What Is Depression?

Depression is a mental state or illness associated with sadness and an inability to enjoy life that causes the sufferer to struggle socially and find motivation for everyday living. While this is the general term, clinical depression is defined by multiple psychological cues, including fatigue, anxiety, mood swings and suicidal thoughts. Sufferers are more likely to be in their late twenties, although depression can occur from childhood to old age, and might last for a brief period of time, or for a person's entire life. In extreme cases, catatonic depression causes a lack of motion and excessive negativity, as well as a refusal to speak. There are no definite causes of depression, although family history, environment and addiction are major causes, as are struggles to cope with bereavement or disease. Depression can be treated with medication such as Prozac and Zoloft, psychotherapy and for extreme suffers, electro-convulsive therapy, wherein short controlled bursts of electricity are used to force changes in the brain's chemical makeup, which can then lead to more stable moods.

The word "depression", when applied to human beings, denotes a state of dejection, sadness or gloom. It can be a normal emotion which nearly all human beings experience at least for a certain period of time in their lives in the context of a loss of something that is valued. It is a grief reaction, and with the passage of time it gets resolved on its own.  
Depression could also be a symptom of a few diseases like diabetes, hypothyroidism, pancreatic cancer, viral infections and any catastrophic or terminal illness. It is said to be a disease itself when there is persistent sadness and/or loss of pleasure and interest, greater and more prolonged than warranted by any objective reason, usually accompanied by other symptoms like low self image, guilt, hopelessness and social ideation. It is said to be severe when there is suicidal intent.
The diagnosis of depression as a disease may not be acceptable in certain cultures as it may be so stigmatized, morally unacceptable and meaningless that euphemism is required instead of informing the patient/family that he/she has depression.
The help seeking behavior is also determined by culture. Those cultures where people do not believe or have information that depression is a result of changes in the chemicals involved in generation of thoughts and feelings in the brain seek relief from faith healers.

Hi There,
I suffer from clinical depression and have since I was a kid.  Most of what I wanted to say has already been posted.  Keep in mind that there are two kinds of depression (besides many other illnesses with the brain.)  One is a thought process that can be greatly helped with thearpy and the other is clinical depression where meds are needed.  There is a cause of depression--It is when you have low serotonin levels which is made up in the brain that makes us think or behave a certain way. When you are low on this chemical it can really cause depression and I believe it is hereditary.  It could really be helpful for one who suffers with this illness to talk with a Psychologist to figure out which way you want to go.  People really need to be patient if a med is needed because sometimes it takes time to find the one that works best for them.
I'm on Welbrutrin and it helps a lot.  Take care!

Depression is so hard to explain. It will control everything in your like, if you will let it. I was first diagnosed with depression 5 years ago, they have kept me on the meds. I've tried to get off different ones. They seem to make it  worse. They say I may need to be on it, at least through now.

Depression the term of geography ? Explain it