overview

What is
depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.

Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

types of depression

What does it
feel like?

01 - 05

Persistent depressive disorder

A depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder.

02 - 05

Postpartum depression

Feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that accompany postpartum depression may make it difficult for these new mothers to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or for their babies.

03 - 05

Psychotic depression

Severe depression plus some form of psychosis, such as having disturbing false fixed beliefs (delusions) or hearing or seeing upsetting things that others cannot hear or see (hallucinations). The psychotic symptoms typically have a depressive “theme,” such as delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness.

04 - 05

Seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This depression generally lifts during spring and summer. Winter depression, typically accompanied by social withdrawal, increased sleep, and weight gain, predictably returns every year in seasonal affective disorder.

05 - 05

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is different from depression, but it is included in this list is because someone with bipolar disorder experiences episodes of extremely low moods that meet the criteria for major depression. But a person with bipolar disorder also experiences extreme high – euphoric or irritable – moods called “mania” or a less severe form called “hypomania.”

More than just
Feeling sad

I just feel lost and hopeless

I just want to get better

I'm all alone

Nobody understands me

I'm always so tired

I'm never enough

Anybody else feel this way?

I dont't want this anymore

It's all my fault

Resources

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Collection

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This brochure discusses chronic illnesses and depression, including symptoms, health effects, treatment, and recovery.

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This brochure provides information about depression in women including signs and symptoms, types of depression unique to women, treatment options, and how to find help.

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This brochure provides information about perinatal depression including how it differs from the “baby blues”, causes, signs and symptoms, treatment options, and how you or a loved one can get help.

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This fact sheet includes a description of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), signs and symptoms, how SAD is diagnosed, causes, and treatment options.

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This flier for teens describes depression and how it differs from regular sadness. It also describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping.

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You do not have to deal with depressionby yourself.

What isdepression?

What does itfeel like?

More than justFeeling sad

OurCollection

You do not have to deal with depression
by yourself.

What is
depression?

What does it
feel like?

More than just
Feeling sad

Our
Collection