Signs and Symptoms

Everyone experiences low mood – it’s hard to feel positive and upbeat every minute of the day. Low mood can be because of a tough day, lack of sleep, relationship issues or “just one of those days!”. It’s important to understand where your line is drawn between everyday low mood, and depression that is having a significant impact on your functioning. You may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

• Physical: Feeling tired, headaches, sleep problems, change in appetite, struggling to train
• Psychological: Lack of motivation, feeling miserable and low, frustrated, sad
• Behavioural: Seeing friends less, struggling to find motivation to go to work/games, engaging in unsafe drinking or drug use

A depressive disorder is diagnosed by a medical or mental health professional, and is usually characterized by significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Depressive episodes are characterised by the following criterion:

• Depressed mood most of the day for a period of 2 weeks of more
• Diminished pleasure or interest in all/most activities
• Unintentional weight change (loss or gain)
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Agitation that is noticed by others
• Fatigue/lack of energy
• Persistent feelings of worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate or make decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death – understand it is possible to be diagnosed with depression and not experience any self-harm or suicidal thoughts

Read more about depression here or check-in with how you feel here.