It’s normal to feel down every so often. However, if these negative emotions linger on for weeks or months, you may struggle with depression.

Depression is more than just a prolonged feeling of sadness. It’s a condition that makes you think, feel, and behave differently. The difficulty with depression is it can interfere with important aspects of your life, from work to school to relationships. ¹

Throughout this article, we’ll take a deeper look at depression and it symptoms. We hope by the end, you figure out how to know if you have depression.

Common Symptoms of Depression

Warning signs of depression will appear through its symptoms. Not everyone will experience the same set of symptoms. Not to mention, some of depression’s symptoms will overlap with other illnesses.

The most common symptoms of depression are:

• Appetite or Weight Changes – If you notice a significant gain or loss in weight, you should consult a doctor. This tends to be over 5% of body weight within a month.

• Difficulty Concentrating – Be cautious if you have trouble focusing, remembering things, or making important decisions.

• Feeling Helpless and Hopeless – Do you think that nothing will get better and there’s no way to improve the circumstances you find yourself in?

• Irritability or Anger – Is your tolerance lower than normal and have you become more easily agitated, restless, or violent?

• Loss of Energy – People with depression often notice that they begin to feel more fatigued, physically drained, and overall sluggish. If you feel exhausted even from small tasks, you may have depression. ²

• Loss of Interest in Activities – Be wary if you are no longer interested in activities you once enjoyed. These may include hobbies, pastimes, and social or sexual activities.

• Physical Pain – You may notice increased headaches, back pain, muscle aches, and stomach pain. ³

• Risky Behavior – When you no longer care about your well-being, you tend to participate in riskier behaviors. This may include abuse of drugs and alcohol, gambling, reckless driving, dangerous sports, or promiscuous sex. ⁴

• Self-loathing – Do you feel worthless or guilty? Do you criticize yourself more harshly for normal errors? If so, it may be because you struggle with depression.

• Sleep Changes – You may experience insomnia or oversleeping. ⁵

For a diagnosis, at least two symptoms must persist for a minimum of two weeks. Of course, everyone’s case is different. For that reason, it’s extremely beneficial to get a professional’s perspective on your situation.

Differences in Depression Symptoms Among Age and Gender

Symptoms of depression vary depending on a person’s age and gender. These differences include:

• Depression in Women – Women are more likely to experience symptoms of guilt, oversleeping, and weight gain. Women may be more at risk of depression than men due to several hormonal factors, including pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause. Not to mention, nearly 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression after childbirth. ⁶

• Depression in Men – Men with depression are more likely to experience self-loathing and hopelessness. However, it’s unlikely they’ll discuss these symptoms. Rather, they’ll mention how they’ve felt more fatigued, irritable, or have experienced a loss of interest in specific activities. Men are also likely to experience anger, aggression, reckless behavior, and drug abuse. ⁷

• Depression in Teens – Teens who face depression tend to not show feelings of sadness. Rather, they show symptoms of anger, agitation, and irritability. Sometimes, they may express headaches, stomachaches, and other physical pains. ⁸

• Depression in Older Adults – Similarly to teenagers, older adults don’t usually discuss the emotional signs and symptoms of depression. Rather, they’ll discuss physical changes, such as fatigue, pains and aches, and memory difficulties. One noticeable sign among older adults with depression is their lack of care for personal hygiene or to take necessary medications. ⁹

If you are concerned about a loved one who may struggle with depression, it can be helpful to research how their gender and age group are affected by the condition.

Depression and Other Mental Health Conditions

A depression diagnosis can be difficult as symptoms may overlap with other mental health conditions. A prime example of this is bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression. The condition involves extreme shifts in mood, energy, behavior, and thought processes. These shifts can go from highly energetic manic episodes to very low-feeling depressive episodes. ¹⁰

It’s also worth mentioning that other mental health conditions can develop into depression and vice versa. For example, some people with depression may self-medicate with drugs or alcohol and, in turn, develop a substance use disorder.

Depression’s Risk of Suicide

One of the biggest risk factors for depression is suicidal ideation. Symptoms such as hopelessness and helplessness can make an individual feel as though there’s no other way out of their struggle. ¹¹

For this reason, you must keep an eye out for the following suicidal warning signs:

• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Acting anxious, agitated, and/or reckless
• Displaying rage or talking about revenge
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Showing extreme mood swings
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
• Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain
• Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
• Withdrawing from social interaction, isolating oneself

If you or a loved one is considering suicide, it’s important to seek help immediately. In cases of emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. In other cases, you can reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

What Are the Types of Depression?

While many consider depression to be a single mental health condition, it actually comes in a few different types. If you already know you have depression, it may be difficult to figure out which type you struggle with. However, you need to as it will help you determine the best treatment path. The types of depression include:

Mild and Moderate Depression

As the most common form of depression, mild and moderate is feeling a lighter version of depression’s symptoms. Most notably, people with mild or moderate depression will notice a decline in joy, motivation, confidence, and self-esteem.

Some people with mild depression may be struggling with dysthymia (also known as persistent depressive disorder). This is when you fluctuate between periods of mild depression to a normal mood. Some important things to consider with dysthymia include: ¹²

• Many with dysthymia consider their depression a part of their mood – as though it has always been with them and is simply a personality trait.

• Symptoms aren’t as severe as other forms of depression but will last a long time (at least two years).

• You may experience major depressive episodes alongside dysthymia. This condition is known as “double depression” and the rates of either depression vary from person to person.

While these conditions aren’t as life-changing as major depression, it’s still beneficial to seek treatment.

Major Depression

Though less common, major depression is much more severe and relentless. Most people with the condition will feel overwhelmed by symptoms and may take drastic measures to ease them. ¹³

Major depression typically lasts for about six months and those who struggle with it usually only experience it once within their lifetime. However, major depression can recur and, for that reason, it’s important to find treatment.

Atypical Depression

People who struggle with atypical depression have similar symptoms to those with major depression. However, a key difference is certain moments can subdue symptoms and cause mood lifts. For example, good news or being around people you love may make you feel briefly better. ¹⁴

Atypical depression also has a selection of symptoms that may not be as common with other depressive disorders. These include:

• Increased appetite
• Heavy feeling in arms and legs
• Oversleeping
• Sensitive to rejection
• Weight gain

If you’ve felt any of these symptoms along with those mentioned above, you may struggle with atypical depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Another common form of depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sometimes referred to as seasonal depression. About 1% to 2% of the population is affected by this condition – most notably, young people and women. Most people experience SAD in the wintertime. Though it is possible to experience it in the summer.

Typically, those with SAD are most affected by the lack of sunlight, shorter days, and the inability to participate in activities they enjoy. SAD usually only lasts through the fall and winter and lifts once spring and summer come around. ¹⁵

Risk Factors for Depression

Depression is rooted in several different causes. Whether it’s going through a divorce or losing your job, life’s stressful situations can weigh down on us and lead to destructive habits, such as drinking excessively and withdrawing from social interaction. In turn, these habits can produce depression.

The following are the most common risk factors for depression. If you’ve experienced more than one of these, we suggest seeking advice from a mental health professional.

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Have you withdrawn from social situations? You may find you lack a strong support system and this is one of the underlying causes of your depression. ¹⁶

Experiences with isolation are difficult as they don’t allow us to properly express ourselves. Without this expression, it can be difficult for our brains and bodies to readjust to their normal self.

For anyone currently battling depression, developing a strong support group is key to overcoming symptoms. If you’re having difficulty finding a support group, several online resources are available to help.

Stressful Life Experience

If you’ve recently gone through a major life change, it’s natural to develop some traits of depression. These events usually bring a great deal of stress – to the point where you’re overwhelmed with emotion.

Whether it’s a divorce, losing your job, financial difficulties, legal problems, or losing a loved one, these circumstances can be numbing. Many find difficulty handling them and, through this, start to develop symptoms of depression. ¹⁷

When it comes to stressful life experiences, it’s beneficial to identify them with your healthcare provider. By attacking the root cause of your depression, you have a better chance of overcoming it.

Relationship Difficulties

Having strong relationships within your life is one of the keys to happiness. Whether it’s family members, friends, or a significant other, each plays a role in defining who you are.

When a relationship with someone is unhealthy (i.e. troubled, unhappy, or abusive), you may find it more difficult to define who you are. Remember, the people around you aren’t a definition of yourself. ¹⁸

Not to mention, the consistent stress such relationships put on us is only fuel for the fire and increases the risk of depression.

Chronic Illness

Certain health conditions have been linked to the development of depression, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Beyond the initial stress a chronic illness can leave you feeling, these conditions sometimes also come with financial and social difficulties.

Not to mention, some don’t know if their case will get better. For example, someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer may not know whether or not they’re going to make it. Such a predicament can leave someone feeling hopeless and helpless. ¹⁹

Family Genetics and Depression

Recent studies have found that some people are genetically susceptible to depression. While there is no “depression gene,” the risk of depression increases if another family member has experienced it. This is especially true in immediate family circumstances. For example, if a mother has depression, her children are at a much greater risk of getting it themselves. ²⁰

Still, genetics isn’t a confirmation that you will experience depression. Some studies suggest that lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping mechanisms are just as big of influences on your mental health as genetics. ²¹

Childhood Trauma and Abuse

If you experienced stress in your childhood, you could spend much of your adolescent and adult life trying to cope with that stress. It’s been found that children who experience trauma and abuse are at a higher risk of developing depression. ²²

Early childhood stress can come in several different manners – from bullying to abuse (i.e. physical, emotional, or sexual) to trauma (i.e. loss of a loved one, parent’s divorce, etc.). If you have experienced such stress, it’s extremely beneficial to talk to your psychiatrist about these events.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Sometimes, two mental health conditions can co-occur with one another. When it comes to depression, one of the most common co-occurrences is drug and alcohol abuse. There are two ways in which these conditions develop into one another: ²³

1. Depression symptoms become so overwhelming, they lead you to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
2. Through drug and alcohol use (and the problems associated with this habit), depression develops.

While there are certain substances (such as opioids) that have more of a prevalence with depression, all drugs put you at risk. If you’re currently facing both depression and substance use disorder, it’s beneficial to seek treatment under a dual diagnosis.

Personality Traits

While it isn’t always the case, certain personality traits may leave a person more at risk of depression. For example, those who are highly critical of themselves may develop low self-esteem. Or those with a pessimistic outlook on life may feel hopeless about their future. ²⁴

It’s difficult for mental health professionals to diagnose depression solely on personality traits. While some may be inherited through genetics, others may have developed over time (i.e. from a highly stressful event).

Are You Depressed? (Depression Quiz)

Still not sure if you experience depression or not? Here are 10 questions to ask yourself to help you figure it out:

1. Are you struggling with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness?
2. Do you find it difficult to find pleasure in activities you used to enjoy?
3. Have you noticed any appetite changes?
4. Do you find it difficult to be motivated? (Are you lacking energy?)
5. Have you noticed a reduction in your sex drive?
6. Do you have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep? Or are you finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning?
7. Have you ever considered harming yourself or ending your life?
8. Do you feel guilty or tearful for no reason?
9. Have you recently experienced a traumatic event?
10. Do you find yourself avoiding social situations?

How you answer these questions can determine whether or not you have depression and the severity of it. We suggest writing down your response and discussing it with a mental health professional.

Final Word

Has this article led you to assume you struggle with depression? If so, help is available. There are several treatment options for people with depression – each of which depends on the type you suffer from and certain personal factors.

To find the right help, we highly advise you to go to a mental health professional. They’ll be able to guide you on the right path and keep up with you as you continue to recover.

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