Making the Diagnosis
To diagnose depression, your doctor will ask you questions about the symptoms you are experiencing and their severity. Your doctor may perform a physical exam and order blood tests to make sure there isn't an underlying medical cause for your symptoms.
Physicians are trained to help you and to take depression and its treatment seriously. Together with your doctor, you can begin to identify and manage the nature of the problem, and then develop a treatment plan. This may include a referral to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.