Signs and symptoms for different age groups

The following signs and/or symptoms may be a result of possible unipolar depression, bipolar illness, anxiety disorders, or attention deficit disorder with or without the hyperactivity.

A person may have as few as 2 or 3 symptoms or many of the symptoms.

Note: It is important to understand what constitutes normal development in infants, children and adolescents vs. what may be signs of a depressive illness. You may not see a drastic change in a child/adolescent's behavior or mood if they were born with a depressive illness. It may be part of their make-up having been present from day one.

Infants

• Unresponsive when talked to or touched, never smile or cry, or may cry often being difficult to soothe.
• Failure to gain weight (not due to other medical illness).
• Unmotivated in play.
• Restless, oversensitive to noise or touch.
• Problems with eating or sleeping.
• Digestive disorders (constipation/diarrhea).

Children

• Persistent unhappiness, negativity, complaining, chronic boredom, no initiative.
• Uncontrollable anger with aggressive or destructive behavior, possibly hitting themselves or others, kicking, or self-biting, head banging. Harming animals.
• Continual disobedience.
• Easily frustrated, frequent crying, low self-esteem, overly sensitive.
• Inability to pay attention, remember, or make decisions, easily distracted, mind goes blank.
• Energy fluctuations from lethargic to frenzied activity, with periods of normalcy.
• Eating or sleeping problems.
• Bedwetting, constipation, diarrhea. Impulsiveness, accident-prone.
• Chronic worry & fear, clingy, panic attacks.
• Extreme self-consciousness.
• Slowed speech & body movements.
• Disorganized speech - hard to follow when telling you a story, etc.
• Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, arms or legs ache, nail-biting, pulling out hair or eyelashes. (ruling out other medical causes)
• Suicidal talk or attempts.
• In children, depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as school phobia or school avoidance, social phobia or social avoidance, excessive separation anxiety, running away, obsessions, compulsions, or everyday rituals, such as having to go to bed at the exact time each night for fear something bad might happen.
• Chronic illnesses may be present also since depression weakens the immune system.

Adolescents

• Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, neckaches, arms or legs hurt due to muscle tension, digestive disorders. (ruling out other medical causes)
• Persistent unhappiness, negativity, irritability.
• Uncontrollable anger or outbursts of rage.
• Overly self-critical, unwarranted guilt, low self-esteem.
• Inability to concentrate, think straight, remember, or make decisions, possibly resulting in refusal to study in school or an inability (due to depression or attention deficit disorder) to do schoolwork.
• Slowed or hesitant speech or body movements, or restlessness (anxiety).
• Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
• Low energy, chronic fatigue, sluggishness.
• Change in appetite, noticeable weight loss or weight gain, abnormal eating patterns.
• Chronic worry, excessive fear.
• Preoccupation with death themes in literature, music, drawings, speaking of death repeatedly, fascination with guns/knives.
• Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts.
• Depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, risk-taking behavior such as reckless driving, unprotected sex, carelessness when walking across busy streets, or on bridges or cliffs. There may be social isolation, running away, constant disobedience, getting into trouble with the law, physical or sexual assaults against others, obnoxious behavior, failure to care about appearance/hygiene, no sense of self or of values/morals, difficulty cultivating relationships, inability to establish/stick with occupational/educational goals.

Adults

• Persistent sad or empty mood.
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, pessimism, or worthlessness.
• Drug/alcohol abuse. (Often masks depression/anxiety.)
• Chronic fatigue, or loss of interest in ordinary activities, including sex.
• Disturbances in eating or sleeping patterns.
• Irritability, increased crying; generalized anxiety (may include chronic fear of dying/convinced dying of incurable disease), panic attacks.
• Hypochondria - sufferer actually feels symptoms, they are real and not imagined.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
• Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts.
• Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment - headaches, stomach problems, neck/back pain, joint pain, mouth pain.

Note: Many people feel that it is normal for elderly persons to be depressed. This is simply not true and is a very dangerous misconception. If you suspect a older adult is suffering from a depressive illness, he/she should have a thorough medical examination as soon as possible.

Symptoms of mania

• Decreased need for sleep.
• Restless, agiated, can't sit still.
• Increased energy, or an inablilty to slow down.
• Racing, disorganized thoughts, easily distracted.
• Rapid, increased talking or laughing
• Grandiose ideas, increased creativity.
• Overly excited, euphoric, giddy, exhilarated.
• Excessive irritability, on edge.
• Increased sex drive, possibly resulting in affairs, inappropiate sexual behaviors.
• Poor judgment, impulsiveness, spending sprees
• Embarrassing social behavior
• Paranoia, delusions, hallucinations.