Depression
Depression is a very common disorder, affecting about 18 million Americans. Depressive disorders affects people's bodies, moods and thoughts, how they eat and sleep, the way they feel about themselves, and even the way they think about things. Without treatment, depression can last for weeks, months or years; it is not the result of a weak personality or an inability to "pull oneself together". People who are depressed may feel very sad and hopeless; sometimes for days and weeks at a time without end. They often don't enjoy things that they used to get pleasure from, and feel a sense of fatigue all the time, like they have no energy. They may feel guilty, worthless, or hopeless. Sometimes they eat much more or less than usual, or find themselves sleeping much more or less than usual. People with depression may find themselves restless or irritable. Depression very often co-occurs with anxiety disorders, and there are different forms of depression.