Understanding your symptoms
Am I Depressed or Sad?
Sadness is a temporary reaction that fades with time. Depression is consistent and lingers. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to do next.
About this guide
Depression assessment
Depression is not an emotion — it is a mental health disorder. The World Health Organization estimates 5% of adults worldwide live with depression. It is common but serious, with symptoms that can affect every part of life, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Depression is not one-size-fits-all, and symptoms vary widely. It is also not a weakness or a character flaw — it reflects changes in brain chemistry and can happen to anyone at any time. If you are wondering whether what you feel is depression or sadness, the signs below are a place to start.
Depression assessments are provided at the Neuroscience Institute in West Palm Beach: a detailed assessment first, then an individualized treatment plan built around what it finds.
Signs and symptoms of depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, these are the common signs and symptoms of depression. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, tell someone now — call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and be connected with a trained counselor.
Persistent sadness
A sadness that never goes away, sometimes with feeling anxious or “empty” — or grief after a loss that does not lessen with time.
Hopelessness or pessimism
Feeling that life will never get better and that trying is pointless — false assumptions that depression presents as facts.
Irritability or restlessness
Seeming grumpy all the time, saying things that are out of character, angry outbursts.
Guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Everyone feels guilt sometimes; with depression these feelings are excessive and unwarranted.
Loss of interest in hobbies
Often one of the first signs people notice — activities that used to bring pleasure no longer do.
Decreased energy and fatigue
Noticeable fatigue that can look like laziness from the outside, and can cost jobs, relationships, and routines.
Difficulty concentrating
Trouble thinking, focusing, remembering, or making decisions — sometimes to the point of being a safety issue.
Sleep disturbance
Trouble falling or staying asleep — or sleeping too much and struggling to get out of bed.
Appetite and weight changes
Eating for comfort and gaining weight, or losing appetite and losing weight without intending to.
Physical symptoms
Depression and pain share chemical messengers: headaches, muscle and joint pain, and stomach issues are common.
I am depressed — what do I do?
First and most importantly: seek help from a mental health professional. It is also worth seeing your primary care physician, who can run a physical exam and lab tests to rule out other causes.
Depression affects everyone differently, which is why treatment starts with a detailed assessment and becomes an individualized plan — not a standard prescription.
Taking care of yourself
No one can just “snap out of” depression. Alongside professional help, self-care genuinely helps — and the things that help most are the hardest to start when depression has drained your energy. Taking the first step is the hardest part; playing music or going for a walk might lift your mood enough to try the next thing.
Just as important is what to avoid: isolating, using drugs or alcohol, ignoring the depression, fixating on sad news and media, or feeling guilty about being depressed.
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat healthily
- Spend time with friends
- Play with a pet
- Return to a former hobby or sport
- Volunteer or help someone
- Go to a concert or movie
- Get daily sunshine and time in nature
Why am I depressed?
There are several forms of depression. The two most common are major depression and persistent depressive disorder; others include postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, and depression with psychosis. People with bipolar disorder also experience depressive episodes.
Depression can co-occur with other conditions such as anxiety, can run in families, and can follow from environment, traumatic events, or substance use. Whatever the cause, it is treatable.
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.