During a depressive episode, a person experiences a depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty). They may feel a loss of pleasure or interest in activities.
A depressive episode is different from regular mood fluctuations. They last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
Other symptoms are also present, which may include:
poor concentration
feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth
hopelessness about the future
thoughts about dying or suicide
disrupted sleep
changes in appetite or weight
feeling very tired or low in energy
struglles to come out of bed
inactivity

Depression is not just being sad and crying, which is what society tends to think it is. There are many ways in which depression can affect people. Motivation can be difficult, and becoming disinterested in parts of your life. I would recommend seeing a GP with your concerns as they can refer you to a Psychiatrist and a psychologist. Unfortunately there was already a huge wait before the pandemic so be prepared to wait months before you get your first appointment. When booking your first appointment see if you can book a few appointments weekly or fortnightly ahead, as they usually want to see you again but will be another wait. During the first appointment it will usually be to discuss your concerns and life history During this time of waiting for your first appointment, keeping a mood diary may be beneficial for you to reference to see a pattern. It took me 12 years after I first had issues to start treatment. I would wait months for the appointment and by that time I was in a good place, so the cycle repeated for years. 21 years on from having issues I am now fairly stable.

You continuously feel down. The smallest thing evolves into something major. You barely leave your home, lose motivation, you isolate yourself from loved ones, the cycle of negativity is nonstop and you ca go on for a week without bathing. It sucks. I wish you all the best.

There is a DASS test that psychologists (and I think GPs) can do with you to see how you scale.

I guess am currently suffering stress. Kids home learning and lock down make it worse.

Not everyone’s signs are the same and one can be anxious without being depressed. The best thing to do is to talk to your GP and get help if it is needed. Most people have periods of depression in their lives and how they deal with it makes them who they are. I wish you all the best for your future.

I am currently suffering depression, I believe. I’ve written down a list of all of my symptonms and have a phone call with my Doctor today. Symptoms include sleeping difficulties, lack of motivation, not wanting to get out of bed or participate in life, teary, lack of interest in food, finding it hard to be happy about anything, self-loathing, withdrawal from people and life, … there’s a long list. I would suggest you speak to a Doctor to see if you are depressed or there’s something else going on.

If you think you do, hun you might, don’t worry it’s normal for everyone to suffer depression at some point especially being at home and a mum the real 24/7 job. Feel free to talk to a trusted friend or family member and remember the kids need a balanced mum and you need your sanity. Most areas have free community counsellors that can be available over the phone or face to face. Just remember all parents need to look after themselves, I’m a mum to two special needs teens and I’m now disabled myself at 40’s, I’m in chronic pain and I pushed myself for years. I’m a trained counsellor with 5 diploma’s so I have a few insights but mostly I have before and continue to suffer depression but it doesn’t mean I’m depressed all day. It’s never easy to ask for help, you might just need me time! Look after yourself mummy!

If you haven’t been in touch with your GP yet, please do. We don’t have to feel so overwhelmed, hopeless and sad. The sooner you get some support, the sooner you can get back to feeling like yourself. Sometimes I tell myself that ‘if at the end of the day, my kids are fed, warm and know that I love them – then I have done an amazing job.’ Try to be kinder to yourself, especially with self talk,

My anxiety and depression has been really bad to the point i cant face going into the office. I didn’t find anything enjoyable and i just wanted to sleep. I went to my gp and made a o physiologist appointment. Get help its ok to ask for help. i am starting to feel better everyday. also get your vitamin levels checked turned out my iron was extremely low and just getting in under control has helped. low levels in your body can cause anxiety and depression

If you are concerned definitely reach out, the doctor can give you a mental health plan to see a psychologist. It’s what I did and it was the best decision ever. We should not expect to be experts in parenting, we are all learning. And you’ll be a better mum for getting the help! Take it from me!!

Sometimes it might help to have a telehealth appointment with a counsellor, they can assess whether you are depressed. The questions they ask can be “have you felt sad for no good reason, have you felt worthless, have you felt so sad that nothing could cheer you up..”. I have depression myself.

The best thing would be to talk to a doctor who may be able to recommend someone else to talk to or offer medication that may help.

Signs can be different to everyone. But common ones are just feeling down, wanting to sleep all the time, feeling sad a lot of being numb, not being able to be present in the moment. Thanks for being open and honest, plenty of support out there!

Great question and some great answers. I’ve been wondering the same thing, how do I know. I’m experiencing a lot of the feelings mentioned in the comments. I went to my GP, he wrote out a prescription for valium and told me to not mix it with alcohol or I could end up toe tagged in the morgue. I’m thinking I should seek a 2nd opinion?? PS I haven’t touched the valium, I wanted more then just drugs