no, and maybe answers. The more you answered  “yes” to these questions, the more likely it is that you could be experiencing the symptoms of depression.

Keep in mind that this depression test is not a diagnosis.

It is simply a guideline. It is general test to give you a better read on your mental state. But it can serve to give you a good scan of your symptoms. Maybe you found that you are experiencing more symptoms than you realized. Or, maybe you found areas where you are particularly struggling.

Hopefully, the depression test gave you some better insights into yourself and your situation.

Related: 14 Signs and Symptoms of High-Functioning Depression

What to Do If You Think You Have Depression

If you found that you are exhibiting more symptoms than you thought, it may be time to talk to a loved one or a licensed professional about the feelings you are experiencing. If you need immediate assistance, please call call 911. Or if you’d like to talk to someone at our office, please call us at 813-609-6946.

The thing to keep in mind is: help is available.

You do not have to suffer with depression forever. There are a variety of treatments available to you. Here are a few options.

1.) Talk to a trusted friend or family member. It will be difficult to heal from depression if you continue to go through it on your own. Talking about depression is one of the first steps in healing.

2.) Talk to a counselor or therapist. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone in your personal life, connect with a mental health professional. Counselors and therapists can offer a listening ear and provide resources to help you make changes in your life that can ease your depression symptoms and root causes.

3.) See if psychiatric care offers what you need.  While general therapy and counseling can support healing from depression, there are other treatments that can more acutely treat depression symptoms and causes. You may need to work with a psychiatrist who can incorporate a medical approach into your healing plan. Psychiatrists look at the biological, chemical, and physiological interactions that occur in our physical bodies. They can prescribe medications as well as supportive care that can help alleviate symptoms through more natural approaches.

4.) Explore Ketamine Depression Treatment. More and more studies are showing that Ketamine is an effective way to treat depression. Antidepressants typically work on the serotonin and noradrenaline systems of the brain, but Ketamine acts on the brain’s NDMA receptors which are involved in functions of memory and cognition. Ketamine helps lift feelings of helplessness, so you can function better and feel stronger to tackle whatever tasks come your way.

If you have no idea what might work for you — don’t worry!

Most people can’t diagnose depression or determine the best treatment plan on their own. Most people work with a professional to explore their symptoms and their options to make a plan that fits their situation.

There is no template for treatment. You are unique, and your path to recovery will be unique too.

If you need help with finding the path that is right for you, Loving Life Today is here to help. Our initial intake appointment is when you can meet with our patient director to discuss your situation and begin to develop a plan of action that is right for you. Use this appointment as an opportunity to explore your options and decide what is best and right for you.

Learn More About Depression Treatment Options

If you are concerned that your feelings might be something more than a bad mood, use this depression test to gauge how you are truly  feeling. But, don’t rely on this test alone.

If you think you are experiencing real signs of depression, talk to someone.

Don’t sit and wait for the feelings to get better on their own. Reach out and get the help you need.

To get more information about what to do if you’re feeling symptoms of depression, download our free guide. It offers more information about what to expect from therapy and counseling. It also includes a $25 discount code for either an in-person or virtual session with Loving Life Today.