Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy? Do you avoid being around people, or are you irritated by everyone you are around? Are you feeling intensely sad, down on yourself, or hopeless? If you’re experiencing any of these feelings, it could be depression.

Everyone experiences sadness, irritability, or low energy from time to time, but these feelings usually pass. Depression is different from these occasional feelings. If you have depression, it can be hard to do everyday activities, and you may have problems that cause your relationships to suffer. You might focus on what’s not going well in your life and have trouble seeing the positive. Perhaps you don’t feel pleasure in the activities, people, and things you used to enjoy.

Some Veterans experience depression because of the loss of someone close to them, like a loved one or a buddy from their unit. Others might feel depressed after losing or changing jobs. When this sadness lasts for more than a few weeks or is seriously impacting your life, it may be a sign of depression.

Depression is a common but serious problem that affects people in different ways. It affects not only your mood but also your body, actions, and thoughts. Depression can interfere with daily life and usual functioning.

Depression can affect anyone — young and old, men and women, of all ethnic groups and all walks of life. Stressful situations or traumatic events that sometimes occur in military life might be associated with depression in Veterans and Service members. Life events that may cause stress include:

Death of a friend or family member

Traumatic events such as combat, injury, natural disasters, or physical or sexual abuse

Health problems or disabilities

Retirement

Transitioning to civilian life after military service

Preparing for deployment

Reintegration

Relationship problems or divorce

Birth of a child

Changing jobs, difficult work situations, or losing a job

Financial problems

Fortunately, there are effective treatments and resources for dealing with depression. No matter what stressors you may experience or where the depression may have come from, it’s important to seek treatment.

The signs and symptoms of depression may be hard to notice at first. One way to tell if what you’re experiencing might need attention is to consider if your thoughts, moods, or behaviors have changed noticeably. Is your mood different than “usual” for you? Have others noticed a difference?

“Over there, I never had the time, energy, or free will to even begin to deal with some of the emotions I was bottling up. A few months after I got back was a different story, though. I was finally having to deal with all the issues I’d stored away”

For some people, these symptoms may not be something new. It might seem as if you have always felt down and blue.

Two common symptoms of depression are:

Feeling sad or hopeless

Losing interest in or not getting pleasure from most of your daily activities

If you experience either of these symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks, you may be depressed.

Depression is a highly treatable condition, and there are things you can do to recover if you are depressed. A number of effective treatments can lead to positive and meaningful changes in symptoms and quality of life. Hundreds of thousands of Veterans have gotten help for depression.

Treatments for depression can involve counseling, therapy, medication, or a combination of these. Therapy and counseling can help you learn new ways of thinking, practice positive behaviors, and take active steps to cope with your symptoms. Antidepressant medications work in different ways to affect the chemicals in your brain that may be associated with being depressed. You may need to work with your doctor or counselor and try different types of treatment before finding the one that fits best with your preferences, symptoms, and challenges.

“I wasn’t a big fan of pills, or therapists for that matter. But I got to the point where anything was worth a shot. Now that I got the treatment I needed and see how much better every day looks, I wish I would have gone in sooner.”

In addition to getting treatment, you can adjust your lifestyle to help relieve depression symptoms. Try to work these into your daily routine:

Walk, jog, or work out. Physical activity can improve your mood and help you sleep better.

Eat healthy meals regularly. Good nutrition helps your body and your mind.

Try to get a good night’s sleep. Getting quality sleep can help you feel better.

Practice relaxation or grounding techniques. A shower, deep breathing, or time in a quiet place to collect your thoughts can help relieve stress and get you through difficult moments.

Your close friends and family may be the first to notice you’re having a tough time. Turn to them when you are ready to talk. It can be helpful to share what you’re experiencing, and they may be able to provide support and help you find treatment that is right for you.

You can also take a confidential and anonymous self-assessment to help you find out if your feelings and behaviors may be related to depression. This short list of questions won’t be able to tell you for sure whether you have depression, but it may indicate whether it’s a good idea to see a professional for further assessment.