What is Depression?

More than just feelings of unhappiness, clinical or major depression is a mood disorder–a medical illness that involves both the body and mind.^1,2

The difference between clinical depression and feeling unhappy or blue is an inability to shake this feeling of sadness, which will last more than two weeks at least. Also, the sad or despairing mood will affect your ability to work or go to school, as well as negatively impact your social relationships. Your day-to-day activities will be harder to perform, and in severe cases, you may feel like life is hardly even worth living.^1,2

The symptoms can be confusing because they are not just limited to your mind and mood, but may also become physical. Fortunately, for this chronic and very real medical condition, there are many different and often effective treatments available.^1,2