No, Depression shows up differently for different individuals. Here are some of the things that research has shown:

• Women tend to experience depression more often than men. There are a number of reasons of why this takes place from biological, hormones and life circumstances that are quite unique to women that may result in higher rates of depression. Some of the symptoms that women experience are sadness, guilt and feeling worthless.
• Men who suffer from depression may show it in more irritable, moody and tired manner. Sometimes, what seems to be raging anger may have underlying depressive symptoms. It may take place as a lack of interest in work or activities that they once loved, sleep problems and may tend to use alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with it. Unfortunately, many men do not realize that they may be struggling with depression and may not seek help when necessary.
• Older adults also experience depression. Although it may be less obvious they also tend to struggle with it. It is usually related to the medical conditions that they begin to experience as they grow older such as heart conditions.
• Older children and teens may show depression in a very different way. It may show up for them as defiance, irritability, being prone to getting into trouble in school and loose interest in their school work. Teens struggling with depression may also display symptoms of other disorders such as anxiety, eating disorders or substance abuse.

It is recommended that the first step to take is to go to your primary care physician and mental health professional to do an evaluation, lab tests to rule out other medical conditions that may look like depression. Depression is very treatable once diagnosed. Some of the common treatments are: therapy, medication or a combination of both.

Therapy is often recommended as a primary treatment for depression. The earlier the treatment can take place, the more effective that it will be. There are specific types of therapy that are used to treat depression such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and problem-solving therapy.

Therapy to treat depression focuses of learning new ways of thinking and behaving. A therapist can help you understand the thoughts that may be adding to your depression, help you to reframe them in a healthier manner and help you to change habits that may be contributing to your depressive state. Sometimes, there may be other issues that you are struggling with such as a recent break up or a recent loss that may be contributing to your feelings of depression. While working with a depression therapist you can figure out coping mechanisms to deal with these symptoms effectively.

In addition to therapy, a psychiatrist may be partnered with for prescription medications. Antidepressants work to help your brain use certain chemicals that control your mood or stress. Many different antidepressants are available, and you may need to try a few in order to find the one that works best with your body chemistry.

Most people need to be on an antidepressant for two to four weeks before symptoms improve. Therefore, you’ll need to give the medication time to work before you and your doctor decide whether or not it’s right for you.