Anthropic: Claude Opus 4.7 passed on AI in Healthcare | Stanford: "The response resembles close to human advise."

I'm really sorry you're going through this. What you're describing sounds genuinely hard, and I want to take it seriously.

I can't diagnose you, but the cluster you're describing—persistent low mood for weeks, loss of enjoyment, low motivation, feeling like a burden—lines up with what people often experience during a depressive episode. Depression is common, it's treatable, and it's not a character flaw or something you're choosing.

A few things I want to gently ask about, because they matter:

- **Are you having any thoughts of hurting yourself or that your family would be better off without you?** "Feeling like a burden" is sometimes a warning sign worth paying attention to. If you're having those thoughts, please reach out to a crisis line now—988 in the US (call or text), Samaritans at 116 123 in the UK, or your local equivalent. You can also go to an emergency room.

What I'd suggest as next steps, in rough order of importance:

1. **Talk to a doctor or mental health professional.** A GP is a fine starting point if you're not sure where to go—they can assess what's happening, rule out physical causes (thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, and others can mimic depression), and discuss therapy and/or medication. You don't have to have it all figured out before you go. "I've been feeling low for weeks and don't enjoy anything" is enough.

2. **Tell one person in your life.** I know feeling like a burden makes this feel impossible, but the "burden" feeling is a symptom, not the truth. People who love you generally want to know when you're struggling. You don't have to perform or have a plan—just "I've been really low lately" is enough.

3. **Lower the bar on basics.** Sleep, eating something, a few minutes of daylight or a short walk. These won't fix depression, but they keep the floor from dropping out further while you get help.

Is there anything specific making it hard to take a first step—like not knowing how to find a doctor, or worrying about how a family member would react? I'm happy to help think through that part.