6 Questions To Ask Before You Believe You’re Depressed

Feeling depressed is one of the toughest and most challenging things you can ever go through. But before you give into the darkness, ask yourself a few questions, to understand better whether you’re actually depressed or not.

A chemical imbalance in the brain. A weak mindset. A natural product of our obsession with social media.

Whatever you believe depression is, the fact remains that it is one of the most pervasive mental health predicaments afflicting people today. And make no mistake: depression is serious. It is the leading cause of suicide at its worst, and a cause of vague melancholy at its best.

The symptoms of depression are too numerous to count. From unrelenting sadness to general apathy or “emptiness”, to somatic complaints, depression leaves no facet of life unaffected.

Related: 6 Painful Truths Depressed People Won’t EVER Talk About

Perhaps most perplexing, is determining the cause of depression. While commonalities exist, the symptoms that dominate the disorder are unique to the individual; and as such, the cause of the disorder can be just as varied.

At this stage of the psychological game, we can’t pinpoint a specific individual and say: this is exactly what is causing your depression!

So, unfortunately, the most common course of action is to prescribe antidepressants to modulate the chemicals gone awry in the brain. But don’t be fooled: antidepressants are not a magic pill; sometimes, they do alleviate the symptoms, sometimes they do nothing at all, and sometimes, they make the situation worse.

But before we believe we are depressed, we have to be radically honest with ourselves.

Depressed

If you think you may be depressed, here are some things to ask yourself:

1. What is my internal dialogue like?

2. Who am I surrounding myself with?

3. What kind of media am I engaging with?

4. Am I eating in a way that is kind to my body and mind?

5. Have I been exercising regularly?

6. Have I been sleeping enough, and at regular hours?

Of course, it is difficult to determine directionality here. For instance, is depression influencing the dietary choices I make, or are my dietary choices making me depressed? Is my internal dialogue making me feel depressed, or is the depression influencing my internal dialogue?

So it’s not a simple matter. But self-reflection is the preliminary step towards a happy mental life.

Check out Saba May’s website, Metta Human for more such informative articles. 

Written By Saba May
Originally Appeared In Metta Human
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If we were overly indulged or our disappointment was unconsoled in childhood, we become easily discouraged or more willful as adults. Both responses hinder our ability to adapt to reality. Stubborn self-will can prevent us from finding workable solutions.

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6 Questions To Ask Before You Believe You’re Depressed

Written By:

Feeling depressed is one of the toughest and most challenging things you can ever go through. But before you give into the darkness, ask yourself a few questions, to understand better whether you’re actually depressed or not.

A chemical imbalance in the brain. A weak mindset. A natural product of our obsession with social media.

Whatever you believe depression is, the fact remains that it is one of the most pervasive mental health predicaments afflicting people today. And make no mistake: depression is serious. It is the leading cause of suicide at its worst, and a cause of vague melancholy at its best.

The symptoms of depression are too numerous to count. From unrelenting sadness to general apathy or “emptiness”, to somatic complaints, depression leaves no facet of life unaffected.

Related: 6 Painful Truths Depressed People Won’t EVER Talk About

Perhaps most perplexing, is determining the cause of depression. While commonalities exist, the symptoms that dominate the disorder are unique to the individual; and as such, the cause of the disorder can be just as varied.

At this stage of the psychological game, we can’t pinpoint a specific individual and say: this is exactly what is causing your depression!

So, unfortunately, the most common course of action is to prescribe antidepressants to modulate the chemicals gone awry in the brain. But don’t be fooled: antidepressants are not a magic pill; sometimes, they do alleviate the symptoms, sometimes they do nothing at all, and sometimes, they make the situation worse.

But before we believe we are depressed, we have to be radically honest with ourselves.

Depressed

If you think you may be depressed, here are some things to ask yourself:

1. What is my internal dialogue like?

2. Who am I surrounding myself with?

3. What kind of media am I engaging with?

4. Am I eating in a way that is kind to my body and mind?

5. Have I been exercising regularly?

6. Have I been sleeping enough, and at regular hours?

Of course, it is difficult to determine directionality here. For instance, is depression influencing the dietary choices I make, or are my dietary choices making me depressed? Is my internal dialogue making me feel depressed, or is the depression influencing my internal dialogue?

So it’s not a simple matter. But self-reflection is the preliminary step towards a happy mental life.

Check out Saba May’s website, Metta Human for more such informative articles. 

Written By Saba May
Originally Appeared In Metta Human
Questions Ask Before Depressed pin

Published On:

Last updated on:

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave A Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Why ‘Lizard Brain’ Deepens Anxiety And Depression: Understanding Social Cognitive Network

Social Cognitive Network: Linking Anxiety to the 'Lizard Brain'

The social cognitive network is your brain’s secret weapon for understanding people and emotions. But when it teams up with the amygdala—our ancient “fight-or-flight” alarm—it can shape how we handle social cues, sometimes making things trickier.

KEY POINTS

The brain’s social cognitive network keeps constant communication with the amygdala, an ancient structure.

This shows that the amygdala influences the social cognitive network by providing emotional information.

This research has potential implications for treating psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Up Next

Depression And Despair: Letting Go And Moving Forward

Overcoming Depression and Despair Important Ways

Depression and despair can feel all-consuming, but they also signal a need for change. Learn how to heal, grow, and rediscover hope with this article by Darlene Lancer!

When reality doesn’t match our desires and childhood coping mechanisms fail us, life presents us with painful lessons that may lead to depression. The patterns we developed in response to unmet childhood needs can strain our relationships.

If we were overly indulged or our disappointment was unconsoled in childhood, we become easily discouraged or more willful as adults. Both responses hinder our ability to adapt to reality. Stubborn self-will can prevent us from finding workable solutions.

Maturity allows us to shed our illusions, accept reality, and take proactive steps to meet our needs.

Up Next

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Symptoms of depression in men can often be overlooked. While women may be more open about their emotions, many men tend to keep their struggles hidden. They might not cry, but that doesn’t mean they’re not hurting.

Depression can show up in surprising ways, and sometimes, it’s easy to miss. Today, we are going to talk about not just the symptoms of depression in men, but we are also going to explore the impact it has on them.

This can help you spot the signs that a man might be silently struggling with mental health, and this could be the first step toward helping him get the support he needs.

Related:

Up Next

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If you are looking for a simple but effective coping technique for anxiety, look no further: the 54321 anxiety technique is your answer!

This technique is one of the easiest relaxation methods you can learn. So, whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or facing a stressful situation it will help you stay grounded in the present moment by using your senses.

Whether you’re dealing with occasional anxiety or looking for new tools to add to your mental health toolkit, this technique can be a valuable resource. In this blog, we will explore how the 54321 anxiety technique works and guide you through implementing it in your daily life. 

Understanding Anxiety and Its Unavoidable Effects

Up Next

Music Therapy: How To Use Music For Emotional Healing?

Do you ever notice how your favorite song instantly lifts your spirits when it comes on? Or how it can calm your mind at the end of a stressful day? Well, that’s the power of music. It is not just some words and sounds, it’s a powerful tool that can also heal us. So, let us explore ways in which we can use music for emotional healing.

Can we use music for emotional healing?

Music heals. This is a fact kn

Up Next

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Do you find yourself caught in an emotional tug-of-war? Is your depression causing anger? If every little frustration feels like it could explode into rage and snapping at loved ones for no reason has become a common habit, learn the ways to help yourself with depression and anger.

As an effect of depression, anger is quite common because we get tired of managing our depressed moods and get frustrated. Eventually, this affects our psyche and generates byproducts like irritability which negatively influence our daily lives. 

In this blog, I will help you understand when depression causes anger and how to manage it.

Scientific Connection Between Depression and Anger

Up Next

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Have you ever felt like you are going through the motions of daily life but not really feeling present or engaged? Many people experience depression without the extreme of suicidal thoughts, and it’s often overlooked or misunderstood.

Most of the time depression is associated with visible signs of sadness. However, sometimes it does appear with hidden signs.  You might think, “I’m just tired,” or “It’s just a rough patch,” but these feelings can be more than that. Depression can manifest in subtle ways that we often ignore or dismiss.

In this blog, we’ll explore 8 signs of depression that don’t involve suicidal thoughts—signs you might have been ignoring.

Read More:

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