Depression
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of
sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities.
It’s also fairly common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source estimates that 8.1 percent of American adults ages 20 and over had depression in any given 2-week period from 2013 to 2016.
People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.
Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:
-
arthritis
-
asthma
-
cardiovascular disease
-
cancer
-
diabetes
-
obesity
It’s important to
realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting
events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular
basis, you could be dealing with depression.
Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without
proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in
just a few weeks.
