Recently, I have been having trouble sleeping, tossing and turning at night, shedding tears easily during the day, having big mood swings, and losing my temper when I am not moving. Sometimes I don't even want to talk, I just want to be alone, my chest is stuffy and I find it difficult to breathe.
Hey my friend, first of all, a sincere hug for you, I hope this brings you a little warmth.
The question at the forefront of your mind is probably: how can I tell if I have depression if I don't go to the hospital?
First of all, it should be clear that only a professional doctor can make an official diagnosis of depression, and other people's opinions should only be used as a reference and not as a substitute for medical judgment.
From what you have described, such as frequently wanting to cry, getting grumpy, unwilling to communicate, preferring to be alone, and the feeling of chest tightness and shortness of breath, these are indeed common manifestations of low mood. However, we cannot conclude whether it is depression or ordinary depressed mood just based on these.
Depressed mood in fact everyone will experience, but if you are stuck in this state for a long time can not come out, it is necessary to be vigilant is not depression. If the situation is more serious, you may also need to be treated with medication.
What I want to say to you is that it's important to learn to deal with your negative emotions, whether it's depression or not. Sometimes we can't control our emotions because of physical reasons or external pressures; but sometimes it's only because we don't know how to channel them that we let the low moods persist.
Also, you can ask yourself: why do you want to determine if you have depression? And why are you reluctant to go to the hospital for a checkup?
Is it the current state of affairs that makes you feel helpless and hopeless? Does it feel like if you were diagnosed with depression, you would feel better instead? Or do you feel a little ashamed to go to the hospital for psychological problems? Or do you think that if you figure out the situation, you will be able to come out on your own?
Regardless of your answer, I hope you can accept yourself as you are in the moment. Every emotion has its cause, and it's better to avoid it than to face it head on. If getting professional help will help you get out of it faster, then why not give it a try?
Sending you another hug of encouragement and may you find the courage to take one step out of the gloom!