Common Symptoms of Clinical Depression

Warning Signs You May Be Depressed

By Nancy Schimelpfening | Medically reviewed by a board-
certified physician
Updated January 16, 2019
While only a qualified medical or mental health provider can diagnose depression, there are certain warning
signs that can help you identify whether you or someone you care about may be depressed.

Depression looks a little different in different people, however. So while one individual may struggle to get
out of bed due to depression, someone else might be able to go to work every day without co-workers
noticing that he's depressed.
Sometimes, symptoms that look like depression aren't really depression, however. Substance abuse issues, medical problems, medication side
effects, or other mental health conditions may produce symptoms that look similar to depression.

The DSM-5 recognizes several different types of depressive disorders. The two most common types include major depressive disorder and
persistent depressive disorder.

The good news is, depression is treatable. If you recognize signs that you or someone you may know be depressed, professional help may be
warranted. Medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two could be instrumental in reducing depressive symptoms.
 Low Mood
A person with a depressed mood may report feeling "sad" or "empty," or may cry frequently. Having a low mood is one of the two core
symptoms which is used to diagnose depression.

Depressed mood is consistent with both major depression and persistent depressive disorder. In major depression, an individual must feel
depressed most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report or observations made by others. Children or adolescents
may appear more irritable than sad.

People with persistent depressive disorder experience a depressed mood more days than not for at least two years. Children may appear more
irritable than depressed and they must experience it more days than not for at least one year. It may be chronic and less severe than a full-blown
major depression, but could also represent symptoms of a major depression that have persisted for more than two years.
 Decreased Interest or Pleasure
The second core symptom of major depressive disorder is a decreased interest or pleasure in things that were once enjoyed. A person exhibiting
this symptom will show markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, daily activities.

Changes in Appetite
Significant changes in weight (a gain or loss of 5 percent or more in a month) while not attempting to gain or lose may be indicative of major
depressive disorder. In children, this may also present as a failure to make expected weight gains.

Persistent depressive disorder may involve a poor appetite or overeating but there may not be the same marked change in weight that is present
in major depressive disorder.
 Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disturbances including difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, feeling sleepy despite a full night's rest, or daytime sleepiness can indicate
either major depressive disorder or persistent depressive disorder.

Psychomotor Agitation or Retardation

Agitation, restlessness, or lethargy that affects a person's daily routine, behavior or appearance is a symptom of major depressive disorder ​These
symptoms can be evident in body movements, speech, and reaction time and must be observable by others.

Fatigue
A loss of energy and chronic feelings of fatigue can be symptoms of both persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder. Feeling
tired most of the time can interfere with an individual's ability to function normally.
 Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt
Excessive, inappropriate guilt, and feelings of worthlessness are common symptoms of major depressive disorder. The feelings of guilt may be so
severe they become delusional.

Difficulty Concentrating
Both major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder involve difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Individuals with
depression may recognize this in themselves or others around them may notice that they're struggling to think clearly.

Recurrent Thoughts of Death

Recurrent thoughts of death that go beyond the fear of dying are associated with major depressive disorder. An individual with major depression
may think about suicide, make a suicide attempt, or create a specific plan to kill themselves.
• Multiple studies have shown that exercise is beneficial to those with
depression. In fact, a 2007 placebo-controlled trial out of Duke University
— the first of its kind — found that exercise may be just as effective in
relieving depression as the antidepressant Zoloft (sertraline).

•2
• Improve Your Sleep Habits
• While insomnia can be caused by depression, the relationship also works in
reverse. Untreated insomnia can be a risk factor for depression. Developing
good sleep habits can be effective in relieving insomnia and may reduce
your risk of future depression.
• 3
• Get Daily Sunlight (or Use a Light Box)
• The brain uses sunlight entering through the eyes as a means to set the body's internal clock.
When we don't get enough sunlight at the right times — generally because of work schedules and
the shorter days of winter — our natural hormonal rhythms are thrown off balance. Levels of
serotonin decrease, and we feel tired and depressed. When this phenomenon follows a seasonal
pattern, it is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). While natural sunlight is the ideal, you
can also purchase a light box for use when sunlight is not available

• 4
• Improve Your Diet
• A poor diet can contribute to depression in several ways. A variety of different vitamin and
mineral deficiencies are known to cause symptoms of depression. Researchers have also found
that diets either low in omega-3 fatty acids or with an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3
are associated with increased rates of depression. In addition, diets high in sugar have been
associated with depression.
• 5
• Avoid Alcohol
• Because it is easy to obtain and socially acceptable, alcohol is one of the most popular drugs chosen for the
self-medication of depression. Rather ironically, it is classified as a depressant and studies have shown that
in the long run it actually decreases levels of serotonin and other chemicals involved in mood regulation.
Excessive alcohol use can also interfere with a person's ability to successfully resolve situations, which may
be contributing to their depression. In addition, alcohol is incompatible with many of the drugs used to treat
depression.

• 6
• Avoid Caffeine
• While there is no proven link between caffeine and depression, there is some evidence that it may be helpful
to remove it from your diet. A small cohort trial found that eliminating refined sugar and caffeine from the
diet brought improvement in depression symptoms after one week. When the subjects were then
challenged with these substances, their depression symptoms returned. In other studies, regular high-level
caffeine consumption (>750 mg per day) has been associated with depression. Caffeine consumption can
also cause insomnia, which may be a risk factor for depression.