# Notice lasting changes in mood

Published by Pawel Jozefiak. [About this project](https://adhd100.jock.pl/about/), [How we check sources](https://adhd100.jock.pl/methodology/)

- Canonical: https://adhd100.jock.pl/notice-persistent-low-mood/
- Language: en
- First published: 2026-09-29
- Evidence checked: 2026-09-29, using AI-assisted source verification
- Clinical review: Not clinically reviewed
- Number 34 of 100 in the list: https://adhd100.jock.pl/#notice-persistent-low-mood

Recognise when sadness, irritability or loss of interest needs a conversation about help.

**The number:** Major depression symptoms last at least 2 weeks ([NIMH, 2024](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression))

## The evidence

- How sure: Certainty of evidence: Not rated. Measured in the general population; we say so because ADHD trials of this do not exist or are too small.
- Evidence grade: C. Grade C: small or mixed studies, expert consensus or clinical practice. Worth knowing, not worth betting on.
- Basis: General NIMH and CDC symptom-recognition guidance, with NIMH evidence that ADHD often co-occurs with other mental disorders.
- Outcome: duration in the description of major depression, not a delay before help
- Comparison: symptom-recognition threshold, not a self-diagnosis
- Benefit: 65/100. The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of what will happen for you.

## Why it matters

ADHD and depression can happen together, so don't automatically put a change in mood down to ADHD. NIMH describes major depression as depressed mood or loss of interest lasting at least two weeks and getting in the way of daily life. In children it may look like irritability more than sadness. Treat these as reasons to get help, not a checklist for diagnosing yourself or your child.

## How to do it

1. Compare now with your usual: mood, enjoyment, how well you manage ordinary days.
2. Tell someone you trust what has changed and how long it has been going on.
3. Take those examples to a health professional, and go sooner if symptoms are severe.

## Talk to a clinician first

This cannot diagnose depression. For thoughts of suicide, seek help now: contact a crisis line or helpline in your country, and call your local emergency number if anyone is in immediate danger.

## Putting it into practice

### Start now

- 1 minute: Ask yourself: has my mood or enjoyment changed from usual? Then pick the person you could tell.
- 5 minutes: Note what changed, when it began and one example of how it affects everyday life.
- 15 minutes: Use those examples to request a conversation with a health professional for yourself or your child.

### What it looks like

- Things you usually enjoy have felt empty for days and this is affecting daily life.
- Your child is unusually irritable and has stopped enjoying time with friends.

### Common mistakes

- Waiting for visible sadness can miss depression in children, so notice irritability and loss of interest too.
- Two weeks is not a waiting rule. Get help sooner for severe symptoms or safety concerns.

### Trusted how-to guides

- [Depression](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression), NIMH
- [Anxiety and Depression in Children](https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/about/about-anxiety-and-depression-in-children.html), CDC

## Sources

- [Depression](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression), NIMH, 2024 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know), NIMH, 2024 (Tier 1 guideline)
- [Anxiety and Depression in Children](https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/about/about-anxiety-and-depression-in-children.html), CDC, 2026 (Tier 1 guideline)

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General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you. Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.

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