Depression

Affecting one in 15 adults in any given year, depression is a mood disorder that can interfere with your daily life. Depression can occur in anyone, but it’s more common in women. Research increasingly shows that people who identify as sexual and gender minorities are also at increased risk for depression.

Common symptoms of depression include:

• Sadness or a depressed mood
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite
• Sleep disruption—sleeping too much or trouble sleeping
• Lack of energy or increased fatigue
• Feelings of hopelessness or guilt
• Difficulty thinking and making decisions
• Irritability or restlessness
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Since depression can be the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, your doctor may treat your symptoms with an antidepressant medication. Antidepressants generally work by adjusting levels of neurotransmitters (signaling chemicals in the brain), but each drug works differently.

You can chat with one of our doctors on Cedars-Sinai Connect to learn more about treatment and same-day prescriptions.