What Is Depression?

What Is Depression?

It is perfectly normal to feel a little blue or down from time to time. However, feeling down or blue for long periods of time, lasting more than two weeks, is a serious problem. When this happens, full-blown clinical depression has set in, and treatment is needed.

Depression is marked by feeling down, fatigue, unexplained aches and pains, excessive sleeping or insomnia, feeling overwhelmed, feelings of hopelessness, a marked change in appetite, loss of energy, headaches, a diminished interest in things previously enjoyed, difficulty focusing or concentrating, and more.

Depression can be very mild and very severe. Depression can lead to suicide -- even in a person who feels that suicide is wrong. Some people believe that depression occurs only when there is a "visible" reason for it, but this is not the case. Depression can even occur due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. The causes of depression are numerous.

Again, feeling blue or down from time to time is normal. It is when those feelings progress or are prolonged that a real problem exists. This type of depression does require treatment. Too often people think that they will "get over it," that they don't need treatment or that treatment will not benefit them. Some people don't seek treatment because they are embarrassed or ashamed. They may also fear medication that is used in the treatment of depression.

While medication is used to treat depression, there are other ways in which it is treated as well. Counseling, without medication, has helped millions of people. Sometimes, for milder cases of clinical depression, simply resolving a problem or talking to a trusted friend helps.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression, you should definitely seek help. Help should be sought when depression lasts more than two weeks, when it is accompanied by uncontrollable crying, or when it is interfering in your day-to-day life, preventing you from participating in your usual activities.