ASK BYS: I don’t know if I’m just being dramatic, but I’ve kind of been feeling off for a little bit. Sometimes, I feel sad for no reason, and I’ve noticed that I’ve been sleeping a lot more than usual. Is this normal, or could I be depressed?

What a great question! We give ourselves such a gift when we get curious about our mental health and engage in self-reflection. It’s good and healthy to consider questions like these, and you will no doubt find a greater measure of mental and emotional well-being through this type of exploration.

Not unlike most things, depression is a spectrum. On the one end, there’s the ho-hum blues. It’s not uncommon to feel down at times. Sadness in and of itself is not indicative of anything bad or wrong; it’s simply part of the human experience. And at the other end of things, there’s clinical depression, which occurs when our symptoms are such that daily life has become unmanageable.

So, how do we know where we might fall into place given our unique experiences and feelings? Simply put, it comes down to duration, intensity, and impact on daily life.

While feelings of blah may come and go, clinical depression is more pervasive and persistent (lasting for at least two weeks and oftentimes much longer). It can make complete sense to feel down according to circumstance: a romantic breakup, a dispute with a friend, or a disappointing outcome in a sporting event. However, when we find ourselves experiencing a continual low mood regardless of external situations, it may be something more.

Clinical depression can be present when a person consistently experiences the following for two weeks or more:

• persistent low mood or feeling numb

• loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed

• changes in sleep (too much or too little)

• changes in appetite

• fatigue or lack of energy

• feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness

• trouble concentrating or making decisions

• physical symptoms like aches, pains, or digestive issues with no clear cause

• thoughts of death or suicide

It’s worth noting that many people deal with depression at some point in their lives, and it is more common in young adults ages 18-25. A clinical diagnosis is not always a necessary step in the effective treatment of depressive symptoms. It can be appropriate and meaningful to seek a diagnosis when doing so as it will help connect you to the resources you need to find help and healing.

In summary, sadness usually has a clear trigger and improves with time, and it doesn’t typically disrupt your ability to work, socialize, or take care of yourself. Depression, on the other hand, can come without a clear reason and doesn’t just “go away” on its own, and it can also make even small daily tasks feel overwhelming.

If you grapple with these questions, going to therapy and working with a counselor can be helpful. While BYS mental health professionals do not diagnose, they have the education and training to help you better understand your feelings and experiences and can provide the support and resources needed should the pursuit of a diagnosis prove meaningful.

Bainbridge Youth Services has a monthly column in this newspaper. Emily Henning is a licensed social work associate independent clinical for BYS.