Depression is a common illness associated with a biological basis. It affects 
10 to 14 million people in any given year. Depression is not a sign of emotional 
weakness. It is not a weakness or a personality flaw. Depression is a real medical 
condition that can be managed with your doctor's help and with medicine, psychotherapy 
or a combination of both.
Research has shown that the symptoms of depression may be related to an imbalance of 
important natural substances called neurotransmitters  which act like "signals" between nerve 
cells in the brain (i.e.norepinephrine, serotonin). Also life difficulties can trigger or worsen the 
symptoms of depression.

Depression can make you feel hopeless and helpless.
 But just taking the first step—deciding to get treatment—can make all the difference.

If you've been diagnosed with depression, you may wonder why it had to happen to you. 
The fact is that anyone can get depression. The first step in fighting depression is to 
understand what it is, how it affects you, and what causes it.