Depression is a mood disorder that is generally chemically and biologically based. Meaning a dysfunction in the brain. Depression makes you feel sad, and sometimes you feel hopeless. It generally has a significant impact on your enjoyment of life, your work, your health, and your social contacts.

Depression affects people differently. Some feel down for extended periods of time; for others the feelings of depression come and go. If you have short episodes of mild depression, you may be able to continue to work and take care of daily activities. However, if you do not seek some form of treatment for your depression, you are at risk for getting more depressed or becoming physically ill. In severe cases, depression can cause people to become incapable of communicating, unable to do routine activities, or suicidal. In these cases, it is essential to seek medical attention. Most people don’t realize that they are depressed until people close to them tell them. Others usually see it first.

People with depression may be reluctant to seek help because they feel that it is a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw or that they should be able to "pull out of it" on their own. We now know that depression, like other medical conditions, has a chemical and biological basis. Treatment for depression is safe and usually effective even for severely depressed people.

The following are symptoms of depression. One doesn’t have to have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with clinical depression.

· Depressed mood.

· Inability to enjoy activities.

· Problems concentrating.

· Poor memory.

· Difficulty making decisions.

· Changes in eating habits.

· Weight gain or weight loss.

· Changes in sleeping habits.

· Difficulty going to work or taking care of your daily responsibilities.

· Feelings of guilt and hopelessness; wondering if life is worth living (common).

· Slowed thoughts and speech.

· Preoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide.

· Complaints that have no physical cause (somatic complaints) such as headache and stomachache.

Depression is usually treated successfully with professional counseling or antidepressant medication. Often a combination of the two is most effective. People with depression usually can be treated as outpatients, but in severe cases a period of hospitalization may be necessary. If you have mild or moderate depression, you may be diagnosed and treated by your family health professional and a therapist or psychologist. Let your health professional know if you suspect that you have depression, because it is often overlooked. If you are diagnosed with depression, you and your health professional can decide on the best treatment. The earlier you are treated, the more quickly you will recover.

Most depressed people need antidepressant medications. Antidepressants can improve or completely relieve the symptoms of depression. Several medication options are available. There is no evidence that one medication works better than another; however, the side effects of the medications differ.

Therapy is very important in treating an individual with clinical depression. The following discusses types of therapy.

· Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, a type of counseling aimed at teaching you how to become healthier by modifying certain thought and behavior patterns. It is based on the theory that thought and behavior can affect a person's symptoms and be an obstacle to recovery.

· Interpersonal Therapy, which focuses on social and personal relationships and related problems by discussing grief and loss, role disputes in relationships, and relationship transitions.

· Problem Solving, a brief, focused form of cognitive therapy used to treat depression. It focuses on specific problems and how you can solve them.

Family Therapy, counseling used to help families deal with a stressful situation or a life-changing event. In family therapy, each person can express any concerns and fears about how the problem affects their loved one and the family as a whole.