Warning Signs of Depression
Depression isn’t a brief blue mood or a passing sadness that lifts in a few hours or a few days. Mental health professionals say people who have depression experience at least five of the following symptoms, which must include the first or second, nearly every day, all day, for at least two weeks:
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Persistent depressed mood, including feelings of sadness or emptiness.
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Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, hobbies or sex.
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Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism.
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Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness.
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Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping.
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Loss of appetite accompanied by weight loss.
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Overeating accompanied by weight gain.
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Decreased energy, fatigue, and feeling “slowed down.”
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Restlessness and irritability.
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Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.
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Thoughts of suicide or death (not just fear of dying) or suicide attempts.
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Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain, that do not respond to medical treatment and for which no physical cause can be found.
For more information on depressive disorders, visit the National Institute of Mental Health on the Internet at www.nimh.nih.gov.
