Depression

Depression is a deadly emotional disease. People with depression may experience feeling:

  • Worthless
  • Hopeless
  • Anxiety
  • Helpless
  • Overwhelm
  • Exhaustion
  • Disturbed Sleep
  • Persistent Sadness
  • Sense of Darkness
  • Substance abuse

People with major depression can have symptoms that interfere with work, family and other daily activities, whereas people with mild depression can have symptoms that are not as noticeable and because they do not disable the person. However, this does not diminish the suffering experienced. It’s estimated that approximately 16 percent of people in the United States will experience depression during their lifetime. Depression can be treated by therapy and medications such as antidepressants.

A Note on Suicide

90% of persons who commit suicide are reported to have suffered from some type of depression at the time of death. In order to lower the rates of suicide, we must treat depression. Depression is as real as diabetes or any other medical illness. The biological basis for this statement continues to be found in research.