How do you know when you need to see a doctor?

[LucyLouWho]

These are probably stupid questions, but...

How do you know if you're depressed? And how do you know if it's time to see a doctor about it?

[Lotus Eater]

It's always hard to be completely sure because the 'symptoms' could be caused by other sicknesses and such but.. you will know when it gets really hard to wake up in the mornings knowing that you have to get through the rest of the day. When things you once found fun and interesting are suddenly the biggest bore. When nothing makes you smile the way it used to before. When even the littlest of actions wear you out. When you start doing harmful things to 'escape'. When you're always looking for some form of release. When you're left feeling really emotionally drained all the time. Sometimes, all you want to do is cry. And there isn't always a reason. If you're getting suicidal thoughts/hurting yourself or the people around you or feel as though your brain's about to explode with all the stress and anxiety, it is time to get yourself to a doctor immediately.

That said, you could go to the doctor as soon as you start feeling depressed. It's always better to get in early.. They do help you in their way and it will cut down on all those days/months of simply waiting for times to get 'bad enough'.

Hope this helps :/

[ShengXin]

^ Those symptoms are definitely ones to look out for

Also..

Strange sleeping patterns - sleeping much more or less than usual
Gaining/losing significant amounts of weight, or having issues with eating
Either wanting to cry all the time, or feeling empty
Not wanting to get out of bed or do anything
Stuff that used to be interesting isn't any more
Physically moving around slower
Feelings of low self-worth, disliking or even hating yourself

Normally an amount of these symptoms have to have been pretty much constant for two months I think it is? but even if you're not sure, go to the doctor, they do help it can be really scary at first but it'll get better from thereon in

Any thoughts at all about hurting yourself or others and go straight to your doctor, or call 999!!

Take care!

[OurLovesSublime]

I was recently going through a rough patch where I really thought I was depressed. My symptoms were:

I was having overwhelming feelings of stress, loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. I felt like a horrible mother and wife, and was paranoid that my husband was going to leave me any day because I couldn't see why he would want to be with me. I barely had the energy to watch after my son, and would make my husband watch him pretty much every minute he was home. I just didn't feel like I could handle his fussiness anymore. I would cry over any and every little thing, and would get mad just as easily. Generally, I just didn't feel like the same person.

But after a couple weeks the feelings went away and I feel like I used too.

I think everyone can recognize their own symptoms of depression. If your weepy, emotional, exhausted, and basically just don't feel like you, your probably having symptoms of depression. I think its all just in how long those feelings last. If they've been there for a month or more and just don't seem like they are going to go away, I'd definitely see someone.

[MadPoet]

• Change in sleep pattern/s.
• Hard time concentrating.
• Feeling of hopelessness.
• Can't control negative thoughts.
• Change in appetite.
• Irritability or short tempered.
• Unexplained aches/pains
• Loss of Interest
• Self-loathing

Those were the ones I could think of at the top of my head. The most significant sign for me was thinking negatively and feeling long term sadness/hopelessness. If you can't seem to shake this feeling, then it's probably a good idea to see a doctor, because even if it's not depression there's most likely something going on.