Do I Need A Checkup For My Depression?

Do you know what kind of doctor you should see for depression?

Do you know the cause of depression?

Do you understand the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

Do you feel embarrassed that you have depression?

Do you feel like committing suicide or harming yourself?

Does depression impair your daily activities?

Make an appointment with your family doctor or a general physician who can do a few tests to understand the cause of depression as it can be both mental and physiological. If it is the latter, he or she can give some medications to fix the underlying problem. On the other hand, if it is due to trauma or any other issues that have affected you psychologically, the general physician will recommend you to the concerned professional.

If you think you know the cause of depression and it is something that has impacted you mentally or emotionally, make an appointment with a psychiatrist, counselor, or psychologist to get the solution for your problem. You can bypass your general physician if the underlying cause is not physiological.

Most people think both the professions are the same, but in reality, there is a world of difference between the two. A psychiatrist is also a medical doctor who has gone to a medical school for studies and this person can recommend medications if needed. On the other hand, a psychologist is someone who acts like a counselor to understand your problems and can do psychotherapy or counseling sessions as needed.

You don't have to feel embarrassed simply because there are so many people around the world who are going through a depression-like you. Also, it is not a sign of weakness or laziness as the society has come to believe, rather it is a change in the chemical and hormonal balance of your body and it is something that should be fixed medically. So, never feel ashamed to accept that you have depression and take professional medical help to fix it.

Take help right away as this is a sign that all is not well with you and the intervention of an expert is necessary to save your life.

This could mean you have clinical depression as this kind of depression is characterized by a feeling of sadness that never goes away as well as a loss of interest in any activity. Most likely, this is due to hormonal changes in your body and you should talk to a doctor and get yourself examined to come out of this condition.

If depression doesn't affect your everyday activities, that's great. You can rule out clinical depression. That said, if a specific incident or an individual triggers negative feelings in you and makes you feel sad, make an appointment with a psychologist or a counselor to talk about it and to get some ideas on how you can address it.