It’s important to be able to identify when you’re really having a depressive episode so you can determine how to get help.

Depression is not the same as the blues. Depression is a medical condition, and it can be treated like any other illness. You are not alone in experiencing it—there are millions of people who have dealt with depression and managed to find ways to live successfully through treatment and healthy coping strategies. The important thing for you to remember is that there is no shame in seeking help if you feel like you need it; many people do not realize how common mental illness is and will be understanding of your situation.

If you think that someone close to you might be suffering from depression, it’s best not make them feel embarrassed or ashamed about their feelings. Instead, try asking them if they would like to talk about what’s going on for them so that they know they aren’t alone!

Most of us have some experience with low-level depression.

As a society, we’ve come to accept the fact that sometimes people get sad or depressed. And it’s true: Everyone has felt the blues for a day or two after losing something or someone, or when their life is going through some major change. But clinical depression—the kind where you feel low all the time—is different from feeling down because of an external trigger.

Most of us have some experience with low-level depression, but when does it become too much? The best way to figure this out is by asking yourself several questions:

• Do I feel sad all day?
• Is my sadness interfering with my ability to function in everyday life?
• Is it affecting my relationships with others and their opinions of me?

Low-level depression, or the blues, doesn’t last as long as clinical depression.

The blues can be less debilitating than clinical depression. It’s a milder form of depression that may last for just hours or days, and is most common in women. If you’re feeling sad and blue, it’s important to know the difference between this type of sadness and more serious forms of depression.

Low-level depression, also known as subclinical or mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms, is different from clinical (major) depression. While low-level symptoms are considered normal mood fluctuations that come with life’s stressors, clinical depression is an illness that requires medical treatment because it affects your ability to function in daily activities such as work or school.

When do you need help?

You should reach out for help if your low-level symptoms last longer than two weeks or keep happening again after they pass—this can indicate underlying issues like anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The way you experience the blues is normal for everyone during periods of stress, change or loss.

The blues are a normal response to stress and loss. But they don’t affect everyone the same way. It is important to know that there are many factors that contribute to your individual risk for depression, so if you are experiencing the blues, it’s important to talk with a professional who can help you understand what is happening and find ways to manage your feelings.

If you have experienced trauma or other adverse events in the past, such as sexual assault or abuse, these things may make it more likely that you will experience depression at some point in your life. If one of your parents has had depression or another mental illness, this also increases the chances that you will develop depression (even if you were adopted).

Another factor affecting our risk for developing depression is genetics: Researchers have found links between certain genes and symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which can lead people into depressive episodes if triggered by external events like losing someone close through death or divorce etcetera .

Depression is a physical illness that affects your brain chemistry and other systems in your body. You can experience physical effects like headaches or digestive problems, or sleep too much or too little.

Depression is a physical illness that affects your brain chemistry and other systems in your body. You can experience physical effects like headaches or digestive problems, or sleep too much or too little. Or you might feel tired all the time, have trouble concentrating and remembering things, have a hard time making decisions.

Depression isn’t just feeling sad; it’s having trouble with everyday life because of your sadness. It’s having changes in eating habits (not eating enough), sleeping habits (sleeping too much), energy level (feeling slowed down), self-esteem (feeling hopeless), concentration and thinking ability (making mistakes at work) and thoughts about death or suicide. Depression can be treated with medication and/or therapy, but it can take weeks before you start feeling better—so don’t give up!

Depression isn’t the same as sadness, although you may be sad when you feel depressed.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, it’s important to make sure that the person knows what it is. Depression isn’t sadness, and it’s not about feeling sorry for yourself. It’s a medical condition that can be treated with medication and therapy. It’s also very common: according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), almost one in ten Americans experience depression at some point in their lives.

The first thing we need to do is understand what it means to be depressed – and why we should care about this issue at all!

When mild depression lingers for more than two weeks and becomes more generalized, it may be a clinical depression disorder that needs medical treatment.

The blues are a normal part of life, not just for those with depression. They can affect anyone at any time, and they’re often triggered by sadness or stress. But when mild depression lingers for more than two weeks and becomes more generalized, it may be a clinical depression disorder that needs medical treatment. The symptoms of clinical depression are very similar to the blues:

• Sadness
• Low energy
• Low self-esteem
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy (for example, hobbies)
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions; trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much; feeling sluggish during the day

The blues are normal but serious depression is not – it’s a medical condition

Depression is a serious medical condition that can last for a long time. It’s not the same as the blues or feeling down from time to time. Depression can make you feel very sad, unable to cope with normal life, and tired all the time.

Depression is an illness that affects your moods, thoughts, behavior and physical health for at least two weeks. The symptoms of depression vary from person to person but may include:

• Sadness or crying more often than usual
• Feeling hopeless and worthless
• Feeling irritable or angry more easily than usual (these feelings may be directed at yourself) * Being unable to enjoy things that you usually enjoy in spite of trying very hard