We all experience days when something feels off. You wake up exhausted, your coffee spills, and everything seems a bit one-dimensional. You can shake this off after a good night’s sleep or a brisk walk.

On occasion, however, one bad day can stretch into a bad week. A bad week can easily stretch to a bad month. All of a sudden, it feels as if completing a mundane Tuesday is as difficult as climbing a mountain with a 120-pound backpack. If it feels like you’re stuck inside a fog that won’t lift, it may be time to ask yourself: “Might I benefit from talking to a mental health professional?”

Depression is not just a mood, nor is it simply a matter of “feeling sad”. It is a serious mental health condition that affects how both your brain and body function. And let me assure you of this: wanting help is not an admission of failure. In fact, quite the opposite is true. It is a sign of strength, courage to confront that something is off, and a desire to take your life back.

How do you know if you have gotten to that point? For that you need to take account of the signs of depression. Here are the 7 most common signs and symptoms of depression that tell it’s time to schedule a mental health appointment.

Your Sleep and Eating Habits Have Changed Dramatically

Have you noticed a shift in your sleeping or eating habits? Like, you are sleeping way too much or on the flip side, not sleeping at all. Maybe you are one of the people who wakes up at 3 am and cannot fall back asleep, or you are one of the people who continuously hits the snooze button because simply getting out of bed feels like a monumental task.

The same goes for eating. Perhaps food doesn’t interest you anymore, or you’re eating significantly more or less than usual. These changes in sleep and appetite are classic indicators that something else may be happening, and they’re often among the first signs of depression.

Your body is trying to tell you something. Listen to it.

Why do I feel sad for no reason?

Remember that hobby you were passionate about? Which show couldn’t you wait to watch? Those friends you loved hanging out with? If you find yourself feeling “meh” about everything or worse, actively avoiding the things that used to light you up, that’s a red flag.

Depression causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. When your world starts feeling gray, and nothing seems worth the effort, that’s depression talking, not reality.

You’re Withdrawing from People and Feeling Isolated

It starts small. You cancel plans once or twice. Then you stop texting back. Before you know it, you’re spending most of your time alone, and the idea of socializing feels overwhelming.

Social withdrawal is often one of the first signs that someone can benefit from therapy. The difficult factor here is that isolation, in the short term, can make depression worse, creating a cycle that can be hard to break out of alone.

You’re Overwhelmed by Everyday Tasks

When chores become monumental tasks, like taking a shower, washing the dishes, or even responding to emails, this is not procrastination or laziness – it’s depression. All of these factors can lead to being overwhelmed, which can affect your ability to think and act, resulting in a lack of execution of even the most basic tasks.

This is your brain waving a flag and saying, “I need support” if you’ve been noticing a decline in your overall performance, either at work or in school, or you’ve been struggling to keep up with obligations that in the past were easily manageable.

Your Emotions Feel Out of Control

Have you been crying more than usual recently? Feeling easily provoked or perhaps angry over small, trivial things? Or maybe you’ve been feeling a general absence of emotion; just numb where feelings once were.

In these situations where emotions are either too heightened or where you feel as if you cannot control them, therapy can be beneficial to provide coping mechanisms that help you regain balance. Sadness is not the only face of depression. Anger, emptiness, or feeling like your emotions are all over the place are just as valid.

Somatic Symptoms of Depression

People often neglect to mention the fact that depression can be expressed as bodily symptoms and not just psychological ones. Depression can manifest in the body as increased heart rate, difficulty in breathing, and chronic physical illnesses like headaches and digestive complications.

If you have seen your doctor multiple times and have no medical explanation for your headaches, depression could be the answer. We truly can not fully understand the connection between the mind and body.

You have felt this for weeks (and not in the good way)

This is crucial to understand. It has to be more than just two weeks of intrusive thoughts and unshakeable sadness. If you feel this way for weeks on end, that is more than just a “rough patch” and is no longer just a temporary emotional state, and something that can be solved to some degree.

If you have been feeling this way for multiple months and the feelings refuse to go away, or something to the effect of “the road is long, and the road is dark” is the best way to describe your mental state, then that’s a huge indicator that you could benefit significantly from seeking mental health and psychosocial support.

What Comes Next | Free Yourself from Depression 

If this sounds familiar, take a breath. It’s essential to let you know you’re not broken, nor are you alone. Among most mental health challenges, depression is uniquely treatable. Over 80% of people improve when they seek professional help.

So here are some steps you can take to help make this happen.

• Your first step should be to speak to your doctor. They can help screen you for depression and, if needed, guide you to a mental health professional. Many people forget that, thanks to recent legislation, mental health services are often covered by insurance.
• Connect with experienced therapists. At IGOTU Corp, we understand how overwhelming it can be to take that first step. Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists, and especially online depression therapists in California specializes in treatments for depression, helping you develop personalized strategies to overcome depression. 
• Your next step is to consider your options for counseling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT for depression and interpersonal therapy are often some of the most effective, and your therapist will work alongside you to come up with a plan that is meant for your specific situation.

Wrap Up

You have a right to prioritize your mental and emotional health and well-being. Knowing when to ask for help, when to reach out, and when to support a professional is a tremendous strength and is a huge step towards controlling your mental health journey. The symptoms of depression, the illness, tell you that reaching out is a sign of failure, that it is a sign of weakness, that it is not worth it. This is not true. Feeling the way you do and feeling hopeless is what is true.

Making an appointment with a therapist for the first time can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking. The absence of joy, hope, and meaningful connection is not your new standard. You are not the first nor the last to feel how you feel. 

Most importantly, you are not alone, and you do not have to feel this way for the rest of your life. Seeing a therapist is one step closer to regaining your mental health and feeling more like yourself. You deserve to feel mental well-being.