- Find a Therapist - Topic Streams - Get Help RelationshipsLow
Sexual Desire Recently Diagnosed?Diagnosis Dictionary - Psych
Basics What Is Depression? Some 15 million Americans struggle
with depression—an illness that comes in many forms—from major
depression and seasonal affective disorder, to dysthymia and
bipolar disorder. Depressive disorder is an illness that
involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It interferes with daily
life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person
with the disorder and those who care about him or her. A
depressive disorder is not the same as 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. Depression,
even in the most severe cases, is a highly treatable disorder.
As with many illnesses, the earlier that treatment can begin,
the more effective it is and the greater the likelihood that
recurrence can be prevented. Dig Deep