Depression is a condition where a person feels discouraged, sad and/or hopeless. It differs from a simple case of the blues, which is normally transitory, in that it lasts for a shorter period of time.

Depression can basically be broken into two types, though these types are broken down further by mental health care providers. The first is when the downturn in mood is a response to an event such as the loss of a loved one or job. Clinical depression, on the other hand, may come upon a person for no apparent reason. This can happen because of a chemical imbalance in the brain and most generally requires a combination of a medication such as Prozac or Zoloft and psychotherapy for successful treatment.

There are many levels of depression, ranging from mild to severe. In severe cases of depression, a person may become so hopeless that they begin thinking or planning to commit suicide. These people should always be taken seriously and appropriate counseling should be sought at once. Often hospitalization is required so that the person may be monitored and medicated to bring the depression under control. Once the depression is under control, ongoing therapy may be advised.