How Can I Tell If I'm Depressed or Just in a Bad Mood?

**The problem:** You feel down. But you don't know whether this is life being temporarily hard or something that actually needs attention. **The answer:** Duration, depth, and the absence of relief are the three markers. **A bad mood:** - Linked to a specific event or situation - Passes within hours to a few days - Doesn't significantly affect your ability to function - Includes moments where you feel okay **Depression:** - Persists for two or more weeks, most days - Often feels like nothing rather than sadness — emptiness, numbness, disconnection - Affects sleep, appetite, concentration, or relationships - Things that normally give you pleasure stop working - The low mood is there even on days when nothing bad is happening A useful question: *"Can I identify a reason for how I feel — and if that reason went away, would I feel better?"* With a bad mood, usually yes. With depression, the answer is often unclear. If you're asking the question, it's worth a conversation with your GP. The asking itself is often the signal.