Trying to figure out if I am depressed

[NeedAnEscape]

I can't figure out if I'm depressed or if I'm just severely burnt out. I've had low self-esteem for as long as I can remember, and I constantly feel like a failure. I've struggled with self-harm for about six years now, and I've been having suicidal thoughts/ideations (on and off) for about two years. My appetite was a bit on and off over the last month, but I think that had more to do with life circumstances than mood itself. I've been struggling more with getting work done, and every time I go out to do something or socialize, I just want to go back to bed. But, I also don't know if these feelings are consistent or just linked to the high stress created from my workload, which is messing with many of my habits.

I know that a lot of people on this forum have struggled with depression for a long time, and my experience is a fraction of a fraction of what some people endure on the daily. For people that know they are depressed, how did you know? Online search results mainly prattle through a list of common symptoms like sleep/appetite changes, feelings of worthlessness, etc. I guess I'm just trying to understand the feeling of being depressed, so I have a better scope of my issue. I know, at the end of the day, I need a doctor to confirm if I am or not, but getting some perspective would be appreciated.

 

[L9my]

Other people told me I was depressed.
Pretty much it got to a point where it was very bad, I went to the mh professionals and they were like yeah sounds like depression.

Any lustre anything had was gone. Food was just food, people were draining to even just be around, work feels to be without purpose.

 

[Pale_Rider]

Make an appointment with a psych, and get evaluated.

 

[bankai]

Other people told me I was depressed.
Pretty much it got to a point where it was very bad, I went to the mh professionals and they were like yeah sounds like depression.

Any lustre anything had was gone. Food was just food, people were draining to even just be around, work feels to be without purpose.

The question is how long does this last? it's been years for me now. it's one thing to go through it for a time but if this is how life is gonna be then...

 

[LittleMagician]

I can't figure out if I'm depressed or if I'm just severely burnt out. I've had low self-esteem for as long as I can remember, and I constantly feel like a failure. I've struggled with self-harm for about six years now, and I've been having suicidal thoughts/ideations (on and off) for about two years. My appetite was a bit on and off over the last month, but I think that had more to do with life circumstances than mood itself. I've been struggling more with getting work done, and every time I go out to do something or socialize, I just want to go back to bed. But, I also don't know if these feelings are consistent or just linked to the high stress created from my workload, which is messing with many of my habits.

I know that a lot of people on this forum have struggled with depression for a long time, and my experience is a fraction of a fraction of what some people endure on the daily. For people that know they are depressed, how did you know? Online search results mainly prattle through a list of common symptoms like sleep/appetite changes, feelings of worthlessness, etc. I guess I'm just trying to understand the feeling of being depressed, so I have a better scope of my issue. I know, at the end of the day, I need a doctor to confirm if I am or not, but getting some perspective would be appreciated.

Sounds like it yeah but I'm not a doctor