Noun

Depression is a mood altering disorder that can randomly cause a persistent feeling of sadness and/or loss of interest. Major depressive disorder or clinical depression affects how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. It can lead to a variety of physical and/or psychological issues. A person with depression may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities and  feel as if life is not worth living.

Depression is not a weakness, neither is it something that you can simply “break out” of. Depression may require long-term treatment and/or medication. This should not discourage those with depression because most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling, or both. Other treatments also may help.