What is Depression?

By Dr. Dee | September 2, 2006

Excerpt from Ask Doctor Dee.com
Depression is a feeling within ourselves that is much more powerful, much more unpleasant than short bursts of unhappiness we all experience from time to time. These feelings may last longer, months rather than days and they can be bad enough to interfere with normal everyday life.In any given year, 9.5% of American adults suffer from depression.Depression can not only interfere with normal function for the person suffering from it, but can cause undue pain and suffering to their close ones.
The economic cost is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be under-estimated. Suicide is closely linked to depression and is one of the three leading causes of death in the adolescent as well as young adult groups.
Two in three adults have depression at some time in their lives; it may be a mild or severe. However 25% of women and 10% of men experience an episode serious enough to warrant treatment.
Depression involves the body, the moods and thoughts in the mind. It affects the way a person thinks and feels about himself and the world around him.
It is definitely not a passing blue mood, nor is it a sign of personal weakness; it cannot be wished and willed away. People with depression cannot and should not be urged to pull themselves together. They do indeed suffer from an illness that has been treated successfully with good results. More on depression...