Am I Depressed?

People who are battling a serious illness are especially prone to depression. Their caregivers and family members are also at risk. The chemicals that keep our brain functioning can become depleted during times of stress. Depression is the result of a chemical depletion.

Many depressed people suffer needlessly because they don’t know that they are depressed and that depression is almost always treatable. This test, while not conclusive, may help indicate if you are experiencing depression. Choose the number that best describes how you are feeling at this time and then total your score.

  1. Low Energy 1 2 3 4 5 High Energy
  2. Difficulty sleeping or sleep all the time 1 2 3 4 5 Uninterrupted sleeping patterns
  3. No desire to be involved in activities 1 2 3 4 5 Very involved in activities
  4. Aches and pains 1 2 3 4 5 Feel great
  5. Loss of appetite 1 2 3 4 5 Enjoy eating
  6. Sad 1 2 3 4 5 Joyful
  7. Despairing and hopeless 1 2 3 4 5 Hopeful and confident
  8. Irritable (low frustration and tolerance) 1 2 3 4 5 Pleasant (high frustration tolerance)
  9. Withdrawn 1 2 3 4 5 Involved
  10. Mental anguish 1 2 3 4 5 Peace of mind
  11. Low sense of self-worth 1 2 3 4 5 High sense of self worth
  12. Pessimistic (about the future) 1 2 3 4 5 Optimistic (about the future)
  13. Negative (perceive most circumstances as negative or even harmful) 1 2 3 4 5 Positive (perceive most circumstances as opportunities for growth)
  14. Self-destructive ("I and others would be better off if I weren’t here.") 1 2 3 4 5 Self preserving ("Glad I’m here.")

You can get a rough determination of your level of depression by comparing your total score with the following ratings:

45-75 Likely not depressed
34-44 Mildly depressed
25-34 Depressed
15-24 Severely depressed

Depression Test from the book "Stomping Out Depression" by Neil T. Anderson & Dave Park

If your score indicates that you may be experiencing depression, talk with your doctor or a counselor. Most depression is treatable. Don’t suffer needlessly, especially if you are already suffering because of a serious illness or loss.

Many people who discover that they have the symptoms of depression are hesitant to admit or seek treatment for it out of shame that they have somehow failed, are weak or have fallen into sin. Depression is not a spiritual problem. It is a medical problem. At any moment in time, according to Dr. Paul Meier, about one-fifth of Christians world wide experience enough depression to interfere with their ability to function normally. Nearly one in five Americans will struggle with at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. Depression is how the human brain sometimes responds to stress. Depression doesn’t mean you’re bad or weak. It means you’re human.

Resources

To find a Christian counselor in your area, check out these resources.