What are the symptoms of depression?
Nov 21, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
In general, depression is characterized by persistent low mood, reduced interest, disrupted sleep patterns, significant fatigue, impaired cognitive function, and other symptoms, which gradually affect daily work and life. The manifestations of depression vary among individuals, and early symptoms are often overlooked. People around the patient should offer understanding and companionship, and encourage the individual to express their emotions.
Generally, symptoms of depression mainly include persistent low mood, reduced interest, disrupted sleep patterns, significant decline in energy, impaired cognitive function, and other aspects. These symptoms gradually affect daily work and life. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Persistent low mood: Patients often experience prolonged sadness and helplessness, lacking positive feelings toward things. Even when facing joyful events, they struggle to feel pleasure. Their emotional fluctuations are minimal, mostly characterized by dullness and oppression. Some individuals may cry for no apparent reason, feel hopeless about their future, and find it difficult to relieve negative emotions on their own.
2. Reduced interest: Patients lose interest entirely in activities they once enjoyed, actively avoid social situations, and are unwilling to interact with family or friends. Daily behaviors become monotonous, and life loses its former vitality.
3. Disrupted sleep patterns: This manifests in two extremes—one being difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakening during the night, or early morning awakening with inability to fall back asleep; the other being excessive sleepiness, frequent daytime drowsiness, and overall poor sleep quality, which further exacerbates emotional problems.
4. Significant decline in energy: Patients often feel general fatigue and physical weakness, finding even simple daily tasks exhausting. They remain in a constant state of tiredness despite no physical exertion, and in severe cases, may be unable to complete basic work tasks or maintain motivation for daily living.
5. Impaired cognitive function: Difficulty concentrating, frequent distractibility, and明显 memory decline—often forgetting recent events—are common. Patients may also experience self-negativity, excessively magnify their flaws, and some may exhibit slowed thinking, along with slower speech and reaction times.
Symptoms of depression vary among individuals, and early signs are easily overlooked. People around the patient should offer understanding and companionship, encouraging them to express their emotions. Maintaining regular作息, moderate exercise, and cultivating light hobbies can help regulate mood. Timely intervention can effectively assist patients in overcoming emotional lows.
