As a result of this kind of thinking, fewer than one in three depressed people ever seek treatment. They choose to blame themselves, family members, friends, or circumstances for their depressed feelings. They are wrong.
Depression is a highly treatable disorder.
In fact, the sooner depression is diagnosed and treatment begun, the brighter the long-term outlook. With appropriate treatment, as many as 80 percent of those suffering with depression improve significantly within a few months. Major depression can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Moderate depression presents more symptoms and greater impairment of daily life. In severe depression symptoms are increased both in number and severity and take a much greater toll on the ability to function socially and at work.