How to Know if You Have Depression

History of Depression I didn't really know what was wrong with me. There was no easy way to describe what I was feeling, especially since I had never felt this way before. At 9 years of age, I experienced my first major death. My grandmother.

Do I need help? The day I reflected on at the beginning of this post was when I realized that I may need help. I was in my 20's when I decided I should start seeing a therapist for my depression. Therapy along with medication really helped me learn the skills and coping mechanisms I need to deal with depression. The therapist diagnosed me with chronic depression, however, I was determined not to let depression ruin my life.

What is Depression Depression is a mood disorder characterized by periods of extreme sadness. These periods are called depressive episodes. Depression is a treatable illness, but only if it's recognized and treatment is sought.

Types of Depression

1. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) - symptoms of MDD involve a low mood state of two weeks or longer.

2. Depression with catatonic or melancholic features - this includes the standard depression symptoms as well as melancholic symptoms. Which are excessive guilt or catatonic symptoms like mutism.

3. Atypical Depression - atypical symptoms include an increased appetite and need for sleep.

4. Seasonal Affective Disorder - depressive symptoms occur to the time of year (season), like winter.

How to know if you are depressed? It can be difficult to know for sure if you suffer from depression. So we've come up with a simple quiz that you can take to find out if you are suffering from depression. Please read the instructions carefully. Take the quick now by clicking here. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get tips and tricks to dealing with depression, personal development, and self-care tips. You'll also get access to our Resource Library which includes tools like affirmations for depression and anxiety. Sign up below!