Depression is an illness that can cause a person to feel sad, worthless, hopeless, guilty, or anxious, lose interest in activities that have always been enjoyable, withdraw from others, and have little energy.
Some might feel irritable or angry. Some people lose interest in things they used to enjoy and may withdraw from others. Depression can make it hard to focus on tasks and remember information.
It can be hard to concentrate, learn new things, or make decisions.
Depression can change the way people eat and sleep, and many people experience physical health problems.
Depression is different from typical feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy – people with depression are not lazy; they can be so ill that they are unable to eat, sleep, or get out of bed.
Depression can also cause people to feel hopeless about the future and even think about suicide.
Depression is much more than simple unhappiness.
Clinical depression, sometimes called major depression, is a complex mood disorder caused by various factors, including genetic predisposition, personality, stress and brain chemistry.
While it can suddenly go into remission, depression is not something that people can “get over” by their own effort.
Depression is no one’s fault; depression is a treatable illness.