Depression: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Feeling Tired All the Time?

Have you noticed lately that you’re feeling more tired? You have long, busy days that seem endless, and you just don’t know when you’ll be able to rest. But that’s all you want to do—just rest. Maybe lay on the couch for a while and scroll through your phone, or spend a few hours watching your comfort show, and forget all your responsibilities.

When Rest Doesn’t Feel Restful

Feeling this way is not uncommon from time to time—we all get tired from long and busy days that never seem to end. But is this happening to you so often that you’re starting to feel overwhelmed? You know that you have things to do, but you just can’t get off that couch. Actually, knowing that you have things you need to do makes you want to stay on that couch even more. And at the same time, leaving the couch feels too exhausting because you know that if you do, you have to get all those things done. So you just don’t get up. You stay, and you watch or you scroll.

When It Starts to Feel Like More Than Just a Slump

Maybe you’ve brushed it off as just being tired. A rough week. A stressful season. But now it’s been a while, and you’re starting to wonder why things still feel so heavy. You wake up tired, even if you’ve slept in. Getting through the day takes more effort than it used to. You might sleep more, or not enough, and feel exhausted either way. Maybe you find yourself eating more, or barely at all. Even the smallest tasks—showering, checking your texts, making dinner—can feel like too much to take on.

When Joy and Motivation Start to Disappear

You may have noticed that the things you used to look forward to don’t really excite you anymore. Hobbies, friends, even your favorite shows don’t bring the same joy. You cancel plans because being around people feels too draining, but being alone doesn’t feel great either.

The Thoughts That Pull You Down

You notice yourself feeling more sad, empty, or even hopeless. Maybe there’s a quiet voice in your head telling you that you’re not doing enough, you’re not good enough, or that everyone else seems to be handling life better than you. You might feel stuck—like no matter how hard you try, you’re not getting anywhere. And on the hardest days, you might wonder if it would really matter if you weren’t here at all.

You’re Not Alone—And You Deserve Support

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Depression symptoms show up differently from one person to another, and it can feel like depression is taking everything away from you. Instead of letting depression take over your life, allow yourself to feel a glimmer of hope that you can find joy again. Talking with a therapist can be a great source of support for someone struggling with depression, and I would love to be a small part in your journey back to feeling like yourself again.

Caley Fuller, MS, LAMFT

*Responsibly created with the help of ChatGPT