| Depression is a serious condition affecting | | | | What is Chronic Depression? Chronic |
| many people at any given time. There is some | | | | depression is a disease of varying severity. |
| difference between an individual saying that | | | | The person who is experiencing chronic |
| he or she is feeling depressed and someone | | | | depression may even be able to function |
| who is experiencing the clinical form of | | | | rather normally; however, they often appear |
| depression. Occasionally feeling depressed | | | | to be unhappy. The symptoms of chronic |
| is part of being human. It is normal and | | | | depression are persistent, but they are not |
| natural for people to occasionally feel sad | | | | of the same magnitude as those shown by |
| or moody for a day or two. When that feeling | | | | someone experiencing major depression. |
| becomes extended, however, then the | | | | Chronic depression is also called |
| individual may be experiencing depression. | | | | "dysthymia." |
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| What Causes Depression? Depression can be | | | | What is Major Depression? Major depression |
| caused by emotional factors. At times, the | | | | is the most severe kind of depression that a |
| world becomes overwhelming and frightening. | | | | person can experience. It is possible for a |
| People experiencing such emotions can become | | | | person to experience major depression at one |
| depressed. These overwhelming emotions can | | | | time in his or her life without it becoming |
| be caused by triggering events. At other | | | | chronic or repetitive. In this case, the |
| times, however, there does not seem to be a | | | | depression can be said to be "episodic," and |
| triggering event for depression. At such | | | | is probably related to a single event and |
| times, the actual cause for depression might | | | | will not be repeated. However, depression |
| be genetics, hormonal causes, or chemical | | | | can also be "recurrent." This kind of |
| imbalances in the body. General anxiety | | | | depression is seen repeatedly over a person's |
| disorder may be associated with the cause of | | | | lifetime, which is separated by periods in |
| depression as well. | | | | which the person is not depressed. |
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| What does Depression Look Like? The symptoms | | | | Chronic and major depression can be treated |
| of depression can vary from case to case. | | | | in the same manner as "regular" depression. |
| People with depression can lack energy or | | | | Depression is responsive to "talk" therapy, |
| interest in the world. In addition, people | | | | as well as to medications. "Talk" therapy is |
| experiencing depression may find it difficult | | | | that which most people are familiar, in which |
| to concentrate, and may experience feelings | | | | the client and the therapist square off with |
| of worthlessness. People experiencing | | | | each other either in private or in groups. |
| depression may als be restless and find it | | | | In addition, medication can be used to treat |
| difficult to sleep. The symptoms of | | | | depression. Various kinds of drugs are |
| depression must show a change in the manner | | | | available for treatment of depression. |
| that a person used to feel or behave. They | | | | Medication is often used in combination with |
| symptoms of depression may vary based on the | | | | talk therapy. Many people consider this |
| age and sex of the individual. Because | | | | combination to be most effective, as |
| depression is so variable, the only way to | | | | medication can quiet the patient's symptoms |
| diagnose depression is by a professional. | | | | while talk therapy can be used to get to the |
| | | | root of the problem and address it. |