Everyone feels low at times, but with depression the feeling is deeper, more unpleasant and doesn't go away quickly or becomes so bad that it can interfere with everyday life. Severe depression is sometimes called clinical depression.
Research carried out by the World Health Organization shows that depression is a more disabling condition than angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes. Depression affects one in five people at some point in their lives.
Depression is a complex, long-term illness and there is not always one clear reason why someone is depressed. It is more likely to occur if there is a history of depression in the family.
Symptoms of depression can include:
Treatment
Depression can sometimes be a symptom of a treatable condition, such as thyroid disease or chronic fatigue syndrome, so it is important to seek professional help to rule out any underlying illness.
Depression can also be a combination of other psychological problems like as anxiety or stress.
Professional help includes treatments like counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or medication such as antidepressants.
Whether you suffer from clinical or mild depression, here are a few key things to remember:
Depression is a complex illness that involves the mind and body and can cause a variety of emotions and physical problems. There is no simple remedy that will make clinical depression go away completely, but it can be managed and controlled to make life more comfortable.