Am I Depressed or Is This Normal?

              The world has been feeling very chaotic over the past several years. At the time of this writing, we’re going into year three of a global pandemic, we’re four days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, political tensions are high, loss is high, uncertainty is high, and people are Feeling. The. Impact. A question I’ve been hearing over and over again both personally and professionally is “Am I depressed or is this a normal reaction to *waves wildly* all of this?”

              The answer is…yes. The current state of things makes it very understandable to be feeling classic symptoms of depression. These symptoms can include:

·        Loss of interest in things you once loved

·        Feelings of sadness/tearfulness/emptiness/hopelessness

·        Feelings of restlessness

·        Guilt

·        Anger or Irritability

·          Avoiding friends or family

·          Sleeping too much

·          Sleeplessness

·          Thoughts of self-harm

·          Increase of appetite

·          Loss of appetite

·          Weight Gain

·          Weight Loss

Part of why this happens is because when things feel unpredictable or uncertain, it can be difficult to emotionally access your typical coping skills. Additionally, with several of these current situations, you may not have physical access to your coping skills. Thinking about the pandemic for example, for some people spending time out with friends or traveling is essential to their mental health, that has had to look very different than it has in the past. You’re also being asked to think critically and use problem solving skills when your brain may already be flooded with emotion which lowers your ability to do both of those things.

So how do you know if it’s a normal reaction or something more serious?

There are a few indicators to pay attention to that can help you decide what side of this spectrum you’re on. This first is intensity. This is especially important when it comes to thoughts of self-harm and sleeplessness. It’s really important to not disregard these things. If you cannot keep yourself safe, call 911 or go to your local ER. That’s not something to play around with and wait to pass. If you’re not sleeping, see your GP or, if you can’t get an appointment, go to the ER. You cannot live long on no sleep.

The second thing to give special attention to is duration. Major depressive episodes last two or more weeks. If over the course of two weeks you’re feeling those symptoms more often than not (they don’t have to be constant, even while experiencing depression people can have joyful moments), it’s a good indicator that you’re dealing with depression.

What can you do?

·         Seek support from a professional. We’re here, we work a variety of hours, and many of us offer appointments virtually to fit your schedule. Therapy and/or medication can be incredible tools in the fight against depression.

·         Seek out community. Depression is isolating. Look for connection even when your brain is telling you you’re not worthy of it. Brains in depressive episodes are big liars.

·         Find ways to incorporate movement into your daily routine. It’s not foolproof and it’s not a cure, it is protective.

·         Know that you are far and away not alone in feeling this way and you don’t have to hide it or deal with it in the shadows.