You may be depressed if you have experienced 5 or more of the following symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. People who are depressed will have at least one of the first two symptoms:

• Feeling negative, hopeless, or "down in the dumps." Children may seem irritable instead of depressed.
• Noticeable loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much
• Feeling restless and unable to sit still
• Feeling tired all the time
• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
• Inability to concentrate, remember, or make decisions
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Most people experience some form of depression at some point in their lives. Depression can range from a minor problem to a major, life-threatening illness. Depression is almost always treatable. For many people, treatment can mean a whole new life.

If feelings of depression are causing your sleep problems, work with your health professional to develop a plan to decrease your depression and promote sleep.