The normal ups and downs of life mean that everyone feels sad or has "the blues" from time to time. But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days.

When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you.

Depression is a common but serious illness. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming.

• Loneliness Lack of social support

• Recent stressful life experiences

• Family history of depression

• Marital or relationship problems

• Financial strain

• Early childhood trauma or abuse

• Alcohol or drug abuse

• Unemployment or underemployment.

• If emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won't go away, you may have depression.

• The majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat people with depression.

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Depression, however, is more complicated. Depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it’s not simply cured with medication. Experts believe that depression is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. In other words, your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills matter just as much; If not more so—than genetics.

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Certain risk factors make you more vulnerable. Understanding the signs, symptoms and causes, of depression is the first treatment step to overcoming the problem.

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness / being trapped.

• A bleak outlook that nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.

• Loss of interest in daily activities.

• No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.

• Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering  things.   

• Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.                                                                    

• Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.     

• Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, stomach pain, and other health problems or chronic pain.    

• Appetite changes.                                                    

• Significant weight loss or weight gain rapid change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.                                                  

•  Sleep changes.                                                                           

• Insomnia, waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

• Anger or irritability - feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.                                                                                     

• Reckless behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports, as if they have a death wish

• Getting affairs in order (giving away prized possessions, tying up loose ends)          

• A sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy.

• An unusual preoccupation with death or dying       

• Talking about killing or harming one’s self                                

• Calling or visiting people to say goodbye                                

• Saying things like “Everyone would be better off  without me” or “I want out”