While all of us feel sad sometimes, depression is when these feelings get overwhelming and last a long time.
Signs of depression include intense or long-lasting:
- Feelings of hopelessness about the future
- Lack of interest in your day-to-day activities or the people around you
- Difficulty convincing yourself to get out of bed in the morning
- Feelings that you don’t matter
- Desire to hurt yourself or end your life
- Feelings of guilt for your emotions
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, with about 7 percent of Americans (around 17 million people) having experienced a major depressive episode.
The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a major depressive episode as: “A period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and had a majority of specified symptoms, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth.” Depression can also include thoughts and plan about or attempts of suicide.
If this description fits your situation, Mental Health Match can help you find a therapist who specializes in counseling for depression and help you feel better. If you’ve been thinking about ending your life, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
