Sadness is a natural human feeling we experience in life. The outlook on life since the pandemic has been bleak for many. It has permanently changed so many people’s lives. According to a study conducted by the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, most Ontario students surveyed report feeling depressed about the future because of COVID-19.
These students are our future. Maybe you have been feeling down and out, not eating, sleeping all the time and being anti-social. You may wonder if you are experiencing a low mood or depression. Being able to distinguish between low mood and depression will help you to get the treatment you need. Depression treatment will improve your life.
You should ask yourself these seven questions when determining whether you are experiencing a low mood or depression.
1. How long have you been feeling this way?
Low mood is usually triggered by current stresses such as lack of finances or physical conditions. Depression can develop if multiple stress factors coincide or if the low mood lasts longer than two weeks. If you have been experiencing these feelings for longer than two weeks, you may be suffering from depression.
2. Are the feelings impacting your daily life?
3. Has your sleep been affected?
Persons who suffer from depression have difficulty falling asleep or sleeping a lot more than usual. If you notice a change in your sleep patterns where you cannot fall asleep or sleep excessively, it may be depression.
4. Are you still enjoying your favourite activities?
Depression can cause disinterest in activities or spending time with loved ones. If you notice a decrease in interest in activities or spending time with family and friends, you may be depressed.
5. Have you noticed any changes in your appetite or weight?
A significant increase in appetite followed by weight gain or a sudden decrease in appetite followed by weight loss can be a sign of depression.
6. Are you constantly feeling tired and lethargic?
Common symptoms of depression include exhaustion and lethargy. Completing simple tasks or activities of daily living feels like a struggle. If you notice that you are always tired and have no motivation to do simple things, it may indicate depression.
7. Are you having thoughts of self-harm or suicide?
The Centre for Addictions and Mental Health noted that nearly 1 in 5 Ontario students reported contemplating suicide in 2021. Thoughts of self-harm or suicide are a serious matter. If you or someone you know has thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call 1-833-456-4566 immediately so you can get professional crisis support.
The above questions are personal questions to ask yourself if you have been experiencing depressed feelings. Knowing when to get depression treatment is vital to feel better and enjoy a better quality of life. If your answers to the questions align with your experiences, it may be best to seek therapy for depression.
Depression Treatment In Toronto
At Talm Therapy, we provide the support and guidance you need to create lasting change.
We provide therapy for depression that is:
Diverse & inclusive – Our therapists are warm, empathetic, highly-trained mental health professionals with a wide variety of lived experiences.
Process-focused and results based – We regularly check-in to see if we are making progress on your goals and seek feedback after each session to make sure we’re constantly adapting to your needs.
Comprehensive – Our therapists participate in group supervision, engage in gold-standard professional development programs, and regularly coordinate with a lead psychiatrist to optimize care.
Our therapists are trained in over seven clinical approaches and work with over 50 conditions. We use compassion, consistent motivation and a proven path forward.
Get the support you need to make the change you crave.
