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Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects a person's eating and sleeping habits, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Treatment can help most people who suffer from depression.
The type and severity of symptoms of depression may vary with each individual. Symptoms may include persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood; feelings of hopelessness; feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed; decreased energy, fatigue; difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions; insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain; thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts; restlessness, irritability; and persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
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