Why Am I Always Depressed? How To Be Happy Again

Depression can be tricky to navigate. Feeling like you’re always depressed can significantly impact your overall well-being and your ability to cope, possibly leading you to wonder why you often feel this way. The causes of depression are complex, but we’ll cover some of the possible contributing factors along with suggestions for strategies you may consider to start feeling like yourself again.

Causes of depression

There are also many different types of depression, each of which may have somewhat different causes. For example, perinatal depression is usually triggered by having or adopting a child or your partner having a child. Bipolar disorder, which can manifest as depressive episodes for some people, has a significant genetic component but may be triggered by stress. Seasonal affective disorder symptoms are thought to be brought on by changes in the seasons—and so on.

Regardless of what exactly might be causing or contributing to your depression, seeking treatment is typically the path toward feeling better. Depression is considered a treatable condition, and there are even options for treatment-resistant depression for those experiencing persistent symptoms even after working with a healthcare provider.

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What does depression feel like?

Depression symptoms vary somewhat from person to person, as can the severity of the symptoms. That said, some common symptoms associated with depression include:

• Feeling sad or empty. While everyone experiences sadness from time to time, it’s essential to understand that depression is more than feeling sad. People living with depression may face these symptoms regularly and for long periods with little or no improvement.

• Increased irritability. Feeling irritable, restless, or cranky or being more easily agitated may all be responses to depression.

• Experiencing a loss of interest. A person with depression may be disinterested in hobbies or activities that used to bring them joy.

• Difficulty concentrating. Simple things like reading a magazine or watching a TV series may become challenging. Many people with depression are unable to focus on tasks. They may also have a hard time remembering things or making decisions. 

• Changes in appetite. Depression can affect a person’s appetite in many ways, and these changes can lead to involuntary weight gain or loss. Some people may eat in excess, even if they aren’t hungry. Others may lose their appetite entirely and, in some cases, skip several meals without thinking about it. Other people may go back and forth between the two extremes.

• Changes in sleep patterns. People experiencing depression may wake up too early or have trouble falling or staying asleep, but the opposite can also happen, resulting in sleeping much longer than usual.

Addressing depression symptoms

If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, it’s generally recommended that you meet with a mental health professional as soon as possible for evaluation and treatment advice. Talk therapy is the first-line of treatment for depression. A trained therapist can help you learn to identify and shift distorted thoughts that may be contributing to your symptoms. In some cases, medication may also be prescribed.

Your doctor or therapist will likely also suggest that you be as proactive as possible with self-care efforts to help reduce symptoms further, such as:

• Exercising regularly

• Eating nutrient-dense foods as often as possible

• Sticking to a regular sleep schedule

• Setting realistic goals

• Staying connected to friends and family

Consulting with your doctor

Since certain underlying medical conditions may cause symptoms of or similar to depression, it can be helpful to meet with your doctor for an evaluation and medical advice. Such evaluations may include the doctor taking a health history, conducting a general physical exam to rule out any underlying health issues, drawing blood to check for chemical or hormonal imbalances, and administering questionnaires focused on mental health concerns. 

Because there are many types of depression and some other mental health disorders that mimic depression symptoms, visiting your primary care provider for an initial assessment is an important first step toward developing a treatment plan suited to you and finding emotional support.

Working with a therapist

There are many different types of talk therapy that might help with depression, but one of the most common is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT involves helping you learn how to identify distorted thought patterns that may be making your symptoms worse. Then, you can learn how to challenge these patterns and shift them in a healthier direction in order to reduce symptoms. 

That said, some people with depression may struggle to get out of bed, and the idea of going to a therapist’s office, seeing a stranger, and talking about sensitive topics can feel a bit intimidating. The good news is that there are other effective alternatives that might be right for you. Online therapy, for example, allows you to connect with a counselor or mental health provider from the comfort of your own home.

Plus, a growing body of research indicates the potential effectiveness of mental health treatment in this format. One such study from Palo Alto University suggests that video-based cognitive behavior therapy can be an effective treatment for depression and anxiety. According to the research, approximately 73% of study participants saw improvements in symptoms after six weeks, and the findings also suggest a “decelerated decrease in symptoms over time.”