Many people wonder: What is depression, and how do I know it is more than just a passing low? Depression usually manifests as a bundle of signs that persist for at least two weeks and significantly restrict daily life. These include both psychological and physical symptoms. If you recognize several of the symptoms below in yourself, it is best to speak with your doctor first or seek advice from a psychotherapist.

• Dejection: You feel persistently sad, empty, or hopeless. These feelings last for days on end and alter the way you view yourself and the world.
• Loss of interest: Things that usually bring joy offer little to no satisfaction anymore. Even familiar hobbies feel foreign, and you often cut activities short.
• Lack of drive and fatigue: Even small tasks demand an enormous amount of energy. You postpone everyday chores because you lack the energy and the inner momentum to get started.
• Sleep disturbances: Falling asleep becomes difficult, you wake up early, or you sleep excessively. As a result, you become exhausted more quickly during the day, and your daily rhythm falls out of sync.
• Difficulty concentrating: Your mind wanders, and making decisions becomes incredibly difficult. You find yourself rereading sentences multiple times, forgetting things, and taking much longer to complete routine tasks.
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness: You blame yourself even though, objectively, nothing is wrong. You judge yourself much more harshly than usual, and you often lose sight of your own strengths.
• Irritability and inner restlessness: You feel easily annoyed or jittery without any clear reason. You react more intensely than usual and find it difficult to regain a sense of inner calm.
• Physical complaints: You experience headaches, stomachaches, or back pain without any physical cause. Medical examinations often show no underlying condition, yet the discomfort persists.
• Thoughts of death or suicide: If you are experiencing these thoughts, please seek help immediately. Call emergency services at 112 or contact the Counseling Service (TelefonSeelsorge) at 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222.

People with depression often describe the feeling as if someone had drained all the color and sound out of life. Days feel cold, flat, and heavy. The joy usually found in music, sports, or meeting up with friends completely vanishes. The body feels sluggish, and every movement requires intense effort. Thoughts tend to spiral around ideas like "I can't handle this" or "I am a burden to others." At the same time, you become hyper-sensitive to various stimuli: noises, light, or news feel overwhelmingly exhausting. Some people experience physical sensations like pressure in the chest or a lump in the throat.

Important: These experiences are classic symptoms of the illness—and they are highly treatable.

Mood swings are a part of being human: bad days after stress or an argument are normal and usually fade on their own. A depression differs in its duration, depth, and consequences. The following table shows the differences.

Duration

• Depression: The low mood persists almost daily for at least two weeks.
• Mood Swings: The mood fluctuates from hour to hour or day to day and brightens up again on its own.

Intensity

• Depression: The dejection is deep and persists despite positive events.
• Mood Swings: The mood is low but responds to rest, sleep, and pleasant experiences.

Symptoms

• Depression: Multiple signs appear together, such as a lack of drive, sleep issues, and concentration problems.
• Mood Swings: Individual symptoms appear, which occur mostly depending on the situation.

Daily Life

• Depression: Work, studies, household chores, and relationships are significantly impaired.
• Mood Swings: Tasks are predominantly manageable, even if some days feel difficult.

Feelings and Thoughts

• Depression: Hopelessness, inner emptiness, and frequent self-devaluation dominate the experience.
• Mood Swings: The mood is irritable or sad, but self-esteem and future outlook remain intact.

Course

• Depression: It can run an episodic or recurrent course and, without help, can last for months.
• Mood Swings: It is temporary and subsides with rest and relief.

Triggers

• Depression: Triggers are often a combination of multiple factors from biology, psychology, and the environment.
• Mood Swings: Triggers are usually concrete events such as stress, arguments, or lack of sleep.

Influence of Willpower

• Depression: Willpower alone is not enough because it is a medical illness.
• Mood Swings: Small adjustments often help quickly, such as a break, physical activity, or sleep.

What to Do?

• Depression: Please have it medically or psychotherapeutically evaluated and seek support.
• Mood Swings: Observe yourself and reduce stress in the short term; if symptoms persist, have them evaluated.

Emergency

• Depression: In case of suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately: 112 or TelefonSeelsorge 0800 111 0 111/222.
• Mood Swings: For crises that do not subside, please seek help as well.

The duration depends on the form and severity of the illness and on whether treatment is started early. Professionals distinguish between three types: 1. a single depressive episode, 2. recurring—so-called recurrent—depression, and 3. chronic courses.

• Single depressive episode: This frequently lasts from several weeks to a few months and significantly impairs daily life. Starting psychotherapy early shortens its duration, whereas a severe episode can persist for months and requires close, professional treatment.
• Recurring depression: In this case, depressive episodes return later on after an initial improvement, and they can vary in both length and severity. Effective relapse prevention—such as continuing psychotherapy or attending booster sessions—lowers the risk of future episodes and stabilizes daily routines.
• Chronic courses: This means that depressive symptoms persist over very long periods and only subside incompletely. Long-term, structured treatment involving psychotherapy, potentially supported by medication and practical daily routines, improves quality of life and reduces the overall burden.

It does not replace a medical diagnosis, but it can provide an initial impulse to help assess your own well-being and prepare for a conversation with a doctor or therapist. The brief deprexis questionnaire offers you a first anonymous and free assessment along with guidance on the next steps.

Small steps help immediately—not as a replacement, but alongside professional treatment:

• Daily structure: Fixed times for waking up, eating, physical activity, and breaks provide stability.
• Physical activity: Regular, moderate activity improves mood and sleep.
• Sleep hygiene: Set bedtimes and screen breaks improve sleep quality.
• Social contacts: Brief, reliable meetups or phone calls are beneficial.
• Media and stimulus management: Putting a time limit on news and social media helps manage overload.

deprexis is a Digital Health Application (DiGA)—a doctor-prescribed online program that accompanies you with step-by-step exercises. It can complement psychotherapy or bridge the waiting time for an appointment. A prescription for deprexis can be issued by your family doctor. The costs are typically covered by your health insurance provider.