Everybody feels unhappy now and then, but most of the time it lasts just a few days and goes away on its own. Depression is different. It gets in the way of your daily life and makes it harder to do the things you love. You'll need treatment to get better.
Symptoms of Depression
There are a lot of signs of depression, but you may not have them all. Their intensity and duration differ from person to person.
Some of the ways depression might make you feel are:
Sad, empty, or anxious. Feeling sad from time to time is normal. But this isn't the usual sadness that goes away. Depression-related sadness continues over time without getting better.
Helpless, worthless, or guilty.You may feel bad about yourself or your life and believe that you have no power to change things. Depression can make you think you have no value in this world and cause you to dwell on your losses or failures.
Hopeless.Losing hope is another hallmark sign of depression. You can feel hopeless about your own self-worth and future and believe that nothing good will ever happen to you. Or you can feel hopeless about the future in general. These beliefs may make you think about death or suicide.
Irritable.Sometimes, depression shows up as irritability rather than as a sad or down mood. You may feel angrier and more restless or on edge than usual. Irritability is an especially common symptom of depression in children and teens.
Less interest in activities. Hobbies or games you usually enjoy may not appeal to you. You may have little or no desire to eat or have sex.
Less energetic.Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of depression. This isn't normal tiredness. Not only are you tired, but you also think and move more slowly and have trouble thinking clearly. Daily routines and tasks may seem too hard to manage.
Trouble concentrating. It could be tough to focus. Simple things such as reading a newspaper or watching TV may be hard. You may have trouble remembering details. It might seem overwhelming to make a decision, whether it's big or small.
Changes in the way you sleep.The link between depression and sleep goes both ways. People with insomnia are more likely to develop depression. And those with depression often have more trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night. Depression can affect sleep in different ways. Some people wake up too early or have trouble falling asleep. Others have the opposite problem, sleeping much longer than usual.
Changes in appetite.Depression can also affect your appetite in different ways. It can make you feel hungrier and cause you to eat more than usual. Or it can make you lose your appetite. Depending on how depression affects your appetite, it can lead to weight gain or weight loss.
Aches and pains.It's very common for depression to cause physical symptoms along with emotional ones. You may have headaches, cramps, joint pain, back pain, an upset stomach, or digestive problems.
Causes of Depression
Experts believe depression is due to a combination of things:
Brain structure.The way certain nerve pathways or circuits in your brain send information may not work properly when you're depressed. Imaging scans of people with depression have shown changes in certain areas that regulate mood.
For example, the hippocampus, an area of the brain that's involved in learning and memory, is smaller in some people with depression. The amygdala, where your brain processes emotions, is larger. Other parts of your brain that are involved in mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior look different when you're depressed, but scientists aren't sure why.
Genes. You may feel angrier and more restless or on edge than usual. Irritability is an especially common symptom of depression in children and teens. Scientists are studying certain genes that may make you more likely to get depression. Up to 50% of the cause of depression could be genetic in some people. Experts think that if your parent, brother, or sister has depression, your risk is two to three times higher than that of someone who doesn't have a close relative with depression.
But genes don't tell the whole story. Depression can run in families, but that doesn't mean you'll develop depression just because someone you're related to has it. And depression can happen in people who don't have any relatives with the condition.
Life events. Big challenges or changes in your life may trigger depression. That could be the loss of someone close to you, a difficult relationship, or a stressful situation. Other things, such as your finances, where you live, and whether or not you're married, may also have an impact. But remember, there doesn't have to be a "reason" for your depression. Sometimes, it happens without an obvious cause.
Childhood problems.People who have disturbing experiences in childhood, such as emotional abuse or neglect, are more likely to have depression. The more traumas a child experiences, the higher their risk for depression and the more severe that depression may be. Experiencing trauma at a young age could change your brain in ways that make you more vulnerable to depression.
Certain medications. Some of the medications you may take to treat conditions such as allergies, acid reflux, and pain have mood changes as a side effect. Medicines may cause depression directly by altering levels of brain chemicals that affect mood. Or they can lead to depression by making you feel tired, groggy, or less hungry.
Medicines that are most likely to cause depression include ones that treat:
- Acid reflux
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Pain
- Seizures
Chronic conditions. You may be at a higher risk for depression if you have a chronic disease such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis. One reason is that life with a chronic disease can be very stressful and challenging. Some conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and stroke, act on the brain directly. And some of the medicines that treat chronic conditions cause depression as a side effect.
Head injuries. Research finds that up to 1 in 5 people have mental health symptoms such as depression after even a minor head injury. Depression may stem from damage to parts of the brain that control mood. The risk is even higher in people who were already depressed before their head injury.
Anxiety. This is an intense feeling of worry that is out of proportion to the situation. Depression and anxiety often go together, and the relationship goes both ways. Anxiety can be a symptom of depression, and an anxiety disorder can trigger depression. Some of the same treatments, including therapy and medication, work for both conditions.
Drug or alcohol abuse. Many people with a substance use disorder also have depression. Many of the same risk factors contribute to both conditions, including genes and trauma. Some people who are depressed use drugs or alcohol to deal with their feelings. These substances can change your brain in ways that make you more likely to feel depressed.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a condition that makes it hard to pay attention and focus. Adults with ADHD are nearly three times as likely to have depression as those without ADHD. The negative effects that ADHD has on self-esteem, relationships, work, and school can all lead to depression risk.
Other conditions. Drug or alcohol abuse, illness, long-term pain, anxiety, sleep problems, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may also be linked to depression.
Takeaways
Depression can make you feel sad, hopeless, and worthless. If you think you're getting depressed, don’t try to tough it out. See your doctor. Lots of treatments can help, including antidepressants and talk therapy. Also, make sure you get the help you need from family, friends, and support groups.
Symptoms of Depression FAQs
What are the 4 characteristics of depression?
Self-rating scales that doctors use to diagnose depression rate these four common features:
- How often you feel depressed: Some of the time, most of the time, etc.
- Whether depression affects other functions, like your ability to sleep.
- If you have other disturbances, like irritability or crying.
- If depression affects your movements, like making you more restless than usual.
What are the three Cs of depression?
The three Cs are — catch it, check it, and change it. They're a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) meant to change the negative thoughts that cause depression.
- "Catch it" means that you recognize a negative thought when you have it.
- "Check it" means taking a step back to examine the feeling. Is there good evidence for it? How likely is it to cause the negative outcome you expect?
- "Change it" means you try to change the negative thought into a more positive one.
What are the patterns of a depressed person?
Depression happens in episodes that fit one of three patterns:
- You have only one episode of depression and then never have it again.
- You have two or more episodes of depression.
- Your depression episodes alternate with periods of mania, which is called bipolar disorder.
What are the 5 cycles of depression?
There are differing opinions regarding whether depression has stages or cycles. Some believe depression cycles go from depression to low energy, then to anxiety that can be managed, followed by greater feelings of guilt, and finally back to depression. Others think that depression stages are similar to stages of grief. Research doesn't confirm cycles of depression, but establishes the various types that exist.
What personality traits predict depression?
Studies have linked the personality traits neuroticism and introversion with depression. People who are neurotic have negative traits such as anger and anxiety. Introverts prefer to focus on themselves rather than on other people.
