Depression

Depression is fairly common, affecting about one in 10 people at some point during their life. It affects men and women, young and old. Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days. Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms can be physical (e.g. loss of energy, loss/gain of appetite, loss of sex drive, pain), emotional (e.g. unhappiness, hopelessness or loss of interest in things you used to enjoy) and mental (e.g. negative thoughts about self or future). Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.

More information about depression is provided by NHS Choices