Signs or Symptoms of Depression

Depression symptoms can vary greatly person to person. The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms will vary depending on the individual and his or her age and situation.

A 25-year-old man with depression may not have the same symptoms as a 70-year-old man, for instance. For some people, depression symptoms are so severe that it's obvious something isn't right. Others may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why. Most mental health experts agree that if you are experiencing five or more of these symptoms for a sustained period of longer than two weeks, you should seek an evaluation from a qualified professional.

  • Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" moods
  • Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
  • Crying spells for no apparent reason
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Being easily annoyed
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
  • Change in appetite and unintentional weight gain or loss
  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
  • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
  • Thoughts become negative, you can't control them no matter how much you try
  • Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior

Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Such illnesses may precede the depression, cause it, and/or be a consequence of it. It is likely that the mechanics behind the intersection of depression and other illnesses differ for every person his/her age and situation. Regardless, these other co-occurring illnesses need to be diagnosed and treated. Anxiety disorders, obsessive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia often accompany depression.

Alcohol and other substance abuse or dependence may also co-occur with depression. In fact, research has indicated that the co-existence of mood disorders and substance abuse is pervasive among the U.S. population.

Depression also often co-exists with other serious medical illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/Aids, Diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. Studies have shown that people who have depression in addition to another serious medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both depression and the medical illness, more difficulty adapting to their medical condition, and more medical costs than those who do not have co-existing depression. Research has yielded increasing evidence that treating the depression can also help improve the outcome of treating the co-occurring illness.