What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Symptoms of depression affect a person both day and night, making one feel down for at least two weeks. Depression also comes in episodes, and it is common for one to experience similar symptoms later in life. The typical symptoms include:

• Prolonged and intense feelings of sadness
• Fatigue and constantly feeling tired
• No longer finding things pleasurable that were once enjoyable, including various activities or meeting up with friends and family
• Reduced appetite
• Weight loss, sometimes more than 5% of your usual body weight
• Difficulty falling asleep or waking up way earlier than usual
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Feelings of guilt and low self-esteem
• Hopelessness towards the future
• No longer interested in sexual activities
• Feeling irritated or angry
• Physical discomfort with unexpected aches and pains, such as headache and low back pain
• Slowed response or constantly feeling on-edge.

Children with depression may experience similar symptoms or refuse to go to school. They might also seem to be excessively clingy and do worse at school. Elderly patients with depression might even experience symptoms of memory loss, more physical symptoms and aches, and thoughts of suicide.