What Is Depression?
Depression, the primary cause of disability worldwide, poses a significant challenge in terms of comprehension due to its nature as a mental illness. In the United States, nearly 10% of adults grapple with depression. However, unlike conditions such as high cholesterol, understanding depression proves to be much more complex. One of the main sources of confusion lies in distinguishing between experiencing temporary feelings of sadness and actually having depression. It is common for individuals to feel down occasionally, whether due to receiving a poor grade, losing employment, engaging in an argument, or even encountering a gloomy day. Sometimes, these feelings arise without any identifiable trigger. However, as circumstances change, these transient feelings of sadness tend to dissipate. On the other hand, clinical depression is distinct. It represents a medical disorder that persists for a minimum of two consecutive weeks and significantly hampers an individual's ability to function in various aspects of life, including work, leisure activities, and relationships.