Depression is the most common psychological disorder; about 10 to 20 percent of all adults report having experienced one or more episodes in their lives that meet the clinical definition of depression. Unfortunately, once it starts, depression tends to continue to worsen over time: It places people in an emotional trap from which it is increasingly difficult to escape. So a key task is to recognize depression when it starts and seek help.

Depression is a treatable medical illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals.. It’s not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make depression go away by trying to “snap out of it.”

While depression sometimes runs in families, many people with the illness have no family history of depression. The exact causes of depression still are not clear. What we do know is that both genetics and a stressful environment, or life situation, contribute to its cause. Usually, it’s not one or the other, but a combination of both.

Some signs of depression: 

• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

• Pessimism, indifference

• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

• Unexplained aches and pains

• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Treatments

Treatment of depression may include support groups, medication, talk therapy or other strategies that you and your health care provider may want to try. The right treatment is the one that works best for you.