During a lifetime a person has a one in five chance of developing depression, and women are twice as likely as men to develop depression. Sadly, less than half seek treatment.
Depression is characterized by either a depressed mood or lack of pleasure.
Other symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, speed of functioning, lack of energy and concentration, and thoughts of death or worthlessness. It is very common that anxiety occurs with depression as well as some vague physical symptoms. There can be serious consequences to not treating depression. Depression results in more days of disability from work than chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and lower back pain. The pain and loss it causes family and friends is immeasurable.