Do I Have Depression? (For Teens)

Find out if you experience symptoms of depression.

Depression is more than just sadness: it’s a mental condition that can affect anyone of any age or background. If you’ve noticed a dip in your mood that just won’t go away or long-lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness, it’s possible that depression could be the culprit.

This quiz will teach you about common symptoms of depression so you can compare them to what you’re experiencing. We can’t offer a diagnosis, but we can give you an idea of what you could be dealing with—and give you tips on how to start feeling better.

An illustration of a teenage girl looking sad and wiping away a tear.

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Share this quiz with your friends and compare results.

Questions Overview

1. Have you been having less fun lately, feeling disconnected from activities that used to make you happy?
  1. Pretty much every day.
  2. Definitely over half of the days.
  3. Less than half of the days.
  4. Not at all, honestly.
2. How often have you felt sad, or like there’s no hope (in life, or a part of your life) recently?
  1. I haven’t felt like that.
  2. I felt like that for a few days.
  3. I felt like that for over half the days.
  4. I felt like that just about every day.
3. How often have you felt tired, sleepy, or low on energy over the last few weeks?
  1. Not at all.
  2. A few times.
  3. Many times.
  4. Nearly every day.
4. Have you had a poor appetite over the last few weeks—or have you eaten more than usual?
  1. Nope, not that I know of.
  2. A couple of times, yes.
  3. Several different times.
  4. Almost every day.
5. Would you say you’re more likely to want to be alone than with your friends or family?
  1. That’s me all the time.
  2. It happens often.
  3. From time to time.
  4. Definitely not.
6. Have you had any trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much?
  1. No, that doesn’t apply to me.
  2. It happens a little bit.
  3. It happens pretty often.
  4. It happens all the time.
7. How often have you felt bad about yourself or like you’re a failure in the last few weeks?
  1. Not at all.
  2. A few times - less than half of the days.
  3. Several times - more than half of the days.
  4. All the time - nearly every day.
8. Do you have any trouble concentrating on everyday things (like homework, books, or TV)?
  1. All the time, for sure.
  2. Sometimes, yes.
  3. I think so.
  4. Nope, definitely not.
9. Have you felt more frustrated or irritable than usual (even if you used to be mostly happy or easygoing)?
  1. No, I feel pretty normal.
  2. I’ve been irritable a couple of times.
  3. I get irritable several times a week.
  4. I feel grouchy and irritable all the time.
10. Have you noticed yourself withdrawing or skipping activities you used to enjoy?
  1. No, everything has been normal.
  2. It’s happened once or twice.
  3. It happens several times a week.
  4. It happens every day.
11. Looking back, have you thought at all about hurting yourself in an attempt to deal with emotional pain?
  1. Yes, constantly.
  2. Yes, on more than half the days.
  3. Sometimes, on less than half the days.
  4. No, I haven’t.
12. Finally, think back over the past year. Did you feel depressed for the majority of it, even if you had okay days, too?
  1. No, I didn’t feel like that.
  2. I felt down sometimes, but not the majority of the year.
  3. Yes, I felt depressed for most of the year.

More Quizzes

Did you like this quiz?

More About Depression in Teens

What is depression?
The first thing you need to know is that depression is a valid condition and nothing to be ashamed of. If it affects you, you’re definitely not alone; an estimated 280 million people worldwide have it in some form (according to the World Health Organization).[1] It’s a very common mental disorder that causes mood changes, particularly feelings of sadness or fatigue, along with loss of interest or enjoyment for long periods.

Common signs of depression, particularly in teenagers, include:

  • Feeling easily annoyed
  • Having trouble concentrating and making decisions
  • Having issues in school
  • Isolating oneself from friends or loved ones
  • Feeling lonely all the time
  • Acting withdrawn and avoiding activities that used to bring joy
  • Feeling listless, fatigued, or lazy
  • Feeling hopeless or like a failure
  • Having low self-esteem and thinking negative thoughts about oneself
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in appetite, like undereating or overeating
  • Thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide

Remember, there’s a difference between normal feelings like sadness and a mental condition like depression. Everyone feels sad sometimes, but sadness isn’t something that lasts for long periods. Depression, on the other hand, is a long-term mental health condition that can last for weeks, months, or more and fundamentally change the way you think and feel.


How to Get Help for Depression

See a psychiatrist or doctor. While taking quizzes like this one can help you recognize what you’re feeling and notice if you’re experiencing specific symptoms, only a medical professional can give you a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. So, be sure to see your doctor or a psychiatrist; they can evaluate your symptoms and figure out what to do next.

Visit a therapist. Therapy can be a huge help in managing depression; therapists are trained to help you safely explore your emotions and mental health struggles. They can also give you tools to improve your mental health and manage your depression. There are several different kinds of therapy that can be used to effectively treat depression, such as behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and supportive therapy.

Talk to a doctor or psychiatrist about medication. Medication can also help alleviate certain symptoms of depression; your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant for extra support (sometimes in combination with therapy, if possible). If you’re given medication, be sure to take it as prescribed. Common medications used to treat depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).


How to Take Care of Yourself with Depression

It’s important to practice self-care, especially when you’re dealing with a condition like depression. Take it easy and be gentle with yourself! Do things that are good for you, even if you don’t always feel like doing them; ultimately, it can really help. Self-care can include:

  • Getting regular and healthy meals every day
  • Going to bed and waking up around the same time
  • Spending time with people and confiding in the ones you trust
  • Doing activities and hobbies you used to enjoy
  • Getting physical activity—even just 30 minutes of light activity per day
  • Doing what you can (without pushing yourself too much)

Want to learn more?

You Might Also Like

Medical Disclaimer

Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.

Read More...

References

  1. ↑ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

Reader Success Stories

  • Zamirah J.

    Zamirah J.

    Apr 20

    "I love this website! It can help with quizzes and testing if I have questions about anything, and it can also just..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories
Share your story