Dealing with Depression

Learn the symptoms of this medical condition—and how to get help.

Katie Ransohoff - High School Student Writer

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Everybody gets the blues now and then. Feelings of sadness, helplessness or anger can be especially strong during times of stress or loss. That’s a normal part of life. After a while, the darkness lifts and things start to feel enjoyable again.

Sometimes, however, the sadness or loneliness persists – or gets worse – despite all attempts to “snap out of it.” Tears or anger come easily and the simplest tasks seem difficult. It can feel like you’re trapped in the bottom of a barrel and can’t climb out.

Such prolonged feelings can be signs of clinical depression, the most commonly diagnosed emotional issue among teens and adults.

Left untreated, depression can lead to serious behavioral, emotional and physical problems – even suicide. Fortunately, there are effective ways to treat clinical depression through a combination of therapies, medications and support groups.

If you or someone you know has been battling any of the signs and symptoms of depression, it is very important to get help. Talk to someone who cares – your parents, school counselor or family doctor. Some professionals who specialize in treating depression are called psychiatrists, who are medical doctors (M.D.s), or psychologists, who have M.A.s or Ph.Ds.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Normal sadness is different from depression. It’s normal to feel sad after upsetting events like the death of a loved one, moving to a new town, fighting with a good friend or even a bad test score.

Depression involves feeling helpless, lost and hopeless for more than two weeks. A doctor diagnoses it. Symptoms of depression include:

Extreme, persistent sadness without cause
Feeling hopeless, helpless or worthless
Feeling extremely tired or lazy
Not liking activities that were once enjoyable
Putting distance between friends and family
Increased anger, fear or anxiety
Insomnia (not being able to sleep)
Sleeping too much
Unexplained change in appetite or weight
Excessive or uncontrollable crying
Drop in scholastic or academic performance
Not going out with friends as much
Trouble concentrating and making decisions
Feeling impatient
Feeling useless
Causing self-injury
Persistent thoughts of suicide or death

If any of these symptoms are present for more than two weeks, the person may be depressed and should seek professional help immediately.

What Causes Depression?

Many things can trigger depression, including:

Genetics (runs in families)
Loss of someone or something
Big life changes
Medical problems
Violence or a bad living situation
Alcohol or drugs

A chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression. Neurotransmitters, which send and receive brain signals, affect mood. Depression occurs when there are not enough of the neurotransmitters that regulate mood. Medications can rebalance neurotransmitters to treat depression.

While depression can run in families, a person won’t necessarily suffer depression just because another family member has experienced it. Genetics is just one factor, and someone without any depression in his or her family history can also become depressed.

What are the Types of Depression?

There are three main types of depression.

Major depression: severe depression that comes and goes
Dysthymia: long-lasting depression, but not as severe as major depression
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood: a reaction to a loss or change with a more serious reaction than average

Another type of depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depression that comes and goes with the seasons.

Another condition called bipolar disorder involves a pattern of very good moods and high energy (mania) and very bad moods (depression). These mood changes can happen almost instantly or be more gradual. The moods can last anywhere from hours to months. It can seem like a person has two different personalities, and people close to that person never know what to expect.

What Treatments Exist for Depression?

There are three major treatments:

Talking to a therapist
Taking medication
A combination of both

If you think you are depressed, talk to an adult who can help you figure out which treatment(s) might be best for you.

In some bad cases, depression can cause people to think about injuring or killing themselves. If you know someone who has expressed these types of feelings, tell an adult right away. The person should get help immediately from a professional.

You may feel frustrated that you cannot cheer up someone who is depressed on your own. Remember that depression is a serious medical problem requiring professional treatment. If someone you know has untreated depression, or if you think you are depressed, please tell your parent, doctor or a trusted adult. There is help.

Youth reviewer: Lillian Fong

Reviewed by: Nancy Brown, Ph.D.

Last reviewed: August 2019