Depression Types and Causes
What type of depression do you have and what’s causing it?
Are you depressed? Here are some of the signs of depression to look for—and how symptoms can vary according to your age, gender, and other factors.
Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life, but when emotions such as hopelessness and despair take hold and just won’t go away, you may have depression.
More than just sadness in response to life’s struggles and setbacks, depression changes how you think, feel, and function in daily activities. Depression symptoms can interfere with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and enjoy life. Just trying to get through the day can be overwhelming.
While some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom, others feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic. Men in particular can feel angry and restless. However you experience the problem, left untreated it can become a serious health condition. But it’s important to remember that feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are symptoms of depression—not the reality of your situation.
No matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. By recognizing the different symptoms of depression, you can take the first steps to feeling better and overcoming the problem.
Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression.
Take our depression quiz to find out:
While anxiety and depression are different conditions, they stem from the same biological vulnerability so often go hand-in-hand. Anxiety can both appear as a symptom of depression or it can trigger depression in the first place. In fact, studies suggest that as many as 50 percent of people with major depression may also suffer from an anxiety disorder.
Some of the symptoms between the two conditions can also look very similar, making it difficult to distinguish between the conditions. Irritability, anger, unexplained aches and pains, and changes in energy, focus, and sleeping patterns can occur in both depression and anxiety. Even the persistent dark, negative thoughts commonly associated with depression can look a lot like the endless worry of anxiety.
[Read: Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety Attacks]
However, there are also some marked differences. While the symptoms of both depression and anxiety can look very different in different people, the following may help to distinguish between the conditions:
If you recognize symptoms of anxiety co-occurring with your depression, it’s important to seek treatment for both conditions. Since they’re so closely related, a lot of the self-help and treatment options that work for anxiety will also help manage symptoms of depression.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, involves serious shifts in moods, energy, thinking, and behavior. Because it looks so similar to depression when in the low phase, it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. This can be a serious problem as taking antidepressants for bipolar disorder can actually make the condition worse.
If you’ve ever gone through phases where you experienced excessive feelings of euphoria, a decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior, consider getting evaluated for bipolar disorder.
Anxiety and bipolar disorder aren’t the only conditions that can be mistaken for depression. Just as depression can be triggered by other health problems, there are also mental and medical conditions that can mimic the symptoms of depression. These include:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Symptoms such as restlessness, trouble concentrating and staying focused, irritability, and a loss of motivation can occur in both depression and ADHD. Even if your ADHD symptoms weren’t recognized in childhood, that doesn’t mean they’re not impacting you as an adult.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or long COVID. Persistent fatigue, changes to your sleep patterns, and difficulty focusing could also point to chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) or long-haul COVID, where the effects of COVID-19 linger even when you’re no longer testing positive for the virus. While there is still a lot that medical professionals don’t fully understand about these conditions, there are still things you can do to ease symptoms and improve how you feel.
Parkinson’s disease. The lack of energy, slow movements, and changes to mood and memory that often accompany Parkinson’s disease can look a lot like depression symptoms in older adults.
Fibromyalgia. The widespread musculoskeletal pain of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is often accompanied by sleep, fatigue, and mood changes that can be mistaken for depression. Other sources of chronic pain can also leave you feeling hopeless and exhausted.
Other physical conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, anemia, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and vitamin D deficiency can also trigger depression-like symptoms. Blood tests and other screening methods from a healthcare professional can help identify if these conditions are causing your symptoms.
BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.
Take Assessment HelpGuide is user supported. We earn a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp’s services after clicking through from this site. Learn moreDepression is a major risk factor for suicide. Deep despair and hopelessness can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. If you have a loved one with depression, take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously and watch for the warning signs:
If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, express your concern and seek help immediately. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.
When you’re feeling suicidal, your problems don’t seem temporary—they seem overwhelming and permanent. But with time, you will feel better, especially if you get help. There are many people who want to support you during this difficult time, so please reach out!
Read Are You Feeling Suicidal?, call 988 in the U.S., or visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.
Depression often varies according to age and gender, with symptoms differing between men and women, or young people and older adults.
Depressed men are less likely to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness. Instead, they tend to complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest in work and hobbies. They’re also more likely to experience symptoms such as anger, aggression, reckless behavior, and substance abuse.
Women are more likely to experience symptoms such as pronounced feelings of guilt, excessive sleeping, overeating, and weight gain. Depression in women is also impacted by hormonal factors during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. In fact, postpartum depression affects up to one in seven women following childbirth.
Irritability, anger, and agitation are often the most noticeable symptoms in depressed teens—not sadness. They may also complain of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical pains.
Older adults tend to complain more about the physical rather than the emotional signs and symptoms: things like fatigue, unexplained aches and pains, and memory problems. They may also neglect their personal appearance and stop taking critical medications for their health.
In addition to age and gender, depression symptoms can also vary according to the type or severity of your depression. Understanding the type of depression you’re dealing with can help to find the most effective ways to overcome the problem and start to feel better again. Read: Depression Types and Causes.
Find DBSA Chapters/Support Groups or call the NAMI Helpline for support and referrals at 1-800-950-6264
Find Depression support groups in-person and online or call the Mind Infoline at 0300 123 3393
Call the SANE Help Centre at 1800 18 7263
Call Mood Disorders Society of Canada at 613-921-5565
Call the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline (India) at 1860 2662 345 or 1800 2333 330
Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988
Call Samaritans UK at 116 123
Call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14
Visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline near you
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