About Depression
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Depression or Clinical Depression is a mental state of low mood with aversion to activity which affects the individual’s thoughts, feelings, behavior and sense of wellbeing. Depression is a psychiatric disorder which is characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, despair, guilt, insomnia, loss of energy, loss of appetite or overeating, inability to concentrate or focus, withdrawal from social contact, irritability, low self-esteem, discouragement and thoughts of death and suicide. Depression may result as a reaction to a particular negative life experience such as loss of loved one, physical illness, loss of job, relationship troubles or social isolation. It can also result as a side effect to drugs or medical treatments. These former cases may not require professional treatment. Prolonged depressive mood may lead to a medical condition such as a mood disorder, in which case professional help of the individual is required. Treatments vary according to the sub-divisions of depression, as determined by severity and length of affliction.
