How do I know if I am depressed or just sad?
Being sad usually eases within days, while being depressed means low mood most of the day, nearly every day, for 2 weeks or more.
Depression also changes more than mood. Look for loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, sleeping much more or less, appetite changes, low energy, trouble concentrating, and feeling worthless or guilty. Sadness tends to have a clear cause and still lets you laugh, work and connect.
If low mood has lasted 2 weeks or more and gets in the way of work, relationships or daily tasks, talk to a doctor. The PHQ-9 questionnaire takes about two minutes and gives you something concrete to bring. Depression is common and very treatable.
Source: NIMH: Depression
See a doctor promptly if
- Any thoughts of suicide, of being better off dead, or of harming yourself. Call or text 988 in the US, any hour, free
- Feeling unable to keep yourself safe, or making any preparation to act on such thoughts. Go to an emergency department or call your local emergency number (911 in the US)
- Being unable to eat, drink, get out of bed or care for yourself for days
- Hearing voices, or fixed beliefs that others say are not real, alongside low mood
- A sudden switch to unusually high energy, little need for sleep and racing ideas. This needs prompt medical review
Try the mood check2 min, free, nothing to installThe PHQ-9 and GAD-7, the two questionnaires doctors screen low mood and anxiety with, scored privately on your device.
Mind and sleepA private mood check, and guides on anxiety, low mood, ADHD and sleep
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
Something on your mind?
A psychiatrist answers one question privately, in writing, within 24 hours. Or talk it through on a 20 minute video call.
People also ask
Health education, not medical advice.