Clinical depression is signaled by changes in a person's feelings and behaviors. You may have clinicial depressions if your symptoms include:

  • A persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
  • Restlessness or irritability
  • Chronic aches and pains that don’t respond to treatment
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Feeling guilty-self blame
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Fatigue or loss of energy

If you experience any combination of the above for more than a couple of weeks; or if symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily routine, you may be clinically depressed.

What causes depression?
Depression is caused by a variety of factors. Biological, genetic and environmental factors all play a role. Research has shown that depression is often related to a chemical imbalance of substances called neurotransmitters that transmit signals between nerve cells in the brain.