How do I know if I'm depressed?

Depression is a common but serious condition. Depression can look different for each person and can vary between a child, adult, male or female, but common symptoms include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood 

• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

• Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual hobbies and activities

• Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

• Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping

• Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

• Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not go away with treatment

• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

  
  

You do not have to experience all of these symptoms to have depression, but if you experience a few of these consistently or the symptoms are impacting your daily functioning, it's critical that you speak to a professional (e.g., school counselor, pediatrician, primary care physician, OBGYN, psychologist). 

Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Siuts is a licensed psychologist and is skilled at helping women address their symptoms of depression. Dr. Rodriguez-Siuts may recommend also working with a psychiatrist for medication support, but medication is not always needed. Together with Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Siuts, you can weigh the pros and cons together and decide if you should seek a medication consultation or not. 

Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Siuts primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IP) to address symptoms of depression in therapy. CBT includes learning how to identify and challenge unhealthy ways of thinking/behaving and replacing them with healthier ways of thinking/behaving. Interpersonal therapy focuses on identifying how interpersonal and life events are impacting your life. Making adjustments to the way you communicate, setting healthy boundaries with others, and building a stronger social support systems are all common topics addressed in Interpersonal therapy.​

If you are still asking yourself, 'How do I know if I'm depressed?' contact, Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Siuts today. She is a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, but is licensed to practice in 43 states. Visit her 'Get Started' page for more information to begin addressing your concerns today!

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

In life-threatening situations,

call 911