For some young people, feelings of sadness and unhappiness outweigh their happy and excited emotions.
When you have depression, these sad feelings become overwhelming and long-lasting, affecting how you think, how you feel and what you do. These feelings can last for weeks, months or even longer.
Emotional symptoms of depression include:
feeling sad, down or empty for most of the day, nearly every day
loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
becoming withdrawn from friends or family
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
suicidal thoughts
crying for no reason.
Physical symptoms of depression include:
low energy, fatigue and reduced activity
insomnia or difficulty sleeping
loss of appetite or weight
increased sleep or appetite (atypical depression)
trouble concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
slowed body movements, thinking or speech
difficulty sitting still, pacing or hand-wringing
diminished sex drive
back pain or headaches
feeling sick and run down
digestive problems.
Symptoms of anxiety are also common in people with depression, as the 2 conditions often occur together.
You can find more information on depression in young people (PDF 208.7KB)