Interest and zest are also down from their usual levels. Resistance to acknowledging depression and dealing with it often stems from considering depression a form of mental illness. Others consider it a form of weakness and instability. There are moments in everyone's life when the only suitable response is depression. Depression is a healthy reponse to certain kinds of stresses, particularly those involving the loss of someone or something of value.
Depression becomes a medical problem when it is out of proportion to the stress producing it.
If it goes on for years without awareness and adequate resolution, it can seriously affect many areas of a person's life. Depression can be a warning signal. It can alert a person that there is something wrong in life that demands a solution. Successful mastery of a period of depression leads to a greater level of personal insight. Depression can serve as a catalyst for more productive and creative functioning.