It can be hard enough to recognize the signs of depression in others. But, it can seem even more difficult when you experience these feelings yourself. After all, sadness is a part of life, right?

Sadness is indeed a “normal” and healthy emotion. It’s also completely natural to feel unhappy or depressed from time to time. However, these feelings can also be more serious and require professional help.

Depression can affect anyone of any age. It’s also important to understand that nothing needs to “happen” for you to experience this condition. In fact, an estimated 16 million adults have depression without facing any negative events or life changes. Instead, depression can exist for a variety of reasons, including brain chemicals, genetics, hormones, seasonal changes, stress, overall health, or substance use.

Our team at Compass Mental Health & Wellness can help if you have feelings of sadness that don’t seem to go away or start interfering with your daily life. Here are a few signs that you could have depression and ways we can help.

When it’s more than sadness

People often try to shrug off negative emotions, such as sadness, as a normal part of life. However, you should never ignore persistent feelings, especially if they impact your work, relationships, and quality of life.

Unlike “normal” feelings of sadness, depression is a mental health condition that requires professional treatment. One of the most apparent signs of a depressive disorder involves duration.

As we mentioned above, it’s common for feelings of sadness to come and go. However, if you feel low or sad for two weeks or more, it could be a sign of depression. Additional symptoms of depression include:

• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness
• Losing interest in things you once enjoyed
• Withdrawing from others
• Having increased fatigue or problems sleeping
• Losing interest in sex and intimacy
• Feeling angry, irritable, anxious, nervous, tense, or restless
• Struggling with concentration, decision-making, or brain fog
• Having changes in appetite
• Experiencing mood swings and uncontrollable emotions

Having depression can also lead to thoughts of death or suicide.

Get help if you’re depressed

The good news is depression is highly treatable, and the first step in getting help is recognizing a problem and connecting with a professional.

Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions like depression. As part of our approach, we take the time to get to know each of the people in our care, so we can learn more about them and create a personalized treatment strategy designed specifically for their unique needs.

While depression is highly treatable, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we rely on various protocols to address your symptoms and help you learn methods to process your negative feelings in a healthier way. We also look at all aspects of your life and health to provide integrative solutions designed to help you reach optimal wellness.

Common strategies for treating depression include:

• Counseling and talk therapy
• Mindfulness techniques
• Lifestyle changes and exercise recommendations
• Nutritional counseling
• Sleep analysis

Sometimes, medications can also help manage depression, but they aren’t always necessary.

Do you feel depressed? We can help. To learn more, call (281) 836-5452 or book an appointment online with Compass Mental Health & Wellness today.