Being depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But sometimes the feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasting for long periods of time and preventing a person from leading a normal life.
Depression that has these characteristics is a treatable medical condition called major depressive disorder, one of a number of depressive illnesses. Types of depression include: Major depression, chronic depression (dysthymia), bipolar depression, and seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder or SAD).
Medicines are commonly used to treat depression. Your family doctor or a psychiatrist can prescribe them, and are chosen based on your symptoms. The cost of medicines and potential side effects are important considerations when choosing this type of treatment for depression.