Assessment
The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) is an easy worksheet to help you identify if you are struggling with depression. You can take this assessment online here and print it out to review with your doctor.
Other Physical Concerns
There are some physical concerns and nutrient deficiencies that may contribute to depression. A few common ones are low vitamin D, low B12, Folic Acid, anemia and thyroid concerns. Some medical conditions such as dementia, delirium, MS, and Parkinson’s have been linked with mood changes as well. Talk with your doctor about whether any of these issues may be a problem for you.
Sleep Deprivation
If you are not getting regular and quality sleep, this may contribute to depression. You can explore this site for further information and resources for sleep.
Chronic Pain
Coping with chronic pain is stressful and frustrating. This can leave you with little patience for other people or for unexpected events. Properly addressing your chronic pain may also improve your mood. You can explore this site for further information and resources on managing chronic pain.
Menopause
If you are menopausal or peri-menopausal, it is very common to have mood shifts that don’t seem to make sense later. This is normal but there are ways of making these shifts less frequent and less severe. Talk to your doctor about how to manage your mood during this hormonal shift.
Addiction
If you are struggling with an addiction to any drug, alcohol, smoking, or even food, you may have increased agitation, depression, anger and irritability. Please ask your doctor for help with these concerns. They are very serious and will likely get worse if not addressed.
Side Effects of Medications
Some medications can disrupt mood. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you are taking to see if any of them are known to cause these problems.