When you suffer from depression, it can be very easy to feel dismissive of your symptoms and your struggles. Many people think that because depression is a mental illness it is less medically important than a physical illness; however, this is not the case. While you do not need to head to the doctor every time you are feeling depressed, when you have clinical depression, there are some instances where you should go see your primary care physician as soon as possible. Get to know some of these times when medical care is necessary; then you can be sure you are taking the best possible care of yourself in your battle with depression.
Your Depression Interferes with Your Life
One of the things to remember about depression is that it can cause a wide array of symptoms. You may feel agitated and irritable or you might feel extreme fatigue and exhaustion. You may even feel all of these symptoms and more at the same time.
Sometimes you are able to fight through these symptoms and go about your daily life at work, home, or school. This is often referred to as high-functioning depression because you are still able to go about the tasks of daily life. However, there are also those times when depression hits you like a truck and you cannot get out of bed, deal with people, or otherwise function on a regular daily basis.
When you have those episodes of depression that interfere with your ability to function on a daily basis, you should call your doctor and schedule an appointment. They may be able to prescribe medications that will get you back on track and/or help you find out the triggers or causes of your depression. You want to get back to your daily life as soon as possible, and seeing your doctor can help you to do just that.
You Have Suicidal Thoughts or Ideations
Even if they are in passing, suicidal thoughts and ideations are dangerous and should be taken seriously, especially when you suffer from depression. If your depression includes such thoughts, even those that are passive or global in nature (i.e. "I wish I were dead" or "I don't want to be alive"), you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Contact your primary care physician and if they are able to get you in right away, go see them. It is important to talk about your feelings and get help for them. If your primary care doctor is unable to get you in right away, they can recommend a specialist or a hospital to go to so that you can get the help you need. Never ignore or disregard depression symptoms that are accompanied by suicidal thoughts.
Now that you know some of the instances in which you should see your doctor for your depression, you can be sure to get the care you need when you need it.
