Nearly everyone has felt depressed, sad, or down in the dumps at one time or another. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to a stressful event, such as when one suffers a loss or endures another of life’s various struggles or stresses.

Sometimes, however, these feelings of depression can become intense, last for long periods (weeks or even months), and prevent a person from doing their normal day to day activities. This is what is known as ‘major’ or clinical depression.

Depression is a serious medical condition that affects your behavior, your thinking, your emotions, and your physical health over time. Clinical depression is more than feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.

Clinical depression is not a sign of weakness. It is not something you can “snap out of” by “pulling yourself together”. However, with the right treatment and support, most people with clinical depression can make a full recovery.!