Do I Have Depression?

If you’ve been feeling sad, empty, hopeless or disconnected from things you normally enjoy for much of the day over a period of weeks, you may be experiencing depression. Other signs can include changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, guilt and thoughts of death or suicide. Self-check questions can help you recognize possible symptoms, but only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose depression.

How to Know if What You’re Feeling Is Depression

Everyone feels low sometimes. Stress at work, relationship difficulties, financial worries, illness, grief and other life events can all affect your mood.

But if you’re asking, “Do I have depression?”, it may be because what you’re experiencing feels different from an ordinary bad patch. Perhaps it has lasted longer than you expected, or you’re finding it harder to function as you normally would.

Depression can affect how you feel, think, sleep, eat, work and interact with other people. It doesn’t always look like constant sadness, either. Some people feel numb or detached. Others become irritable, exhausted or unable to enjoy things they previously loved.

Depression is also common. According to the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 19.7 million U.S. adults experienced a major depressive episode during the previous year.

Common Symptoms of Depression

Depression doesn’t affect everyone in exactly the same way. Some symptoms are emotional, while others affect your body and your ability to manage everyday tasks.

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 if you’re in immediate danger.

Common signs can include:

How long symptoms last and how much they interfere with daily life also matter. Depression ranges from mild to severe, and for some people, symptoms make it very difficult to work, maintain relationships or take care of themselves.

Depression Self-Check Questions

If you’re wondering, “Am I depressed?”, think about how you’ve been feeling and functioning over recent weeks rather than focusing on one particularly difficult day.

Ask yourself:

• Have I felt sad, empty, hopeless or emotionally numb most days?
• Have I stopped enjoying things that normally matter to me?
• Have my sleeping or eating habits changed?
• Do ordinary responsibilities feel much harder than they used to?
• Am I struggling to concentrate or make decisions?
• Have I become more withdrawn or irritable?
• Do I frequently feel guilty, worthless or like a burden?
• Are these feelings affecting work, relationships, self-care or everyday life?

These questions aren’t a diagnostic depression test. However, if several sound familiar and the changes have persisted, consider discussing them with a mental health professional. If you’ve noticed these feelings without an obvious cause, our article on feeling depressed for no reason may also help.

When to Talk to a Professional

You don’t have to wait until depression becomes unbearable before seeking support. Consider talking to a professional if your symptoms persist, repeatedly return or begin interfering with relationships, work, school, self-care or other parts of everyday life.

If you’re thinking about suicide or harming yourself, seek immediate help. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

How Depression Is Diagnosed

There isn’t a single blood test, scan or online questionnaire that can independently diagnose depression. Instead, a healthcare or mental health professional will usually ask about your symptoms, how long they’ve lasted, their severity and how they’re affecting your life. They may also discuss your medical history, medications, substance use, family history and other mental health symptoms.

A thorough assessment can also identify whether depression is occurring alongside another condition, such as anxiety or trauma, and help determine what type of care may be appropriate. Our guide to what to expect after a depression diagnosis covers the next steps.

Treatment Options at Restore

Depression is treatable. However, treatment isn’t identical for everyone. Depending on your needs, depression treatment may involve psychotherapy, medication management, behavioral therapies or a combination of approaches. The level of support you need may also change according to the severity of your symptoms and how much they’re affecting your ability to function.

At our campus in Deerfield Beach, Restore Mental Health provides residential mental health treatment for adults who need more structured support than traditional outpatient therapy can provide. Residential care gives people a supportive environment in which they can focus on their mental health and participate in an individualized treatment plan.

For people who don’t need round-the-clock support, outpatient mental health care offers structured treatment while you continue living at home. Restore also provides a range of mental health treatment programs designed around different clinical needs. Our admissions team can help you understand which level of care fits your situation.

Getting Help Today

If low mood, loss of interest, exhaustion, hopelessness or other symptoms are making everyday life harder, a professional assessment can help you understand what’s happening. The next step may be therapy, medication, more structured mental health treatment or another form of support based on your needs.

Restore Mental Health provides individualized care for adults experiencing depression and other primary mental health conditions. You don’t need to know exactly what kind of treatment you need before reaching out.

Call (877) 810-2074 or contact Restore Mental Health today to speak confidentially with our admissions team about what you’re experiencing and learn more about your treatment options.