How do I know if I'm depressed or just lazy?
How do I know if I'm depressed or just lazy? E.g., lately I never put away any laundry. I leave it in the basket and pile the dirty laundry on the floor. I usually just don't have the energy or motivation to fold them, so I don't bother. Similarly, lately I've been taking naps during the day when I'm not tired, just because I don't want to be awake. How do I tell if these are the result of laziness or depression?
Answers ( 1 )
Disclaimer - would definitely speak to your primary care physician regarding your symptoms as a self-evaluation can miss important clues that may affect your well-being.
As a budding physician back in the day, we were taught in medical school to screen for major depressive disorder with the SIG E CAPS tool (see below):
Sleep - increased or decreased
Interest - decreased
Guilt/Worthlessness
Energy - decreased or fatigued
Concentration/difficulty making decisions
Appetite and/or weight increase or decrease
Psychomotor activity - increased or decreased
Suicidal ideation
A "positive" screen requires experiencing 5 of these criteria daily for 2 weeks or more.
Whether you screen positive or not, your symptoms seem to be having a negative effect on your life and should be further examined by a licensed medical professional.