When people say depression, they often think of sadness that lasts a while. But clinical depression is so much more than that. It is an imbalance in the chemicals in the brain causing a number of severe side effects. It can be treated using medication, and some people use therapy as well. If you see yourself in these symptoms you may want to see a doctor for depression testing:

1. Loss of Interest
If you have lost interest in your favorite things, you may be depressed. A loss of interest is more than just a day where you don’t feel like doing anything; Those happen to everyone. Loss of interest means that for weeks or longer you cannot find happiness in anything. It leads to a lack of motivation and hopelessness. For example, some people with depression find that no food tastes good anymore, and making food brings them no satisfaction. Eating rarely becomes an unhealthy habit that is hard to kick.

2. Lack of motivation
Depressed people may seem lazy to the outsider. They are actually doing all that they can. They are trying to work when they have no motivation for anything. It is not a feeling of not wanting to do something right now. Lack of motivation in depressed people is a feeling of total inability to do even the simplest of tasks. This can lead to problems at work and home as things go undone.

3. Trouble concentrating
Oftentimes work or school grades suffer because of depression. One of the reasons this occurs is the trouble concentrating that comes with this illness. Grades drop as tests come back with poor scores, reinforcing the low self esteem that often accompanies depression. Losing jobs or being reprimanded at work only makes life harder for people with depression. And those who suffer from this illness are already having a rough time.

4. Irritability
Also one of the symptoms of bipolar depression, bouts of irritability are common in people with depression as well. These bouts of irritability can strain relationships, both at home and in professional settings. If you are finding yourself irritable in spells more often than usual, you may want to take a step back and look at the other areas of your life.

5. Fatigue and insomnia
Being inexplicably tired all the time, and/or being unable to sleep at night are signs that something is wrong. Fatigue is a state of tiredness that doesn’t go away, completely saps all your energy and is not good for your motivation levels either. Being unable to sleep at night no matter what you do is insomnia. Having both is a nightmare many people with depression must deal with.

6. Suicidal thoughts
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact your doctor immediately! These should not go untreated. Suicidal thoughts can be the last straw for a person with depression, resulting in their suicide. Depression is not no big deal. It is a real illness that can lead to death. While there is no way to cure it, there are many good health professionals that can help you manage your symptoms and get to a place where you can live life fully again.