Sadness is part of life, but what if you can’t shake it within a few days? What if it’s severe, even disabling? What if your shade of “the blues” is getting darker? You might have depression.

Depression can take several forms, from the crippling lows of major depressive disorder to the long-term, lower-level sadness of dysthymic disorder.

There is also seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which emerges during the winter months and can respond to light therapy. In addition, there is postpartum depression, which starts after childbirth, and psychotic depression, when a severe depressive condition is accompanied by hallucinations or delusions.

And in manic depressive illness, or bipolar disorder, episodes of mania (extreme high moods) are present as well as depression.

People with depression often have different combinations of symptoms, which may include persistent sadness, anxiety, emptiness, hopeless, guilt, irritability, restlessness, and loss of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable. Additionally, depression can lead to changes in sleeping and eating, aches and pains, and suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Scientists disagree about causes, but most think depression arises from a combination of environmental, psychological, biochemical and genetic influences. Negative thought patterns, grief and trauma can be factors.

If you think you might have depression, try a free online depression test. Then seek treatment and support. Check out the Resource Lists on the lower right side of this page for help getting started.

And remember, you are not alone.

Take a free depression screening test online