Depression is a mental health condition that leads to ongoing feelings of sadness and a lack of interest in things you once enjoyed. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it can affect how you think, feel and act. It often causes emotional and physical problems, making it hard to handle everyday tasks. At times, it may even make life feel overwhelming or hopeless.
Although depression might happen just once in a lifetime, many people experience it more than once. During these episodes, symptoms usually appear most of the day, almost every day. Depression can show up in many ways, affecting both the mind and body. People often feel deeply sad, empty, hopeless or even tearful without a clear reason. There may be sudden bursts of anger, frustration or irritability, even over small things. Activities that once brought joy, like hobbies, sports or intimacy, may no longer seem interesting or enjoyable. Sleep problems are common too, whether it is trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much. Many feel constantly tired and drained, making even simple tasks feel exhausting. Changes in appetite may also occur, leading to weight loss or gain. Some people experience anxiety, restlessness, or feel unusually slow in their thinking, speaking, or movement. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or self-blame can become overwhelming, often tied to past mistakes or failures. It can also become difficult to focus, make decisions, or remember things clearly. In severe cases, depression can bring frequent thoughts of death or suicide. Physical symptoms, like headaches or back pain, may also appear without a clear cause.
The signs of depression in children and teenagers are often similar to those in adults, but there are some key differences depending on their age. In younger children, depression may appear as constant sadness, irritability, clinginess, frequent worries, physical complaints like aches and pains, refusing to attend schoolor being noticeably underweight. In teenagers, symptoms can include persistent sadness, irritability, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, anger, poor school performance or attendance, feeling misunderstood, extreme sensitivity, withdrawing from social activities, sleeping or eating too much, using alcohol or drugs, self-harming behaviours and losing interest in hobbies or things they once enjoyed.
Depression is not a natural part of ageing and should never be ignored. Sadly, it often goes unnoticed and untreated in older adults, as they may be hesitant to talk about their struggles or seek help. In seniors, the symptoms of depression can be different or less obvious than in younger people. They may show up as memory problems or changes in personality, unexplained physical aches and pains, constant tiredness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, or a decreased interest in sex, without any clear medical reason. Many older adults may also withdraw from social life, choosing to stay at home instead of engaging in activities. In some cases, especially among older men, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or feelings.
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