Depression: A Serious Medical Illness
Everyone feels down sometimes. But if a cloudy mood lasts too long, it may be more than just the "blues." Left alone, a depressed person may become increasingly withdrawn, distracted, and unable to work or love. The feelings may be so overwhelming that he or she can't reach out for help. Because depression is a serious illness that may lead to suicide, caring intervention is the first step toward recovery, whether it's you or someone you care about who may be depressed.
Feeling Down and Alone
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Depression is the "common cold" of emotions, affecting as many as one in five people of all ages. It may be the temporary sadness that follows a death, divorce, or other loss. Or it may be a more severe, long-term depression with symptoms that disrupt both work and family life. Sadly, most depressed people don't seek treatment, in part because they have to overcome the feeling that "nothing can be done" before they ask for help.
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Feeling Good Again
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Many depressed people recover, once they reach through their isolation and seek treatment. Feeling good again may start with a self-assessment for depression. Understanding depression helps people faced with this mood disorder to know they're not alone. Then, with a step-by-step recovery plan, the sun does shine again, a little more each day.
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