Let your doctor know how you're feeling. If physicians aren't aware of all of your symptoms, it's difficult for them to make a diagnosis. There are many effective ways to treat depression and prevent it from interfering with the quality of life. But if depression goes untreated, it can turn into a life-threatening disease. Depression is an illness that causes a disturbance in an individual's emotions and feelings, what is referred to as mood.
Most people experience a down mood from time to time throughout their lives.
True depression is suspected when people consistently find themselves in depressed moods every day over a period of two weeks or more. Typically, if people are suffering from depression, their mood will prevent them from living their lives as they normally do. Stressful life events, like a death in the family or financial problems, can trigger depression. Sometimes, people find themselves depressed for no apparent reason. Most often, depression produces a sad mood.