Am I Depressed? 13 Related Symptoms and Transitions

Symptoms of Depression

These are some common symptoms of depression:

• Feelings of hopelessness
• Lack of interest in things you used to enjoy
• No interest in planning for the future
• Difficulty concentrating
• Persistent sadness
• Feeling empty
• Loss of interest in sex
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, or weight gain
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Insomnia, or sleeping too much
• Fatigue
• Recurrent thoughts of death

These are common symptoms of depression, but it takes a professional to accurately make the diagnosis. While the internet is a source of valuable information, “Dr. Google” is not a reliable professional to consult for a diagnosis!

Transitions Can Contribute to Depression

Transitions in your life can contribute to depressed feelings. Changes like these can be problematic:

• Separation or divorce
• Career change
• Major health issues
• Illness or death of a loved one
• Moving
• Financial woes
• Infertility or miscarriage

Even positive changes can leave you feeling down if they don’t meet your expectations:

• Getting married
• Starting a family
• A big promotion
• Moving
• Sending the last child to college
• Retiring

Yes, dealing with both positive and negative transitions can be tough. And if you didn’t have strong role models for resilience when you were growing up, you may be someone who as an adult feels particularly battered by change, and you may have an underlying tendency toward depression. The changes in your life then transform that tendency into a dominant factor. Treatment with an experienced professional can help you feel better and develop an resilient and optimistic outlook.

Click through to learn about my approach to depression treatment. If you’d like to learn more, reach out to me here.

About the Author

Diane Spear, LCSW-R, owns a private practice in the Union Square/East Village area of Manhattan (New York City). She specializes in anxiety, depression, couples, and parenting treatment, and has been helping people find the joy in everyday life since 1995. She is accepting new patients. To learn more about Diane’s approach to treatment, click here.