Looking for an online depression test?

There is no online test. A doctor usually starts with a conversation during a virtual or in-person visit. They’ll ask some questions about your background and what you’re feeling to get a sense of what you’re going through. Your answers will help them understand your symptoms.

If your doctor does find that you’re dealing with depression, they will help find the best treatment plan for you. Most times, depression responds best to a combination of medicine and therapy.

Depression can feel different for different people. Some might have intense symptoms, while others might take longer to notice something’s up. The most common symptoms of depression are

• Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• Lost interest in everyday activities, including ones you previously enjoyed
• Feelings of worthlessness or self-loathing
• Feelings of irritability or angry outbursts, including over small things
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleeping habits, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Low energy or fatigue
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Persistent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts

If you’re feeling depressed, you’re not alone. Depression is a pretty common mental health issue. Around 5% of adults around the world are diagnosed with depression. Actually, the number of people who experience depression is probably much higher, since not everyone who’s depressed seeks help or gets an official diagnosis.

If your family has a history of depression, you might be more likely to experience it too. But just because a family member has depression doesn’t necessarily mean you will.

There are a lot of terms and acronyms, and it can get confusing. Let’s get to the bottom of it. “Depression” can refer to a few different things in a medical context. There’s depression that’s caused by a specific event (like the loss of a loved one) or a medical condition (like a thyroid disorder). There’s also depression that’s caused by a mental health condition—meaning it lasts longer than two weeks and can’t be attributed to another cause. Major depression, major depressive disorder, and clinical depression are all different words for the latter kind. They may sound serious or clinical, but don’t worry. They’re relatively common and depression is treatable. It can be tempting to try to diagnose yourself with a condition when you’re not feeling well. A diagnosis can help you put what you’re feeling into words and into context. But if what you’re feeling is affecting your daily life the only way to really get answers is to talk to a professional, like a psychiatrist.

Depression can feel hopeless, but treatment is actually very effective. If your psychiatrist diagnoses you with depression, the most common treatment is a combination of therapy and medication. To learn more about online depression treatment with Talkiatry, check out this page.