Depression

Depression is characterised by long-term sadness and hopelessness that are out of proportion to the circumstances. Depression is a term that has a negative connotation to it. It solely refers to a person’s inconsistent, inappropriate, and lengthy reaction to a life event or condition. Indeed, depression can occur even when there is nothing in a person’s life that causes it, a condition is known as Anhedonia, or a general lack of interest in pleasurable things. Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a mental illness that can be tremendously debilitating. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the US, with 7.3 million (or 7.1%) adults suffering from it. While depression is slightly more common in women than men (8.7% versus 5.3%), depression doesn’t discriminate by gender, age, or race. Symptoms include depressed mood, feeling “numb,” loss of interest in normal activities, trouble eating and sleeping, ...