Everyday people just like you find themselves feeling under the weather. It is important to find out whether you are feeling down because of an event in your life or a more serious problem such as clinical depression. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the more common symptoms of depression. Not having any of these symptoms does not mean that you do not suffer from depression whereas having all of these symptoms does not indicate that you do. It is simply a very broad guide to determine whether it may prove worthwhile to seek professional help.

Symptoms of depression can vary depending on the age of the patient. In young people especially teenagers the most prominent sign of clinical depression can be social withdrawal. Parents should watch for unexplained mood or behavior changes. A change of friends can also be evidence your young one is suffering from depression. A drop in grades can be another tell tell sign that something isn’t right. It’s not uncommon at all for straight A students to fail courses or even drop out of school altogether. Gifted students are among those with the highest threat for depression brought on by outside events. Every teen has extra stress on them throughout high school. There is more than just fitting in but now they have the weight of life changing decisions to cope with. Will I go to college? What college would I like to attend? Can my family afford college? What kind of job can I get? How will I survive? Where will I live? These are just a few of the overwhelming questions bouncing around your stressed out teenager’s mind. Pay special attention to him/her to insure you don’t miss the early symptoms of depression.

College graduates are another group known for high risk to depression. College itself can be a fun and rewarding time as many students are able to leave home for the first time and experience new things. Everything is well planned and dictated for them by professors / student advisors. Upon reaching graduation they are left with a diploma and little else. It is now going to fall on the individual to find a job, a place to live, etc. With the fumbling economy finding a job within a person’s chosen field is an especially difficult task. The stress that accompanies this can lead to a more serious condition if not recognized early on as one of the symptoms of depression. It is important for young graduates to continue to socialize and enjoy life as they seek out the next avenue for themselves.

What is commonly referred to as middle age persons are our third group we’ll analyze. Symptoms in this group are not always so easily noticeable considering their personal lives are more private and the socialization part of their life has drastically reduced. Many people are married with children of their own by this age. The catalyst for depression can be any number of things from a missed promotion at work to problems with their spouse. On the inside the symptoms of depression can be hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, lack of interest, trouble sleeping, etc but on the outside they are much harder to recognize. If you are concerned for a co-worker for example you may keep records of their attendance and work performance. Many people affected by depression will see a substantial decrease in their attendance and/or work performance.

The last group of people we will look at are entering into their “golden years.” These people many times are reaching the point of retirement and their children are out of the house. Symptoms of depression can be harder to spot especially if the patient’s family are long distances away. If a person has never experienced depression before this point it may be brought on by the lack of purpose brought on by retiring or children moving away from home. If you are worried about your parents or grandparents keep in mind often times family / careers define people. When you take away these a person can be left feeling empty and depressed. Failing to recognize these early signs can lead to a much more serious problem.

If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from any of these symptoms of depression I highly encourage you to seek help. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of and there are many effective treatments in today’s world.