Dec 26, 2009
Although people often use the term "depression" to describe temporary sadness, chronic depression is a form of mental illness. When a person is depressed he or she experiences a deep, unshakable sadness and loss of interest in life, frequently lapsing into despair and sometimes contemplating suicide. There are several forms of depression. Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive illness) involves a person's moods alternating between depression and mania (mania is characterized by excessive feelings of wellbeing, abnormal excitability, excessive activity). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) sufferers experience depression in the fall and winter when the amount of natural light is reduced. Dysthymia (pronounced dis-THI-meeuh) is a mild form of depression in which a person feels depressed, has low self-esteem, and has trouble concentrating.
In the United States, 8 out of 100 adults suffer from chronic...
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