Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs

Do you think you might be depressed? Here are some of

the signs and symptoms to look for—and tips for
getting the help you need.

What is depression?
Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life, but when emotions such as
hopelessness and despair take hold and just won’t go away, you may have depression. More
than just sadness in response to life’s struggles and setbacks, depression changes how you
think, feel, and function in daily activities. It can interfere with your ability to work, study,
eat, sleep, and enjoy life. Just trying to get through the day can be overwhelming.

While some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of
impending doom, others feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic. Men in particular can feel angry
and restless. However you experience depression, left untreated it can become a serious
health condition. But it’s important to remember that feelings of helplessness and
hopelessness are symptoms of depression—not the reality of your situation.

No matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. By understanding the cause of your
depression and recognizing the different symptoms and types of depression, you can take
the first steps to feeling better and overcoming the problem.

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What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms.
It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the
more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more
likely it is that you’re dealing with depression.

10 common symptoms of depression:

1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will

ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
2. Loss of interest in daily activities. You don’t care anymore about former
hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and
pleasure.
3. Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change
of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
4. Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the
morning, or oversleeping.
5. Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance
level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
6. Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole
body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to
complete.
7. Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize
yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
8. Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse,
compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
9. Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering
things.
10. Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as
headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Is it depression or bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, involves serious shifts in moods, energy,
thinking, and behavior. Because it looks so similar to depression when in the low phase, it is

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often overlooked and misdiagnosed. This can be a serious problem as taking antidepressants
for bipolar depression can actually make the condition worse. If you’ve ever gone through
phases where you experienced excessive feelings of euphoria, a decreased need for sleep,
racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior, consider getting evaluated for bipolar disorder.

Depression and suicide risk

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes
along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. If you have
a loved one with depression, take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously and watch for the
warning signs:

1. Talking about killing or harming one’s self

2. Expressing strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped
3. An unusual preoccupation with death or dying
4. Acting recklessly, as if they have a death wish (e.g. speeding through red
lights)
5. Calling or visiting people to say goodbye
6. Getting affairs in order (giving away prized possessions, tying up loose
ends)
7. Saying things like “Everyone would be better off without me” or “I want
out”
8. A sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy

If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, express your concern and seek
help immediately. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.

If You Are Feeling Suicidal…

When you’re feeling depressed or suicidal, your problems don’t seem temporary—they seem
overwhelming and permanent. But with time, you will feel better, especially if you get help.
There are many people who want to support you during this difficult time, so please reach
out!

Read Suicide Help or call 1-800-273-TALK in the U.S. or visit IASP or Suicide.org to find
a helpline in your country.

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How depression symptoms vary with gender and age
Depression often varies according to age and gender, with symptoms differing between men
and women, or young people and older adults.

Depression in men

Depressed men are less likely to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness.
Instead, they tend to complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest
in work and hobbies. They’re also more likely to experience symptoms such as anger,
aggression, reckless behavior, and substance abuse.

Depression in women

Women are more likely to experience depression symptoms such as pronounced feelings of
guilt, excessive sleeping, overeating, and weight gain. Depression in women is also
impacted by hormonal factors during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. In fact,
postpartum depression affects up to 1 in 7 women experience depression following
childbirth.

Depression in teens

Irritability, anger, and agitation are often the most noticeable symptoms in depressed
teens—not sadness. They may also complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical
pains.

Depression in older adults

Older adults tend to complain more about the physical rather than the emotional signs and
symptoms of depression: things like fatigue, unexplained aches and pains, and memory
problems. They may also neglect their personal appearance and stop taking critical
medications for their health.

Types of depression
Depression comes in many shapes and forms. Knowing what type of depression you have
can help you manage your symptoms and get the most effective treatment.

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Major depression

Major depression is much less common than mild or moderate depression and is
characterized by severe, relentless symptoms.

Left untreated, major depression typically lasts for about six months.
Some people experience just a single depressive episode in their lifetime, but major
depression can be a recurring disorder.

Atypical depression

Atypical depression is a common subtype of major depression with a specific symptom

pattern. It responds better to some therapies and medications than others, so identifying it
can be helpful.

People with atypical depression experience a temporary mood lift in response to

positive events, such as after receiving good news or while out with friends.
Other symptoms of atypical depression include weight gain, increased appetite,
sleeping excessively, a heavy feeling in the arms and legs, and sensitivity to rejection.

Dysthymia (recurrent, mild depression)

Dysthymia is a type of chronic “low-grade” depression. More days than not, you feel mildly
or moderately depressed, although you may have brief periods of normal mood.

The symptoms of dysthymia are not as strong as the symptoms of major depression,
but they last a long time (at least two years).
Some people also experience major depressive episodes on top of dysthymia, a
condition known as “double depression.”
If you suffer from dysthymia, you may feel like you’ve always been depressed. Or you
may think that your continuous low mood is “just the way you are.”

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

For some people, the reduced daylight hours of winter lead to a form of depression known
as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD affects about 1% to 2% of the population,
particularly women and young people. SAD can make you feel like a completely different
person to who you are in the summer: hopeless, sad, tense, or stressed, with no interest in

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friends or activities you normally love. SAD usually begins in fall or winter when the days
become shorter and remains until the brighter days of spring.

Depression causes and risk factors

While some illnesses have a specific medical cause, making treatment straightforward,
depression is more complicated. Depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in
the brain that can be simply cured with medication. It’s caused by a combination of
biological, psychological, and social factors. In other words, your lifestyle choices,
relationships, and coping skills matter just as much—if not more so—than genetics.

Risk factors that make you more vulnerable to depression include:

1. Loneliness and isolation

2. Lack of social support
3. Recent stressful life experiences
4. Family history of depression
5. Marital or relationship problems
6. Financial strain
7. Early childhood trauma or abuse
8. Alcohol or drug abuse
9. Unemployment or underemployment
10. Health problems or chronic pain

The cause of your depression helps determine the treatment

Understanding the underlying cause of your depression may help you overcome the
problem. For example, if you are depressed because of a dead-end job, the best treatment
might be finding a more satisfying career rather than simply taking an antidepressant. If
you are new to an area and feeling lonely and sad, finding new friends will probably give
you more of a mood boost than going to therapy. In such cases, the depression is remedied
by changing the situation.

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What you can do to feel better
When you’re depressed, it can feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. But there
are many things you can do to lift and stabilize your mood. The key is to start with a few
small goals and slowly build from there, trying to do a little more each day. Feeling better
takes time, but you can get there by making positive choices for yourself.

To cope with depression

Reach out to other people. Isolation fuels

depression, so reach out to friends and loved ones, even if you feel like being alone or don’t
want to be a burden to others. The simple act of talking to someone face-to-face about how
you feel can be an enormous help. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to fix you.
He or she just needs to be a good listener—someone who’ll listen attentively without being
distracted or judging you.

Get moving. When you’re depressed, just getting out of bed can seem daunting, let alone
exercising. But regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication in
countering the symptoms of depression. Take a short walk or put some music on and dance
around. Start with small activities and build up from there.

Eat a mood boosting diet. Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your
mood, such as caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, sugar and refined carbs. And increase mood-
enhancing nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids.

Find ways to engage again with the world. Spend some time in nature, care for a pet,

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volunteer, pick up a hobby you used to enjoy (or take up a new one). You won’t feel like it at
first, but as you participate in the world again, you will start to feel better.

When to seek professional help

If support from family and friends and positive lifestyle changes aren’t enough, it may be
time to seek help from a mental health professional. There are many effective treatments for
depression, including:

Therapy. Effective treatment for depression often includes consulting a therapist who can
provide you tools to treat depression from a variety of angles and motivate you to take the
action necessary. Therapy can also offer you the skills and insight to prevent depression
from coming back.

Medication may be imperative if you’re feeling suicidal or violent. But while it can help
relieve symptoms of depression in some people, it isn’t a cure and is not usually a long-term
solution. It also comes with side effects and other drawbacks so it’s important to learn all
the facts to make an informed decision.

Other resources

Atypical Depression: What’s in a Name? – Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of atypical

depression. (American Psychiatric Association)
What Causes Depression? – Including genes, temperament, stressful life events, and medical
issues. (Harvard Health Publishing)
Co-occurring Disorders and Depression – How medical disorders can affect depression and
vice versa. (Mental Health America)

Hotlines and support

In the U.S.: Find DBSA Chapters/Support Groups or call the NAMI Helpline for support and
referrals at 1-800-950-6264

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UK: Find Depression support groups in-person and online or call the Mind Infoline at 0300
123 3393
Australia: Find Support Groups and regional resources or call the SANE Help Centre at
1800 18 7263
India: Call the Helpline (India) at 1860 2662 345 or 1800 2333 330. (Vandrevala
Foundation)

Suicide Help

In the U.S.: Call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255

UK and Ireland: Call Samaritans UK at 116 123
Australia: Call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14
Other countries: Visit IASP or International Suicide Hotlines to find a helpline near you

Authors: Melinda Smith, M.A. and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. Last updated: July 2019.

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