The Symptoms of Depression In Adults "All I want to do is lie in bed. I don't want to talk to anyone, I don't answer the phone. I just retreat." - comedian Joan Rivers Everyone gets the blues or feels sad. It's normal. What is not normal is to have these feelings of sadness or emptiness for longer than two weeks, or to have these feelings interfer with your ability to function. A person does not need to feel suicidal to be depressed. If five or more the symptoms of depression persist for more than two weeks, or are interfering with work or family life, a thorough diagnosis is needed including a complete physical checkup and a family health history as well as an evaluation of possible symptoms of depression. persistent sadness or empty mood loss of interest or pleasure in activities you usually enjoy decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed down sleep disturbances insomnia early-morning waking oversleeping/reluctance to get out of bed eating disturbances loss of appetite weight loss or weight gain loss of interest in sex difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness thoughts of death or suicide uncharacteristic impatience or irritability excessive crying unexplained aches and pains that don't respond to treatment If you recognize any of these symptoms within yourself or in someone you care about, contact a physician or mental health professional to talk about your condition.       WHAT IS DEPRESSION? | WHO HAS DEPRESSION? TREATMENT OPTIONS | RESOURCES & LINKS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM | DEPRESSION MAIN PAGE BACK TO HEALTHWORKS | RETURN TO TV HOME PAGE © 1999 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.