Signs and symptoms of depression

If low mood is having an impact on your life, you might be wondering whether you’re experiencing depression. Find out more about the signs and symptoms, along with commonly related health issues.

Start Recovery

Further reading: Diagnosis Depression test Types Treatment Medication

Book therapy

Page last updated: Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Written by: Rebecca Ryder

Mental health & addictions writer

Clinically reviewed by: Olivia Dornan

Integrative Therapist at Priory Hospital Barnt Green

Depression is a common mental health condition that can influence the way you think, feel and function.

It doesn’t always look the same from person-to-person. For some, it shows up as persistent sadness or hopelessness; for others, it may appear as fatigue, numbness, irritability, or a loss of interest in the things that once mattered. These changes can develop slowly or happen suddenly, making them difficult to recognise at first.

Join our expert psychiatrist, Priory's Dr Victoria Chamorro, as she breaks down the core, physical, behavioural and often missed symptoms of depression.

Common symptoms of depression

Depression can affect every part of a person’s life, not just emotionally, but physically and socially too. The symptoms can vary widely from one person to another.

Below are symptoms of how you might feel if you’re struggling with depression and how your body might react to the depression.

Depression can also influence how you interact with others and how you manage your daily responsibilities. You may start to notice shifts in your habits, motivation or ability to cope.

Common behavioural and social symptoms include:

Avoiding friends, family or social situations
Neglecting work, school or home responsibilities
Withdrawing from hobbies or routines
Using alcohol or drugs more frequently
Difficulty keeping up with personal care or hygiene

These changes can feed into feelings of isolation, guilt or low self-worth, creating a cycle that can be hard to break without support.

psychological symptoms of depression

Depression can deeply affect how you think and feel. You may find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts, or unable to connect with the world in the way you normally would.

Common psychological symptoms include:

Persistent low mood or sadness
Feeling hopeless or helpless
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Feeling anxious, worried or on-edge
Irritability or frustration, even over small things
Low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness
Excessive guilt or self-blame
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide (in some cases) These feelings might come and go, or feel constant. You might find yourself withdrawing emotionally or feeling numb and disconnected from others.

physical symptoms of depression

Depression can have a significant impact on your body, affecting longer-term physical health. Sometimes, these physical symptoms are the first signs people notice.

Common physical symptoms include:

Tiredness or low energy, even after rest
Changes in sleep, difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Changes in appetite, such as eating more or less than usual
Unexplained aches and pains
Slower speech or movements
Changes in menstrual cycle or libido levels
Restlessness or feeling agitated

It’s common for these physical effects to be mistaken for other health issues or dismissed entirely, which can delay getting the right support.

How depression symptoms can vary in severity and duration

Depression doesn’t look or feel the same for everyone. For some people, the signs build slowly over time. For others, symptoms appear more suddenly or may be triggered in response to a life event.

Different levels of severity

Depression is often described in terms of severity, but it isn’t about how bad it looks from the outside. It’s about the impact that your symptoms are having on your relationship with yourself, your overall wellbeing and your quality of life.

Mild depression: You might feel persistently low, disengaged or less motivated, but still able to manage day-to-day life
Moderate depression: Symptoms may affect your ability to work, maintain relationships or keep up with responsibilities
Severe depression: Depression may feel overwhelming, with significant disruption to your ability to function, possibly including suicidal thoughts or feelings of hopelessness

There are different types of depression to be aware of, and even mild symptoms deserve attention. You don’t need to wait until things get worse before seeking help.

How depression develops

There’s no one way depression starts. Sometimes the signs are obvious; other times, they can creep in gradually and be harder to spot.

Symptoms may develop over time, making it difficult to recognise there’s a problem at first. They may also follow a specific event, like a bereavement, illness or major life change. For some, depression symptoms may occur in episodes. Whether you have single, recurrent, or seasonal symptoms – such as in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you deserve to get the support you need.

If you're unsure whether what you're feeling is depression, tools like questionnaires or symptom checklists can be a helpful first step. These are often used by GPs or mental health professionals to understand what you're experiencing and help you move forward.
You can try a quick, confidential depression self-assessment to see how your symptoms compare.

Take our free depression test

If you need help assessing yourself, our free assessment tool could help.

Take our test

Is it depression or something else?

Low mood, tiredness, or feeling emotionally flat can have many causes. While a qualified professional can help with a diagnosis, you can start to make sense of what you’re feeling by understanding the differences between depression and other conditions.

Here are a few common experiences that can overlap with depression:

Could it be grief?

Grief, which can trigger sadness, withdrawal and exhaustion. While grief can look and feel like depression, it tends to come in waves and eases with time. Depression, by contrast, often brings a persistent sense of hopelessness and worthlessness, with regular self-critical thoughts or suicidal feelings

Could it be burnout?

Burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It’s often situational and might be related to work, caregiving or feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities. It can lead to low motivation and concentration, similar to depression, but tends to improve with rest and lifestyle changes

Could it be hormonal changes?

Hormonal changes, or mood changes linked to hormone fluctuations, can also mimic depression. They might be connected to the menstrual cycle, menopause, postnatal changes, thyroid issues or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). These shifts can affect sleep, energy and emotional stability, and are worth discussing with your GP

Could it be seasonal changes?

Seasonal changes, which can cause your mood to dip during certain times of year. This most commonly occurs for people in winter, which could be a form of depression known as SAD. This can involve tiredness, low motivation and a change in appetite.

Depression in different groups

Depression can affect anyone, but symptoms may look different depending on age, gender or life stage.

Children and teenagers

Irritability, anger or withdrawal from friends
Drop in school performance or lack of interest in activities
Physical complaints like headaches or stomach aches
Risk-taking or self-harm

Perinatal depression (antenatal and postnatal)

Persistent sadness or loss of interest before or after birth
Feelings of guilt or inadequacy as a parent
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Intrusive or distressing thoughts

Older adults

Physical symptoms like pain or fatigue, often mistaken for ageing
Memory problems or confusion
Withdrawing from social connections
Loss of interest in hobbies

Men and women

Men may show anger, irritability or increased substance use rather than sadness
Women may experience more rumination, guilt or hormone-linked mood changes
Recognising these differences helps ensure no one is overlooked.

When to seek help for depression symptoms

If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression that are starting to affect your daily life, remember that help is always available. You don’t have to wait until things feel overwhelming to reach out.

You might want to speak to a GP or mental health professional if:

Your symptoms have lasted for more than 2 weeks
You feel low most of the day, nearly every day
It’s becoming harder to keep up with work, relationships, or everyday tasks
You’re experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Support is available through NHS services (through your GP or by self-referral in England), private therapy or psychiatry, mental health helplines and support services. If you’d like to explore options for professional support, you can learn more about depression diagnosis. You can also try our confidential depression self-assessment to better understand what you’re experiencing – whether you’re just starting to explore symptoms or looking to take the next step.