How do I know I am depressed and not just sad?
It is important to note that sadness and depression are not the same. The feeling of being sad is the reaction and response to an event. Depression is a diagnosis that requires care and treatment. Depression can have a negative impact on the feelings and behaviors that a person has. This impacts the sleeping, eating, and daily activities that a person has. It is difficult for a person to experience their day in a pleasurable way and impacts a person for weeks, months, or sometimes years if untreated.
Are there different types of depression?
There are a variety of levels of depression: mild, moderate, or severe. It is important to work with a therapist to recognize the level of depression. All types are important to get help and support for. Your therapist will help find the tools that are right for you to navigate this time for you dependent upon what area of your life is being impacted from the type of depression that you have.
What factors increase the risk of depression?
Family history has a large impact on the factors of depression. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with depression, this puts you at a higher risk. This does not mean that you cannot be helped or that depression will look the same. It is important to get help and support. Stress is a factor of depression and is circumstantial as trauma and stress are different and are triggered differently for everyone.