Depression can involve feeling sad or low, but that isn’t the only way it can show up.

You might notice that you’re less interested in things you normally enjoy, have less energy, find it harder to concentrate or make decisions, or notice changes in your sleep or appetite. Some people feel irritable, numb, disconnected, or simply unlike themselves.

Having some of these experiences doesn’t necessarily mean you have depression. A doctor or other qualified healthcare provider can help with diagnosis if that’s something you want to explore.

You don’t need a diagnosis to talk to a counsellor about what’s been going on.

Yes. Someone can be experiencing depression and still go to work or school, spend time with friends, care for their family, exercise, or keep up with other parts of everyday life.

Sometimes the difference is in how much effort those things take. You might be getting everything done but finding it harder to concentrate, get started, stay engaged, or recover afterward.

What someone is able to do doesn’t necessarily tell you how they’re doing.

A loss of interest or motivation can happen with depression. Things you normally enjoy might feel less interesting, and things you need to do can feel unusually difficult to start.

That can include bigger things like seeing friends or going to work, but also ordinary things like making food, answering a text, showering, doing laundry, or deciding what to watch.

It isn’t always depression, though. Stress, grief, burnout, physical health, medication, sleep, and other things can affect motivation too.

Low energy and changes in sleep are common with depression. Some people sleep more than usual and still feel tired, while others have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Depression isn’t the only possible reason for ongoing fatigue. Sleep problems, medications, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes, and other health conditions can also play a role.

If tiredness is persistent, new, or affecting your everyday life, it’s worth mentioning to a healthcare provider.

Yes. Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions can happen with depression.

You might read the same paragraph several times without taking it in, lose track of what you were doing, have trouble following a conversation, or get stuck on decisions that would normally feel fairly simple.

These changes can have other causes too, so they don’t automatically mean someone is depressed.

There can be a lot of reasons.

Sometimes being around other people feels like more effort when your energy is low. You might not feel like talking, have trouble responding to messages, worry that you won’t be good company, or simply want more time by yourself.

Wanting time alone isn’t necessarily a problem. It may be worth paying attention, though, if you’re withdrawing more than you want to or becoming disconnected from relationships that matter to you.

Yes. Depression and anxiety can happen together.

Someone might feel worried, restless, or stuck in their thoughts while also feeling low, exhausted, unmotivated, or uninterested in things. Sometimes one feels much more noticeable than the other.

You don’t need to work out which category every experience belongs in. There can be overlap.

You don’t have to have an obvious reason.

Sometimes feeling depressed seems connected to something specific, such as grief, prolonged stress, a difficult relationship, a major change, or something that happened in the past. Sometimes there are several things going on. And sometimes there isn’t a clear explanation.

Not knowing why doesn’t make what you’re experiencing less real.

Counselling is one of the treatment options used for depression.

What that looks like depends on the person. It might involve looking at thoughts or patterns that are making things harder, finding practical ways to manage everyday life, talking about relationships or experiences that are affecting you, or gradually reconnecting with things that matter to you.

Counselling also isn’t the only option. Depending on the person and the severity of the depression, treatment may include medication, support from a doctor or other healthcare provider, lifestyle changes, counselling, or a combination of approaches.

Yes. Suicidal thoughts and self-harm can be talked about directly in counselling.

Your counsellor should also explain confidentiality and its limits, including circumstances where they may need to take steps because there is an immediate concern about someone’s safety.

If you’re wondering specifically what it can be like to bring these experiences into counselling, you can read more on our Counselling for Suicidal Thoughts and Counselling for Self-Harm pages.

If you need immediate help or are concerned about your safety right now, our Immediate Support page lists crisis and emergency resources.