AM I DEPRESSED? (DEPRESSION SELF-TEST)

Contact Time Wellness Centers today to begin depression treatment in Arkansas.

Take the Depression Self-Test 

If you suspect you may have depression, there’s a short test you can take to understand what symptoms you have. Take our “Am I Depressed?” quiz and answer each question honestly.

Understanding Depression

Depression can baffle both the people who struggle with it and those who care about them. It can feel tempting for the individual to try to force themselves into a good mood before they realize their mental illness keeps them from being able to manage their moods.

For some, depression is a chronic condition that can be controlled using therapy and psychiatric medications. Others can overcome it completely with the right treatment plan.

The Prevalence of Depression

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that from August 2021 to August 2023, approximately 13.1% of adolescents and adults aged 12 and older experienced depression in the previous two weeks. The prevalence of depression is higher in females at 16.0% versus males at 10.1%.

Regardless of when a person develops depression or how long they have it, it’s important to get professional help to reduce further unnecessary suffering.

Depression vs Grief

There is a difference between experiencing grief and having depression. Grief is a temporary emotion that happens when someone loses a person or pet they love. If the grief doesn’t seem to end, and the person remains depressed for an inordinate amount of time and is unable to move past it, they may have developed depression.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression causes people to develop signs and symptoms that are often obvious to themselves and others. Common signs of depression include:

• Consistently feeling sad and depressed
• Isolating
• Avoiding social events
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Feeling tired
• Mood swings
• Difficulty thinking, making decisions, and concentrating on conversations or tasks
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Medical symptoms with no explanation, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and body aches
• Abusing drugs or alcohol to feel better
• Suicidal feelings

Types of Depressive Disorders

Not everyone has the same type of depression, which makes getting a diagnosis from a mental health professional important. The types of depression include:

• Major Depressive Disorder: A common type of depression that causes a person to feel depressed and sad most of the time.
• Dysthymic Disorder: A depression that also includes periods of feeling elated.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD is a type of depression that happens during certain seasons of the year. It most commonly occurs during the late autumn and winter months.
• Postpartum Depression: Women sometimes develop this type of depression within two weeks or longer after they give birth.
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Much more severe than PMS, this depression happens during the days or weeks before a woman has her menstrual period.

Risk Factors of Depression

If a person takes our “Am I Depressed?” quiz, they may wonder what puts them at risk for depression. For many, the answer lies at least partly in their genetics. Mental illnesses can run in a family, which increases a person’s chances of having one. People who experience very sad or traumatic events sometimes find they get locked into depressive feelings and can’t find their way out. As well, having faulty brain chemistry can lead to depression.

Am I Depressed?

Did you take our “Am I depressed?” quiz and now wonder what the results mean? Our quiz alone cannot determine if a person has depression. The next step is to discuss your test results with your doctor or a mental health professional to determine if you have a depression diagnosis.

How Is Depression Treated?

Depression often responds well to different types of therapy that help the individual understand the source of their emotions and learn to develop healthy coping skills.

Common types of therapy used to treat depression include:

• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• EMDR Therapy
• Life Skills 
• Family Therapy
• Trauma Therapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Biofeedback Therapy
• Red Light Therapy
• Yoga and Mindfulness Therapy
• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Equine Therapy
• Brain Mapping
• Experiential Therapies
• Alternative

Resources for Depression

If you took our “Am I Depressed?” quiz, you may be interested in finding resources to help you or someone you love who has depression:

• National Institute of Mental Health: Information, statistics, and resources for help.
• 988 Lifeline: A free suicide and crisis hotline.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: Information, education, and resources for help.