Everyone has times when they're feeling down. If you have depression, this sad mood along with other symptoms can last weeks, months, or even years if not treated. Depression isn't a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It's a real medical condition, and there are ways to successfully treat depression.

More people suffer from depression than you might think. Depression strikes people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups. Depressive disorders affect about 34 million American adults. Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive illness each year.

Depression can affect women at any point in their lives. While we tend to know when someone else is depressed, it is sometimes easier to overlook in ourselves. In addition to a sad mood and loss of interest, people can experience several or all of these additional symptoms:

Changes in appetite or weight
Changes in sleep patterns
Restlessness or decreased activity that others notice
Loss of energy or feeling tired all the time
Hard time concentrating or making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Repeated thoughts of death or suicide
Feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness
Feeling overwhelmed
Loss of enjoyment of life
Decreased sex drive

Being worried, anxious, or irritable all the time could also be hidden signs of depression.

Depression Test

Clinical Depression Screening Test

Depression Screening Test