Depression

Depression is feeling too sad or sluggish to do your daily tasks or take part in activities you usually enjoy.

• It’s normal to feel sad after something sad happens, such as a death or loss—depression is when the sadness isn’t temporary and goes on beyond a reasonable period of time

• Untreated depression usually lasts about 6 months, but can last 2 years or more

• Depression is the 2nd most common mental health problem, after anxiety

• Women are more likely than men to have depression

• In older people, depression can cause some symptoms similar to dementia

• Depression can begin at any age, including childhood, but it usually starts when you're in your teens, 20s, or 30s

• Doctors usually treat depression with antidepressants (medicines to treat depression) and counseling (psychotherapy)

Go to the hospital right away or call for emergency medical help (in the United States, call 911) if you or someone you know is thinking of suicide.

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes depression. You may be more likely to get depression if you:

• Have family members who have or have had depression

• Are a woman—hormone levels can cause mood changes, especially before a menstrual period or after having a baby

• Go through an emotional event, such as a natural disaster (such as a hurricane), serious illness, or death of a family member

• Have serious health problems, such as cancer

• Take medicines that have depression as a possible side effect

Depression is more common when there is less daylight, such as in fall and winter.

Symptoms can start little by little.

• Losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy

• Feeling worthless, guilty, or lonely

• Feeling hopeless

• Changes in sleep habits, such as sleeping more, having trouble falling asleep, or waking up early in the morning

• Weight loss or gain

• Trouble concentrating and making decisions

• Drinking alcohol, smoking, or using drugs more than usual

• Thinking about death and suicide

Doctors will suspect depression based on your symptoms and a family history of depression. They’ll also ask questions to see how severe your depression is. To find out if a health problem is causing your depression, doctors may do tests, such as blood tests.

Doctors may:

• Prescribe antidepressant medicine

• Provide individual or group counseling (psychotherapy)

• Tell you to take walks and visit with friends and family

• Invite you to a support group to share your feelings with other people

• Admit you to the hospital if you’re thinking of suicide or if you attempt it

If you have severe depression, doctors may do electroconvulsive therapy (once called shock therapy). In electroconvulsive therapy, your doctor will put you to sleep with medicines and then send an electric current through your brain. Doctors don't know why, but the electric current often helps depression go away.

If your depression usually happens in the fall and winter, doctors may have you look into bright lights that mimic sunlight (phototherapy).