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When you've been feeling down for a while, how can you tell if its depression or just the blues?

24 Answers
Last Updated: 05/21/2018 at 10:36pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Top Rated Answers
Romanticism
May 21st, 2018 10:36pm
Depression is a constant feeling that is always in the background, never goes away. It doesn’t only come around when something bad has happened. Even when you’re happy, if you’re depressed you still have that emptiness, that sadness in the back of your mind.
Alwaysdreamin
March 27th, 2015 5:00pm
We can all get the blues sometimes. It is normal. If your sadness is affecting your work, daily life, and/or relationships in your life, possibly reflect upon whether it could be more than sadness, possibly depression. We are not doctors here and cannot diagnose, however, reflecting upon this may help you to tell the difference. I hope this is helpful and best wishes to you in your recovery.
LeoNapier
January 25th, 2015 6:03pm
The symptoms of depression are persistent and can easily be found on the Internet. If in any doubt see your health provider for an assessment.
FromBrazil
December 28th, 2015 3:42am
Depression wont go away by itself, even if you do things that usually cheer you up, you still feel like something is out of the place. If you are experiencing this sad feeling for linger than usual, and for no apparent reason, it's time to ask for medical help.
Anonymous
April 10th, 2018 12:36am
If you are being feeling down for a while you can tell if it's depression or just in the blues by seeing if it goes for more than a day that you are sad if you feel sad every day than it may lean more toward depression if it's only sad for one day for a certain period and okay the next da than it's just you're under the blues.
Engineeringhappiness
March 26th, 2018 10:08am
if you are feeling empty, lonely in a crowd and sad all the time then it might be depression. seek help from a therapist
Anonymous
March 5th, 2018 5:51am
With the blues, you can believe it will get better. With depression you tend to not be able to see the light at the and of the tunnel and become hopeless. The blues can become depression, so be careful.
lovelybeans
August 29th, 2016 5:55pm
You can the difference if the feeling of sadness lasts longer after that while. If you don't feel that way then after a week+ you do, it could be bipolar disorder. Just be careful when self diagnosing because it could be too soon, always talk to a professional about how you feel.
Anonymous
August 8th, 2016 11:15pm
Clinical depression is characterized by many things, not just feeling down. Talk to your doctor or a counselor or even your parents to see if there is further action you can take to feeling better if you have seen the symptoms of depression on a trusted medical website and think that it may be depression.
Anonymous
June 14th, 2016 12:17pm
If you've been down for a while, the best way to tell if it's depression or just the blues is by speaking to a psychologist/therapist/ your doctor.
creativeSunshine46
April 11th, 2016 2:37am
If it's depression it will last over a week but if it's just the blues it will last less then a week
LaurenJ1995
March 7th, 2016 11:53pm
When depressed, you feel useless and like nothing will go right. With the blues, you feel sad.
ughhitshaley
January 19th, 2016 8:56pm
Depression with lurk on you and will stay their with you. It will make you feel worthless and hopeless like you dont have anybody.
Lotus48
January 4th, 2016 1:03pm
The blues usually last between 1-2 weeks, anything longer than that can be considered true depression. A lack of sleep and or motivation, inspiration, hope and melancholy is a sign of depression.
Anonymous
September 29th, 2015 10:55am
If you have been experiencing the symptoms of depression and for longer than 2 weeks, consider talking to a professional. The symptoms of depression can include: -Increased/decreased/broken sleeping -Increased/decreased appetite -Feeling hopeless, helpless and pessimistic -Thoughts of suicide or self harm And so on. Everyone experiences depression differently.
Anonymous
September 21st, 2015 2:58am
Usually you can tell by how long it lasts there may be symptoms. You could ask what the origin might be.
Anonymous
September 15th, 2015 3:16pm
Reach out to them and try sharing what you feel. Talk to those friends that are really close to you, and well trusted. i'm sure they will listen and understand you. I get it hat it'll take a lot of courage from you to do so, because you are afraid of being rejected or will get judge. But take that first step and i'm sure you will get better.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2015 12:07pm
there's a difference between depression and feeling down, depression is something that is constant until you help it, felling down can be because of some events that happened but it'll pass if you felt that this feeling stayed with you for a long time talk to someone, i recommend talking to a doctor
Anonymous
June 30th, 2015 9:19pm
There is differences between depression and just feeling down, perhaps talking to someone or talking to someone professionally.
handsomeOcean70
June 29th, 2015 9:09pm
write 3 rason why you like your life.. if you dont have when it is depression and you should she a doctor
optimisticJet101
June 17th, 2015 12:40am
If its over a long period of time and you seem to be having some thoughts you realise are harmful to yourself it may be a good idea to seek professional help.
DRJ83
May 23rd, 2015 9:32pm
I know I'm just feeling the blues when I just generally feeling down but life still continues as usual. I still go to work and still do my college homework, but I'm just not necessarily feeling chipper and happy while doing so. I know it's depression when I can't get out of bed to do the things I typically do in a day. If I can't go to work or can't do homework or can't go to a concert or sporting event that I've been planing for months, then I know it's definitely depression.
QuietAsAShadow
April 26th, 2015 1:41pm
I usually judge this by trying to notice if the feelings are interfering with my daily activities. If I am sleeping too much and not getting things done around the house, that is a good sign for me personally. I also try to notice my level of irritability with things I enjoy... like if my dogs are bugging me when they want to cuddle, I know it may be my depression.
Annalia
January 27th, 2015 1:19am
Typically depression lasts a longer duration. It really depends though from person to person since we all react to life differently.