Depression

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/ or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.

It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Considerations

Depression can occur in people of all ages:

Causes:

Causes has been expanded.

Depression often runs in families. This may be due to your genes, behaviors you learn at home, or your environment. Depression may be triggered by stressful or unhappy life events. Often, it is a combination of these things.

Many factors can bring on depression, including:

Alcohol or drug use
Medical conditions, such as cancer or long-term (chronic) pain
Stressful life events, such as job loss, divorce, or death of a spouse or other family member
Social isolation (a common cause of depression in older adults)

Symptoms of depression include:

Agitation, restlessness, irritability, and anger
Becoming withdrawn or isolated
Fatigue and lack of energy
Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, and self-hate
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed including sex
Sudden change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
Thoughts of death or suicide
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much