Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include:  Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain Anxiety, agitation or restlessness Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches  For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why. Depression symptoms in children and teens Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences.  In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight. In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.  Depression symptoms in older adults Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and it should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and they may feel reluctant to seek help. Symptoms of depression may be different or less obvious in older adults, such as:  Memory difficulties or personality changes Physical aches or pain Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex — not caused by a medical condition or medication Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men 
depression may occur only once life  people typically multiple episodes  episodes  symptoms occur day  nearly day may include:  feelings sadness  tearfulness  emptiness hopelessness angry outbursts  irritability frustration  small matters loss interest pleasure normal activities  sex  hobbies sports sleep disturbances  including insomnia sleeping tiredness lack energy  small tasks take extra effort reduced appetite weight loss increased cravings food weight gain anxiety  agitation restlessness slowed thinking  speaking body movements feelings worthlessness guilt  fixating past failures self-blame trouble thinking  concentrating  making decisions remembering frequent recurrent thoughts death  suicidal thoughts  suicide attempts suicide unexplained physical problems  back pain headaches  people depression  symptoms severe cause noticeable problems day-to-day activities  work  school  social activities relationships others  people may feel generally miserable unhappy knowing why  depression symptoms children teens common signs symptoms depression children teenagers similar adults  can differences   younger children  symptoms depression may include sadness  irritability  clinginess  worry  aches pains  refusing school  being underweight  teens  symptoms may include sadness  irritability  feeling negative worthless  anger  poor performance poor attendance school  feeling misunderstood extremely sensitive  using recreational drugs alcohol  eating sleeping much  self-harm  loss interest normal activities  avoidance social interaction   depression symptoms older adults depression normal part growing older  taken lightly  unfortunately  depression goes undiagnosed untreated older adults  may feel reluctant seek help  symptoms depression may obvious older adults  as:  memory difficulties personality changes physical aches pain fatigue  loss appetite  sleep problems loss interest sex — caused medical condition medication wanting stay home  going socialize new suicidal thinking feelings  especially older men 
depression