What is Depression?

Author: Minister Bill Raupp

Depression is one of the most misunderstood mental health concerns.  This blog will seek to provide you with answers about Depression, as well as hope for healing. 
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What Depression is Not.........

* Just Feeling blue
* Feeling sorry for yourself
* A Bad mood

Depression is:
* A medical disorder like diabetes, or Heart Disease
* A treatable condition
* A condition that effects the mind, body, emotions and behavior
* Not just something you can just "get over" or "snap out of"

Depression can be situational (brought on by grief or a traumatic or crushing experience) or Long-term.  Depression can be managed by a variety of methods including prayer, treatment, and medication. 

• Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year. (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun; 62(6): 617-27)

Depression is experienced by people of all ethnicities, creeds, socio-economic status' and gender. Having depression does not make you "defective" nor does it indicate a lack of faith or strength.  It doesn't mean you are weak or lazy , it just means you need some help!