If you have had several symptoms for more than a few days, you may be suffering from depression and should seek help. Visit the How to Find Help page on this website for guidance.

• A persistant sad, anxious or empty mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Sleeping too little or too much (especially with early-morning waking)
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
• Restlessness or irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to treament (such as headaches, chronic pain, constipation or digestive disorders)
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is an illness that often goes unrecognized in older adults. It is not considered a normal part of aging. Many times older adults have physical challenges which mask underlying depression. The idea that depression is shameful or a moral weakness may keep people from asking for help. Often family members notice signs of depression and encourage an older person to see a professional.

Read more at National Institutes for Mental Health.

Approximately 90 percent of people with depression can be treated successfully with safe medications, psychotherapy, or other treatment options. Visit the What Kind of Help is Available page on this website to learn more about current treatments for depression and those that are being researched at this time.