Recognizing MDD: Identifying Signs of Depression in Teenagers and Adults

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects millions of Americans every year, and those with ADHD are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive episodes. It's critical to debunk myths and clear up misconceptions about depression, as symptoms of ADHD and depression often overlap and one condition can go undiagnosed. Here are six unexpected and misunderstood signs of depression:

1. Sadness is not the only symptom of depression, with only 60% of people with depression reporting feeling sad.

2. People with depression often have an inability to experience pleasure from things that used to be enjoyable, leading to feelings of futility and a reluctance to seek treatment.

3. In some cases, irritability is a more common symptom of depression than sadness, especially in children under the age of 12.

4. Depression is not related to a situation and has no trigger, unlike reactive or situational depression.

5. Depressive episodes can manifest differently in teens, with hypersexuality, increased appetite, and reduced sleep being common symptoms.

6. MDD is a serious problem that affects every aspect of a person's life and is the single largest contributor to global disability according to the World Health Organization.

Thankfully, it is highly treatable. About 70% of people get a good response to practically any antidepressant out there, and for the 30% who don’t, the solution is to try another class of medication. Adding in cognitive therapy to the treatment is important, too, as we know that a combination of medication and therapy is the most effective course of action, by far.

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