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Everyone has their ups and downs – that's life, and feelings of sadness usually go away after a few days. But when someone has depression, this disorder interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for the person with the disorder and those close to him or her. Depression is a medical illness that involves the mind and body. It affects how you feel, think and behave. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn't worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply "snap out" of.

Depression is an umbrella term encompassing many variations, which have been organized into diagnosable categories according to their symptoms.

• Major Depressive Disorder: Major depression is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Someone may have a major depressive episode just once during their lifetime, but more frequently these episodes reoccur.
• Dysthymic Disorder: Dysthymia (also referred to as chronic or minor depression) is a mild, chronic form of depression. Although the symptoms of dysthymia may be less intense than those a singular depressive episode, it can actually affect your life more seriously because it lasts so long. With dysthymia, you may lose interest in normal daily activities, feel hopeless, lack productivity and have a low self-esteem.

Definitions for some forms of depression have not yet been reached. These include:

• Psychotic depression: When a severe depressive illness is accompanied by some form of psychosis such as a break with reality, hallucinations, and delusions.
• Postpartum depression: Diagnosis given to new mothers who develop major depressive episodes within one month after delivery.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: Also called SAD, this is characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight.

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