GENERAL ASSESSMENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS DEPRESSION Everyone feels down sometimes.  But if a cloudy mood lasts too long it may be more than just the "blues."  These questions have been designed to help you determine if you're depressed and should seek professional help. Do you feel unusually down and discouraged that life won't get any better in the future? Have you lost your appetite or are you overeating? Do you have trouble sleeping or do you wake up a few hours earlier than usual? Do you feel anxious or worried without any obvious reason? Do you have less interest in what used to make you happy (hobbies, work, projects)? Do you have less interest in sex than you used to? Are you tired and lethargic and do you have trouble motivating yourself to get anything done? Do you feel annoyed and irritable with people or have less interest in your family or friends? Do you feel like a failure, guilty for your mistakes or critical of your shortcomings? Is it hard to think clearly, concentrate, or make decisions? Are you overly worried about a lot of minor aches and pains? Do you think about death or committing suicide? Seek professional help if: you have been thinking about suicide, you're having trouble coping day to day you don't feel any better over time you're drinking alcohol or abusing drugs to make yourself feel better     GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)  All of us, at times, experience concern and worry over difficult situations.  If you experience difficulty controlling anxiety and worry for at least six months and have three of the following symptoms you may suffer from GAD. muscle tension restless or feeling on edge easily fatigued difficulty concentrating irritability sleep disturbance Other physical symptoms associated with GAD are: trembling, twitching feeling shaky muscle aches and soreness clammy hands dry mouth, sweating nausea and diarrhea trouble swallowing