Although everyone feels sad at times, depression is a serious mental health condition. It can be hard to recognize, and it can have an impact on daily life.
Online depression tests and quizzes can help you determine whether or not your feelings may be a sign of clinical depression. A qualified therapist can complete a full evaluation and create a treatment plan.
Symptoms
Depression often comes with a variety of symptoms. People might have sadness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, and unexplained aches or pains. Sometimes, depression is accompanied by suicidal thoughts or plans to kill self. Symptoms of depression can also include irritability, clinginess or anger, feeling misunderstood or extremely sensitive, use of drugs or alcohol, and a loss of interest in social or family activities.
While online depression tests can be helpful, they cannot take the place of a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional. The test you use should ask questions about your mood and behavior over the past two weeks, so it is important to be honest for the best result. Typically, to be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must last for at least two weeks and cause a significant change in your functioning level. Some medical conditions, such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies, can cause similar symptoms, so it is important to rule them out before making a diagnosis.
Causes
Depression is a serious mental illness that can affect all aspects of life, including work and family. It can cause many symptoms, and can lead to suicide in extreme cases.
Online tests can give you an idea of whether you may have depression. But a professional evaluation with a psychologist or psychiatrist is the only way to get a formal diagnosis. The clinician will ask you questions about your mood, such as whether you have little interest or pleasure in things and if you have thoughts of hopelessness or worthlessness.
Depression can be treated with therapy or medicine, or a combination of both. Medications that treat depression include SSRIs (citalopram, escitalopram, levothyroxine, sertraline), SNRIs (venlafaxine, duloxetine, and nefazodone) and MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and isotretinoin). These medications help to reduce depressive symptoms by changing the balance of certain chemicals in your brain. They must be taken with caution if you have liver or kidney problems, heart disease, or narrow-angle glaucoma.
Treatment
While online depression quizzes can provide a good indication of whether you have symptoms, they cannot give you a diagnosis. Only a psychiatrist or psychologist can perform a thorough evaluation and determine whether you meet the criteria for depression.
Once you receive a diagnosis, your treatment plan will likely include psychotherapy (talk therapy) with a mental health professional and medication to change the chemicals in your brain that affect mood. It may take time to find the right combination of treatments for your unique needs.
Remember to stick with your treatment plan and don't skip sessions or stop taking medication, even if you feel better. Skipping treatments can cause your depression to come back and cause withdrawal-like symptoms. It's also important to avoid major lifestyle changes until you feel better, such as changing jobs or getting married. These big decisions can exacerbate depression. Also, avoid relying on alcohol or drugs to improve your mood. Alcohol and drugs can actually make you feel worse.
Recovery
Everyone feels down in the dumps at times, but if your feelings are persistent and interfere with daily life, you might be dealing with depression. This online quiz can help you determine if you need further evaluation. A mental health professional can diagnose depression and recommend treatment.
Most people with major depression recover in two weeks or less, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They may take longer to recover from less severe symptoms, such as dysthymia.
There's no need to make special preparations for a depression test, but it's a good idea to write down any symptoms you're experiencing and how long you've been feeling them. It's also helpful to bring along any medical history you have and medications you're taking.
A therapist can complete a full evaluation and determine if you meet criteria for a depression diagnosis. They can then help you create a treatment plan that includes cognitive-behavioral therapy and possibly medication depending on the severity of your symptoms.
