How to Know if You Are Depressed?

28 de octubre de 2025

2 min de lectura

According to the WHO, over a quarter billion people all over the world suffer from depression. Anyone can experience its symptoms, which include low mood, anxiety, and reduced energy. Do you think you are one of them? Check out!

Puntos clave

According to the WHO, over a quarter billion people all over the world suffer from depression.
Symptoms of depression
Necessary tests

Para quién es

Personas que exploran Salud mental a través de depresión, estrés.

Por qué importa

Este artículo te ayuda a orientarte rápidamente y luego avanzar a una colección o serie si quieres seguir profundizando.

Autor del artículo

Dra. Halina

Psiquiatra

People often explain away depression by blaming fatigue or the weather. Depression is a serious disorder caused by the malfunctioning of neurotransmitters in brain neurons.

It is easy to check if you are affected by depression with the help of Beck's depression inventory, a popular tool available online on the web. Do your scores show that you have depression? If this is the case, it is necessary to consult with a medical professional and undergo medical tests to confirm the diagnosis and make sure that it is not something else.

Symptoms of depression

Low mood
Losing interest in things that previously brought you joy
Fatigue that doesn't let you engage — even in your regular routines
Losing faith in yourself and your abilities
Problems concentrating and managing daily tasks
Sleepiness and difficulty falling asleep
Eating disorders: decreased appetite or craving for food
Heavy thoughts about death
Uncomfortable bodily feelings: prolonged headaches, back pain, heaviness in the chest (sensation of a stone in the chest or a heavyweight pressing on you)

An international classification of disorders suggests paying attention to two main symptoms and three to four additional ones that last longer than two weeks.

Necessary tests

The diagnosis can be confirmed by the following examinations:

Clinical and anamnestic examination. This includes analysis of symptoms and comparing them with diagnostic criteria. During this examination, a medical professional asks questions about the patient's life and factors that impacted his or her condition.

Pathopsychological research. This helps a clinical psychologist give a medical opinion about the patient's emotional-volitional sphere, memory, thinking, and focus to conclude whether it is a depression or another disorder.

Examination by a therapist, neurologist, and endocrinologist. This can also be required as symptoms of depression are sometimes related to other disorders. Depression can be a symptom of another illness — for example, hypothyroidism, or be part of many interrelated psychological disorders, such as bipolar affective disorder.

Laboratory methods of examination. These are used to identify the cause of the depressive syndrome. Most likely, the patient will be sent for a test of the level of thyroid hormones TSH, free T3, free T4, AT to TPO, and AT to thyroglobulin. It is also advisable to check the level of other hormones (FSH, LH, prolactin, cortisol), have a general blood test and a blood test for serum iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, and serotonin.

Instrumental examination methods. In some cases, an examination requires an electroencephalogram to measure the level of electrical activity in the brain, an electrocardiogram to diagnose arrhythmias or heart block, and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain to exclude a brain tumor.

Not all of the above tests are specifically designed for identifying depression. Most of them can exclude the possibility of more serious disorders that have symptoms similar to those of depression and prescribe a proper treatment.

Seguir leyendo

Salud mental#psicología

Psychologist, Psychotherapist, or Psychiatrist: Who To Go to With Problems?

If you are haunted by low energy, stress, and depression, and are struggling to cope with it on your own, it is worth seeking help from a specialist. However, you may not be sure who to consult. What is the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist?

Dr. Dennis28 oct 2025

Salud mental#depresión

New Study Confirms Vitamin D Does Not Reduce the Risk of Depression in Adults

Vitamin D is one of the most widely-discussed vitamins: its deficiency is blamed on everything from low immunity to mood swings, and its effectiveness is widely accepted. However, according to a number of studies, claims about the benefits of vitamin D are sometimes overstated.

Darya28 oct 2025

Pérdida de peso#pérdida de peso

9 estereotipos que le impiden perder peso

El éxito en la pérdida de peso depende en gran medida de tener metas y una mentalidad adecuadas. Hemos recopilado los estereotipos más comunes que, a pesar de parecer “correctos”, suelen impedir lograr resultados.

Dr. Vera2 dic 2025

Estilo de vida saludable#glaucoma

The Beginners’ Guide: What You Need To Know About Cannabidiol (CBD)

So you have heard about CBD and it can help you with your problem, but you don’t know where to start. Here is a short beginner’s guide to CBD!

Dra. Asya28 oct 2025

Instala Ornament para no solo leer estos artículos, sino también hacer seguimiento de tu salud, guardar resultados de análisis y acceder a otras funciones útiles

Instalar Ornament