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Symptoms of depression can include:
• Persistent sad or "empty" feeling or mood
• Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, pessimistic and/or guilty
• Substance (drugs/alcohol) abuse
• Fatigue or loss of interest in ordinary activities
• Disturbances in eating and/or sleeping patterns
• Irritability, increased crying, anxiety, and/or panic attacks
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts
• Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to medical treatment
Symptoms of depression in children may look different from those in adults. Depressive symptoms in children may include:
• Persistent sadness
• An inability to enjoy favorite activities
• Increased irritability
• Complaints of physical problems such as headaches and stomach aches
• Poor performance in school
• Persistent boredom
• Low energy
• Poor concentration
• Changes in eating and/or sleeping patterns
Bereavement or grief is a reaction to the death of a loved one. This reaction to loss can look similar to the symptoms of depression (for example, feelings of sadness, poor appetite, and weight loss). The grieving person typically sees their depressed mood as "normal," although the person may seek professional help for relief of associated symptoms such as insomnia. However, if the symptoms associated with bereavement persist for more than two months after the person’s loss, the person may be suffering from an episode of major depression.
If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of depression, you are not alone. Over 17 million people in the US suffer from depression each year. To see if you may be suffering from depressive symptoms, please click here. 
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