Symptoms and types of depression Symptoms of depression include sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing or agitation, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder is made if a person has 5 or more of these symptoms and impairment in usual functioning nearly every day during the same two-week period. Major depression often begins between ages 15 to 30 but also can appear in children. There are a few practical steps you can take. One way to prepare for major changes in life, such as retirement or the death of family or friends, is to keep and maintain friendships over the years.
Friends can help ease the loneliness of losing a spouse.
You can also develop interests or hobbies, keep the mind and body active, and stay in touch with family to help limit the effects of depression. Being physically fit and eating a balanced diet are ways to help avoid illnesses that can bring on disability or depression. Follow the doctor's directions on using medicines to lower the risk of depression as a drug side effect. Treatment Antidepressant medications are widely used, effective treatments for depression. 6 Existing antidepressants influence the functioning of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.