Depression affects emotions, thinking, behaviour and physical wellbeing. It impacts people in various different ways.
There are many signs and symptoms of depression and you’re unlikely to experience all of those listed on this page. It’s important to remember that having a couple of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have depression.
Common Warning signs for depression:
- Being tired even though you are sleeping more than normal.
- Difficulty doing jobs around the house that need doing, either forgetting to do them or not doing them properly.
- Withdrawal from other people, spending a lot of time on your own.
- Avoiding discussions about important future events, like finding a job, moving house, going to university, etc.
- Experiencing Insomnia or Hypersomnia.
- Consistently behaving in an angry or antisocial way of some kind (more commonly found in boys).
- Decline in progress with work or grades in school.
- Being absent or arriving later than normal.
- Less engagement in conversations, social situations, or in work/school.
- Struggling to work effectively in the mornings, but doing better in the late afternoon or evenings.
- Being more irritable and snappier with friends.
- Avoiding contact with people and spending more time on your own.
- Engaging in risk taking behaviour with a disregard for your own safety.
- Alcohol or drug misuse.
Common symptoms of depression:
These symptoms can persist for weeks or months and if they are bad enough they can interfere with your work, social life and family life.
Mental:
- Continuous low mood or sadness
- Feeling hopeless and helpless
- Having low self-esteem
- Feeling tearful
- Feeling guilt-ridden
- Feeling irritable an intolerant of others
- Having no motivation or interest in things
- Finding it difficult to make decisions
- Not getting much or any enjoyment out of life
- Feeling anxious or worried
- Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself
Physical:
- Moving or speaking more slowly than usual
- Changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Lack of energy
- Low sex drive
- Changes to your menstrual cycle
- Disturbed sleep - for example, finding it difficult to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning
If you think that you are struggling with depression then you can speak to your youth worker, local GP, or a get in touch with a counsellor.
