I feel sad and down all the time. I think I’m depressed.
Feeling down from time to time is OK and happens to everyone.
But when you feel down for a long time and when these feelings are intense and don’t go away by themselves, this is called depression.
How can I tell if I’m depressed?
Depression affects people in different ways. Some of these are:
Emotionally
- Feeling sad, angry, grumpy or worthless
- Losing interest in the things you usually like
- Feeling empty or lonely
Physically
- Feeling restless, unable to relax or tired all the time
- Having trouble sleeping or sleeping a lot
- Eating a lot more or less
- Losing or gaining weight
- Not wanting to be with friends or family
Mentally
- Finding it hard to concentrate or forgetting things
- Thinking about hurting yourself (see Suicide section)
Take an online test to figure out if you have signs of depression:
If you think you are depressed, make sure you tell someone how you’re feeling.
Talk to someone you trust:
- A friend
- A teacher or counsellor
- Someone in your whānau
- Your doctor
- Call us at 0800 What’s Up – we’re here to help
Coping with depression
To get through and manage depression try:
- Getting active: play sport, go for a walk or just spend some time outdoors
- Being creative: write, play music, sing, paint, write a song or draw
- Being nice to yourself: eat well and try to reduce stress – do some relaxation exercises. (see section Anxiety section)
Remember:
- Anyone can get depression
- There are people who can help you
- Talk it over with someone you trust
- You won’t always feel this way – you will get better
- Call us on 0800 Whats Up, we’re here to help
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