Often we use the words, I’m down or I’m depressed when we are having a bad day. A bad day, now and then, is normal – a part of life.

When that bad day turns into a week or two, you may be suffering from clinical depression.

Do you struggle with intense feelings of sadness, guilt, disappointment and frustration? Have you become isolated from others because you did not want to burden people with your feelings or because you felt deeply misunderstood by others when they did attempt to connect?

Here are some symptoms of depression that may signal it is time to get help from a professional:

• Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
• Sleeping too much or too little; middle-of-night or early-morning waking
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
• Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• Irritability, restlessness
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as chronic pain or digestive disorders)
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
• Thoughts of death or suicide

You do not have to live this way; there are ways to feel better and live the life you want.

If you have a few of these symptoms, it may be time to schedule an appointment and talk to a professional at The Well Clinical Counseling Center.

Patricia (Patty) Behrens, LMFT