Understanding Depression: Recognizing the Signs and Getting Help
What Is Depression?
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious mental disorder that negatively affects how you feel, think, act, and perceive the world.
Nearly three in ten adults (29%) have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives and about 18% are currently experiencing depression, according to a 2023 national survey. Women are more likely than men and younger adults are more likely than older adults to experience depression. While depression can occur at any time and at any age, on average it can first appear during one’s late teens to mid-20s.
American Psychiatric AssociationRead MoreUnderstanding and Managing Depression
Continue Your Journey of Healing & Hope
Read Our Story
Explore Audio Healing Files
Symptoms of depression
symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can appear differently in each person. These symptoms can include:
If you or someone you know
needs support now,
call or text 988,
or chat 988lifeline.org
- Feeling sad, irritable, empty and/or hopeless.
- Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed.
- A significant change in appetite (eating much less or more than usual) and/or weight (notable loss or gain unrelated to dieting).
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech that are severe enough to be observable by others.
- Feeling worthless or excessively guilty.
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty making minor decisions.
- Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.
Diagnosis
To be diagnosed with depressive disorder, a person must have experienced a depressive episode lasting longer than two weeks. The symptoms of a depressive episode include:
** Loss of interest or loss of pleasure in all activities.
** Change in appetite or weight
tions
