Almost everyone experiences phases of low mood — they are part of life. However, if a depressed mood, lack of drive, and loss of pleasure and interest persist for two weeks or longer and affect daily life, this may indicate a developing depression. This is not a character flaw or personal failure, but one of the most common and, at the same time, most treatable conditions. One thing above all is crucial: the earlier you seek support, the easier the way out.
Possible causes
Depressive Episode
A persistently low mood lasting at least two weeks, accompanied by lack of drive and loss of enjoyment, often together with sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, concentration problems, and circling thoughts. It can also arise without any external trigger; biological, psychological, and social factors interact in its development.
Reaction to Stress and Exhaustion
Following prolonged stress, chronic overload at work, or personal crises. The boundary between understandable exhaustion and depression requiring treatment is fluid — which is precisely why professional assessment is worthwhile, rather than trying to 'sit it out'.
Physical Causes
Some physical conditions produce very similar symptoms: an underactive thyroid, a vitamin D, vitamin B12, or iron deficiency, hormonal changes, or medication side effects. These are also medically assessed, as they are easily treatable.
Prolonged Grief
After a loss, deep sadness is a normal, healthy process. If it persists unusually long, worsens, or obscures everything else, it can develop into depression requiring treatment.
Typical steps at the doctor's office
- 1It begins with listening: how long have the symptoms been present, how severely do they affect your daily life, have there been stressful events? Brief, standardised questionnaires help the doctor objectively assess the severity — from a mild to a severe episode.
- 2Depending on the symptoms, medical history and examination findings, physical causes will also be investigated — for this purpose, targeted blood tests may be useful, for example thyroid levels. This ensures that a well-treatable physical cause is not overlooked.
- 3Together, a path forward is chosen. For milder forms, supportive conversations, psychotherapy, and practical everyday measures are the focus. For moderate to severe forms, medication may also be appropriate — you always make this decision together and at your own pace.
- 4The treatment is regularly reviewed and adjusted. Improvement usually takes some time and comes in waves — setbacks are part of the process and do not mean that the treatment is not working.
What you can do yourself
- Maintain a daily structure: fixed times for getting up and going to bed, and a few small, manageable activities provide stability, even when motivation is lacking.
- Exercise in fresh air has a proven mood-lifting effect — even regular walks count, it does not have to be sports.
- Stay in contact, especially when the impulse to withdraw is strong. Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling.
- Do not put yourself under pressure: recovery is not a performance competition. Small steps are progress.
Seek a conversation with a general practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist if the low mood persists for longer than two weeks, if sleep, appetite, or concentration are significantly affected, if you hardly experience any pleasure anymore, or if work and relationships are suffering. You do not need to wait until it is 'bad enough' — on the contrary, it is easiest when addressed early.
Frequently asked questions
- Is depression a 'real' illness?
- Yes. It is one of the most common illnesses and has demonstrable biological, psychological, and social causes — nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing you can 'just pull yourself together' from.
- Do I have to take medication straight away?
- No. For milder forms, conversations and psychotherapy are the focus. Whether and when medication is appropriate is decided together with your doctor — depending on severity and course.
- Who should I contact first?
- Your general practitioner is a good first point of contact: they can rule out physical causes and refer you appropriately. It is also possible to go directly to a psychiatrist or psychological psychotherapist.
Not sure whether you should go or whom to see? Describe your symptoms — we'll find the right practice in your area.