Excerpted from an article by Carmen Vaughan, LCSW

It is normal to feel sad and experience depressive symptoms as a response to the death of a loved one or other losses such as the loss of a job or the ending of a relationship. The process of grief helps these feelings lessen over time and allows the mourner to move on and resume their usual activities and interests. 

What distinguishes a true clinical depressions from a grief reaction or a bout of the “blues” is that the symptoms do not go away after a reasonable period of time. An individual suffering from a clinical depression may experience symptoms for months or even years if left untreated.  

Depression affects nearly one in ten adults every year. It is twice as common in women as in men. It can strike at any time, but usually first appears between the late teen years and the mid-twenties. Depression is common in older adults. 

Many people believe that the emotional symptoms caused by depression are not “real” and that they should be able to shake them off without help. Because of these inaccurate beliefs, many people with depression may not know that they have a treatable disorder or may be discouraged from seeking treatment because of feelings of shame and stigma. 

Several factors play a role in depression:

Biochemistry: Abnormalities in two chemicals in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine may contribute to the development of symptoms.

Genetics:  Depression can run in families. If an identical twin has depression, the other twin has a 70% chance of having the illness sometime in their life.

Personality:  People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more vulnerable to depression.

Environmental factors:  Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty can make people more vulnerable to depression.

Depression is one of the most treatable mental disorders. More than 80% of people improve with appropriate treatment, which may consist of psychotherapy or a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.