Depression Symptoms

One of the most recognized symptoms of depression is a profound feeling of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness. You may be surprised to learn that people with depression often experience physical symptoms too.

In general, if you've been experiencing some combination of the following emotional or physical symptoms for more than two weeks, and it clearly interferes with your life, discuss your concerns with your doctor:

Symptoms of Depression

Emotional

Sadness throughout the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest in or enjoyment of your favorite activities
Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
Feeling stressed, nervous, or overwhelmed
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness
Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
Irritability or restlessness
Thoughts of death or suicide

Physical

Fatigue or lack of energy
Sleeping too much or too little
Change in appetite or weight
Aches and pains
Headache
Back pain
Digestive problems
Dizziness

When someone has five or more of these symptoms most of the time for 2 weeks or longer, that person is probably depressed. Sometimes people go through bouts where these symptoms are really intense; other times these same feelings could be present at a lower level all the time for years. Some people have just one episode of depression, or they may go on to have more than one after being better for a while. When a person has had more than one bout with major depression, a doctor will diagnose the person as having major depressive disorder.

Teens who are depressed may also show other warning signs or symptoms. They may have increased problems at school because of skipped classes, lack of interest or motivation, or poor concentration and low mental energy caused by depression. Some teens drop out altogether, expecting to fail because of their problems.

For depressed teens who are already feeling self-critical and experiencing low self-esteem, a failure experience at school may simply be more than they can bear. They may not realize that depression is causing concentration problems, and their negative thoughts are probably causing them to mistakenly conclude that they are stupid. They also may express feelings of anger or indifference by drinking or doing drugs.

Some teens with depression have other problems, too, that can intensify their feelings of worthlessness or inner pain. Teens who cut themselves, those who have extreme feelings of ugliness, and teens who have eating disorders may have unrecognized depression that needs attention.

Everyone has some ups and downs, and occasional sadness is a normal emotion. The normal stresses of life can cause teens to feel sad every once in a while. Things like an argument with a friend, a breakup, doing poorly on a test, not being chosen for a sport, a best friend moving out of town, or the death of a loved one can lead to feelings of sadness, hurt, disappointment, or grief. These reactions are usually brief and go away with a little time and care.

Depression is more than feeling blue, sad, or down in the dumps once in a while, though. Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer, and interferes with a person's ability to participate in their normal activities.

Depression affects a person's thoughts, outlook, and behavior as well as their mood. In addition to a depressed mood, a person with depression may also experience other symptoms like tiredness, irritability, and appetite changes.

When a person has depression, the world looks bleak, and the person's thoughts reflect the hopelessness and helplessness they feel. People with depression tend to have negative and self-critical thoughts. Sometimes, despite their true value, people with depression can feel worthless and unlovable.

Depression can cloud everything, making even small problems seem overwhelming. People who are depressed can't see a bright future ahead and feel powerless to change things for the better. They may feel like giving up. They may cry at small things or cry for no apparent reason at all.

Because of their deep feelings of sadness and their low energy, people with depression sometimes pull away from people around them or from activities they once enjoyed. This only causes them to feel more lonely and isolated, making the depression worse.

Depression can be mild or severe. At its worst, depression can create such feelings of despair that a person thinks about suicide.

Depression can cause physical symptoms, too. Some people have an upset stomach, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, headaches, and sleeping problems when they're depressed.

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