As summer comes to an end, it can often feel like your happiness goes with it. Whether you’re going back to school, working a 9-5, or have a flexible schedule, it’s common to feel down when the summer festivities are over. But when does “feeling down” actually mean depressed? It can be hard to tell, and it’s not black and white. Depression can show itself in a variety of ways.
Many of the symptoms for depression are based off of irregularities or changes, meaning you should think about your previous lifestyle patterns before you felt depressed, and determine if there has been a change. These symptoms could be a result of another health issue as well. The only way to get a clinical diagnosis for depression is to seek professional help. When deciding whether you need to seek help for your mental health, think about the following symptoms.
If you think you are depressed, it is crucial that you seek professional help. There are many different ways to treat depression, and a mental health professional will be able to guide you towards the treatment that is best for you.
Finding a therapist can be tricky. If you’re in Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, or Texas, you can go to sondermind.com to find a therapist suited to your needs. If you are elsewhere, you can ask your primary care physician for a list of therapists near you, or explore online therapy options.
Wondering if antidepressants or other medications might be helpful to you? Keep in mind that therapists cannot write prescriptions, but can give you great expertise on whether medication would be beneficial for you or not. Ask your therapist to connect you with a psychiatrist or MD who can support you with medication usage.
Overall, whether you think you have clinical depression or a less serious issue, it is important to get help. Therapy can help improve your quality of life whether you have a diagnosable condition or not.
