Depression is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or ‘blue’ for a few days. If you are one of the 19 million teens and adults in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life.

Symptoms can include:

• Feeling sad or ’empty’
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Overeating, or not wanting to eat at all
• Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
• Feeling very tired
• Feeling hopeless, irritable, anxious, or guilty
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is a disorder of the brain. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants, talk therapy, or both.