Shame

Depression is a medical condition that affects the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way one eats and sleeps. It affects how one thinks about hings, and one’s self-perception. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition one can will or wish away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. However, appropriate treatment, often involving medication and/or short-term psychotherapy, can help most people who suffer from depression.