What IS depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition, caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. If left untreated, depression can cause physical health problems.

Depression can also exacerbate physical illness.

In addition, depression can often be accompanied by other mood disorders, such as anxiety.

Anxiety can come in a number of different forms, including phobias (phobic disorders), obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In some cases, depression is also part of another mood disorder, for example, bipolar disorder, formerly known as 'manic depression.'

In bipolar disorder, the person fluctuates between depression and elation (mania) and back to depression again.

For major depression, the main treatment option is antidepressants. But antidepressants often come with many unwanted side effects, including sexual side effects.

A "cure" for depression is determined by how symptom-free a person remains, but it is easy to fall back into depression if your depression treatment regimen is discontinued too quickly, or another major life event triggers another bout of depression.

In Deal With Depression, we bring you the latest news on how to deal with depression safely and effectively, to lift your symptoms of depression and try to keep you free of depression.