Riverside Girls High School

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Telephone02 9816 4264

Emailriversideg-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Depression

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  • becoming withdrawn from friends or family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)