Suicide occurs in about 15 percent of untreated serious depressions. The tendency to get depression may be inherited. Stressful situations or other environmental factors may trigger it in susceptible individuals. As with high blood pressure, it takes more than an act of will to correct the condition. It takes knowing and using the appropriate therapy.
Numerous medications are available to treat depression.
They exert therapeutic effects after a few weeks. If you suffer from depression, it's important to realize that all your thoughts and feelings sift through that gray cloud and come out flawed on the other end. So until treatment lifts the cloud, don't expect too much of yourself. Don't try to make important decisions. Don't keep putting off seeking help, thinking that soon you will ''snap out'' of your depression - this rarely happens without treatment.