All of us have gone through depression more than once in our life time. Though we have gone through depression, it is rather difficult to give a definition that will fully encompass this feeling. It is all the more difficult to exhaust factors those elicit depression in human beings. To define depression in simple words, it is temporary slump in ones mood due to some set back. Interestingly, it need not be a set back always, you might get depressed when you are back to college or work or your routine life after a fortnight’s vacation. These are to be considered as normal as long as it does not become chronic and does not stay with the individual more than a reasonable time period or even after the cause that elicits depression disappears.

Depression becomes a psychological illness when the emotional disturbance undergone by the individual that can or cannot be traced to known causes such as financial loss, bereavement, misfortunes, loss of job, love or marriage failure continues for more than a period of three months.

Some of the accompanying symptoms in extreme cases of depression include delusion, hallucinations, bizarre hypochondriacal beliefs etc. It has to be noted here that these symptoms do not always accompany.

When it is clinical depression, the symptoms include, continued sad, empty mood, chronic anxiety, weight loss, loss of appetite, over eating, weight gain, over sleeping, insomnia, guilt, pessimism, lack of concentration, inability to make decisions, loss of interest in hobbies, fatigue, headaches, digestive disorders etc. Symptoms vary from individual to individual.

Some of the most common response to depression include withdrawal, lack of social interaction and lack of interest in day-to-day activities, chores etc.

Attacks of depression can continue for years together. There are cases where people suffered depression for more than 20 years. One such case is “Buzz Aldrin” who stepped the moon along with Armstrong. After his return he suffered severe depression for 22 long years. In his case, he experienced a sense of emptiness soon after he achieved his life’s goal that he set for himself.

Depression can be commonly found in the lives of many famous personalities that include scientists, authors, celebrities, movie stars, musicians etc.Those under depression will be unable to enjoy pleasure and in extreme cases it leads to suicide.

Diagnosis should include complete medical check up to rule out physical causes of the ailment.

Treatment depending on the individual conditions include, medication, electroconvulsive treatment, psychotherapy, life style changes, self help etc.