Depression
Depression isn't just feeling sad — it's a persistent heaviness that drains energy, motivation, and the ability to enjoy things. It can show up as emptiness, irritability, or simply feeling numb. Depression is a medical condition, not a character flaw, and effective treatments exist.
Common signs
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Changes in appetite or sleep
- Fatigue or low energy most days
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Irritability or restlessness
- Thoughts of worthlessness or guilt
How therapy helps
Therapy helps by rebuilding routines, challenging negative thought patterns, and developing coping strategies. For some people, medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner makes therapy more effective. Newer options like TMS exist for depression that hasn't responded to other treatments.
Related approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) · Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) · Psychodynamic · Medication Management · Tms
When to seek help
Reach out if low mood lasts more than two weeks, affects daily functioning, or includes thoughts of harming yourself — in which case call or text 988 right away.
Related topics
Anxiety · Grief and Loss · Postpartum Depression and Anxiety · Stress and Burnout · Seasonal Depression · Psychosis
Screening tools suggest — they don't diagnose. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose a mental health condition.
Clinical review pending This page was written by the DocSana team and is awaiting review by a licensed clinician.