Over 19 million American adults suffer from depressive illnesses. Depressive illnesses are serious but treatable disorders. Symptoms of depression affect thoughts, feelings, body,and behaviors. Without treatment, the symptoms can last for months, years, or a lifetime. Depressive Illnesses come in various forms.
Some depressive episodes occur suddenly for no apparent reason.
Some are triggered by a stressful experience. Some people's symptoms are so severe they are unable to function as usual. Others have ongoing, chronic symptoms that do not interfere with functioning, but keep them from feeling really well. The lives of families and friends are affected, often seriously disrupted. Depression often co-occurs with medical, psychiatric, and substance abuse disorders, though it is frequently unrecognized and untreated.