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Depression Test
from:Sometimes it can be difficult distinguishing between the normal emotional ups and downs that people experience as part of life and depression. But when you begin to suspect that you should feel much better than you do about yourself and your world, taking a depression test can provide important direction.
Depression does not have one form. It can take many different forms in terms of symptoms, and no two people are alike. But there are certain symptoms that frequently occur and can serve as measures of your emotional status. If nothing else, taking a depression test can help you decide if you need to see a doctor. Another benefit of utilizing a depression test as a barometer of your emotional state is that if you are experiencing depression, it may be hard for you to define your symptoms.
The depression test is merely a checklist of symptoms you identify as being applicable to your situation. It can be amazing how many people are actually unaware they have a mild case of depression or don’t realize how much their life has changed due to depression. There are so many manifestations of depression that it’s impossible to list them all.
The depression test can be used by the person who suspects they are experiencing depression or by family or friends who aren’t sure how to recognize depression in someone they love. It’s important to identify depression as early as possible, because depression will get worse. The general rule of thumb is to consider if you have experienced several of any of the following symptoms for longer than 2 weeks.
• Thoughts your life is spiraling out of control
• Believing your life is unimportant
• Convinced no one would miss you if you were to die
• Can’t make any decisions – even small ones
• Don’t anticipate anything at all as being enjoyable
• Feeling ashamed all the time
• Experiencing frequent and unexplained crying
• Can’t enjoy being with friends or attending events
• Stopped exercising
• Giving up things once enjoyed
• Avoiding people whenever possible
• Feeling alone all the time
• Doesn’t enjoy being with family anymore
• Feeling like no one understands you
• Losing appetite
• Unable to sleep or sleeping too much
• Having no energy
The depression test can include many more symptoms, but this gives you a good idea of the kinds of things you would take into consideration. As you can tell from the list, depression affects a lot more than just your emotions. It can affect your body and your relationships too.
Once you take the depression test, the next step is to begin tracking the mood changes. By creating a mood diary, there’s now something very tangible and quite convincing to show a doctor or therapist. It also provides you a clear picture of what’s happening and that can be very therapeutic in itself.
Depression News
Tropical depression forms off Mexico in Gulf (CNN)
The 13th tropical depression of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season formed Monday in the Bay of Campeche, just off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center said.
Read more...Poll: 60% say depression 'likely' (CNN Money)
Nearly six out of ten Americans believe another economic depression is likely, according to a poll released Monday.
Read more...No depression, major recession, from US finance crisis: Bill Gates (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The richest man in America, Bill Gates, said in a television interview broadcast Sunday that the US financial crisis does not spell the end of capitalism and will not lead to a depression.
Read more...Tropical depression forms near Mexico oil fields (Reuters via Yahoo! India News)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A tropical depression formed on Monday in the southern Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Mexico's main oil production facilities but oil ports remained open.
Read more...Great Depression survivors worried but don't see history repeating (Sun-Sentinel)
Depression survivors worried but don't see history repeating Bank failures, plunging stock prices, mortgage foreclosures, rising unemployment — no wonder the specter of the Great Depression has been invoked repeatedly in the current financial crisis.
Read more...Tropical Depression 13 forms in southwestern Gulf; no threat to Louisiana (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Satellite imagery of thunderstorms formed in a low pressure system in the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico indicates the formation of the 13th tropical depression of the Atlantic hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center announced this morning.
Read more...