What is Depression?

by The National Institute of Mental Health

A depressive illness is a "whole-body" illness involving your body, mood, thoughts and behavior. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive illness is not a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help over 80 percent of those who suffer from depression

Types of Depression

Depressive illnesses come in different forms just as do other illnesses, such as heart disease. This pamphlet briefly describes three of the most prevalent types of depressive illnesses. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence. Check with your doctor if you need more information about your type of depressive illness.

Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. These disabling episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.

NIMH Publication





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