Healthy Living and Fitness

Illness Care: Depression

Introduction to Depression

Depression is a very common illness. It's also an illness that is widely misunderstood, under recognized, and under treated. In fact, fewer than one in three people who suffer from severe depression may be accurately diagnosed and treated for the disorder. There is a tendency today to use the word "depression" to describe the inevitable periods of sadness that each of us experiences from time to time. Indeed, for many, during these periods, it is not always easy to discern where normal sorrow ends and a deep-seated illness known as major or clinical depression begins.

Depression is not purely a psychological illness--and it certainly isn't self-indulgent, or brought on by weakness or an unwillingness to take control of your life. It has a physical and often a genetic basis. And it is more than just the normal sad reaction that occurs when you experience a disappointment, a loss, or significant stress. The good news is that treatment with antidepressant drugs, psychotherapy, and other therapies can lead to recovery in the majority of depressed patients.

 

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