Everybody feels a little down or sad now and then. When these feelings keep you from functioning, doctors call it major depression. Symptoms of depression can include feelings of worthlessness or guilt, emotional numbness or even thoughts of death and suicide. Depression tends to run in families, but can also be related to traumatic life events. Other causes include prescribed medications or previous drug abuse.
Depression can be treated. Treatments include medications and counseling and both work very well. Treatment helps keep depression from worsening, being prolonged, and can also keep depression from coming back. If you have symptoms of depression getting treatment can help you return to your normal self so you can enjoy life again.