Depression is a serious health problem that effects the whole person.
In addition to feelings, it can change your behavior, physical health and appearance, academic performance and the ability to handle everyday decisions and pressures. It is characterized by difficulty in concentrating, inability to experience plessure, change in appetite or sleep and sometimes a sense of hopelesseness along with suicidal thoughts. Depression is not a reflection of weakness or lack of character as is often misinterpreted. You may be suprised to learn about the many legendary and famous people who have had bad bouts of Depression such as Vincent Van Gogh, the reanaissance painter, who is said to have cut his ear off and contemporary CBS reporter Mike Wallace from 60 Minutes, as well as many famous actors, sport stars and celebrities. Recent advances have shown that Depression is often a result of biological factors such as a chemical imbalance in the brain that is generally inherited.