It is estimated that depression strikes 18 million American adults each year, and women are twice as likely as men to be affected. It impairs the ability to function in everyday situations, affecting mood, thoughts, and physical well-being. It can strain relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and loved ones. It takes a huge toll on emotional resources and steals away even the simplest of pleasures. Recent studies have shown that depression affects several areas of the brain which regulate mood.
Chemical imbalances can trigger depressive episodes.
Sometimes these imbalances combine with a life event, causing the individual to slip into a depression. Physical illness or chronic pain can also trigger a depressive episode. Environmental factors such as poverty, abuse, and even the amount of daylight can have a profound effect on one's mood. Most people have known someone who has suffered from a major depression, or they have struggled with it themselves. Overwhelming feelings of sadness are the trademark.