Depression is not just having “the blues” or the emotions we feel when grieving the loss of a loved one. Depression is an illness that affects the entire body, not just the mind; it is the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictions.    Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that may include feeling depressed most of the time, loss of pleasure, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts, as well as physical states that may affect eating and sleeping and other activities.

Depression is more common in women than in men, with 25% of women suffering from depression severe enough to warrant treatment at least once during their lifetime.  It is a serious medical illness that affects more than 32 million people in their lifetime. A depressive disorder is more than a passing mood. Three of the most common depression are Major Depression, Dysthymia, and Bipolar Disorder.

Major Depression is also known as clinical depression. People  that undergo major depression do not take pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable. Other problems often experienced includes sleep problems, loss of appetite, and inability to concentrate. People often feel worthless, helpless, and hopeless about their ability to fix things.

Dysthymia is a condition in which a person suffers from unceasing, low-grade depression. It is a less severe type of depression that lasts a long time but involves less severe symptoms. Unlike major depression, those with Dysthymic Disorder are able to work and function, although at a less than peak performance. They never present with delusions or hallucinations.

Bipolar Disorder, it is a medical condition that causes psychological problems to such a degree that daily functioning is hampered by the symptoms. Symptoms include extremes of mood known as depression and mania. It describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if milder, hypomania.

Depression is one of the most under diagnosed and undertreated health conditions within the primary care setting.  Depression is a medical condition that affects men and women young and old, but recovery is possible with proper treatment and self-care.