What are some symptoms of depression?
Besides the feelings of sadness and despair, there are other symptoms that may indicated depression. Some of these include: changes in appetite and weight, sleeping problems, loss of interest in work, hobbies, people, or sex, avoidance of social situations, agitation or irritability, trouble concentrating, or thoughts of suicide. Symptoms are often different across age and gender. For example, older adults often don’t want to show these feelings at all, and young children may pretend to be sick, or refuse to go to school. Men with depression are more likely to show irritability, anger, or feeling discouraged. It is important to consider the effect life events have on a person’s mood, as these symptoms do not always indicate depression. It is also important to realize that everyone will express feelings of depression differently.
