Depression is a common and treatable condition that can affect people of any age. If you experience five or more of the following symptoms most of the time for at least two weeks, you may be clinically depressed. Always check with your physician first for a diagnosis.
- Feeling sad, blue or tearful
- Experiencing difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Experiencing changes in appetite with weight loss or gain
- Losing interest or pleasure in doing things
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Feeling pessimistic or hopeless
- Having problems concentrating or thinking clearly
- Having thoughts of death or suicide
- Feeling aches/pains, such as back pain, stomach pain or headaches
- Experiencing panic or increased anxiety or tension
There are forms of depression that can be undetected especially if it is mild. You think that you are just sad or lonely or just down in the dumps. Usually mild depression also goes untreated. While it may not be dangerous it causes people to suffer or worry unnecessarily.