Depression is known as an emotional disorder characterized by feelings of persistent sadness, guilt, worthlessness, or dejection; loss of hope; loss of interest in usual activities; or an inability to concentrate. Depression is experienced by all people at some times during life. Depression can be caused by severe stress or loss or by genetic, physical, social, and psychological factors.
The following self-evaluation is provided to help assess whether you may be suffering from depression. Please note that this self-evaluation does not replace a formal medical/psychiatric evaluation, as many of the following symptoms may be due to other causes.
If you answer yes to Question #9 or if you answer yes to 4 or more other questions, we recommend that you receive an assessment from a trained professional or you can call us for advice.
•Have you recently experienced a depressed mood (feeling sad or empty) most of the day, nearly every day? (Note: In children and adolescents, mood can appear more irritable than depressed.) •Have you recently experienced a loss of interest or pleasure in your usual activities? •Have you recently experienced significant weight gain or weight loss when not dieting? (Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.) •Have you recently experienced insomnia or other sleep disturbances? •Have you recently experienced either hyperactive (restless) behavior or slowed behavior, which is observable by others? •Have you recently felt fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day? •Have you recently experienced feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day? •Has your ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions been diminished nearly every day recently? •Have you recently experienced recurrent thoughts of death or suicide?
Sources:
Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd Ed.). Psychology Foundation Monograph. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (5th ed). Washington DC: Author.
Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state that involves a complex combination of emotions that include fear, apprehension, and worry. It is often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, or tension headache.
Anxiety impacts many people some time during their lives. Physical and/or emotional symptoms indicate the presence of anxiety. When anxiety is denied on the emotional level, physical distress may be the only symptom. The organ(s) presenting with physical symptoms are usually prone to physiological expressions of anxiety, e.g., the heart or bowel. Anxiety may also be disguised and may look like many other illnesses. It is important to obtain a medical check-up to rule out physical illnesses that may cause anxiety. However, anxiety is not always pathological or maladaptive: it is a common emotion along with fear, anger, sadness, and happiness, and it has a very important function in relation to survival.
•Sweating •Upset stomach •Dizziness •Light-headedness •Diarrhea •Hyperventilation •Flushing of the skin •Muscle twitching •Exhaustion •Lump in the throat •Insomnia •Palpitations •Vision disturbance •Pins and needles •Numbness
•Anxiety •Fear •Worry •Panic •Phobias •Derealization (sense that things are not real) •Depersonalization •Avoidance behavior •Obsessive behavior •Paranoia •Depression •Hypersensitivity •Feelings of doom •Edginess
Excessive anxiety or worry can lead to anxiety disorders, which can be treated and resolved. Although there are different types of anxiety disorders, the following self-evaluation is provided to help assess whether you may be suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder. Please note that this self-evaluation does not replace a formal medical/psychiatric evaluation, as many of the symptoms listed may be due to other causes.
If you answer yes to 3 or more of the following questions or if you have concerns about any of the symptoms listed above, we recommend that you receive a medical check-up and/or an assessment from a trained professional. You may also call us for advice.
•Have you felt restless or keyed up or on edge the majority of days during the last six months? •Have you been easily fatigued the majority of days during the last six months? •Have you had difficulty concentrating or experienced your mind going blank the majority of days during the last six months? •Have you felt irritable the majority of days during the last six months? •Have you experienced muscle tension the majority of days during the last six months? •Have you had difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep or experienced restless, unsatisfying sleep the majority of days/nights during the past six months?
Sources:
Lovibond, S.H. & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd Ed.). Psychology Foundation Monograph. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (5th ed). Washington DC: Author.
