Depression is a mental illness that can interfere with your life. It can cause lasting and severe feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities.

It can also cause physical symptoms of pain, appetite changes, and sleep problems.

The symptoms of depression can last for months or years and can make it difficult or impossible to carry on with daily life. It can disrupt careers, relationships, and daily tasks.

You can not simply decide to stop feeling depressed. Unlike typical sadness or worry, depression feels all consuming and hopeless.

There is no pleasure or joy in life. You may not enjoy things you loved and feel like nothing can make you happy.

You feel that there is no way ever to feel good again. You feel worthless or a failure at everything. Sleeping is difficult and your energy level is low or nonexistent.

Marriage problems, the relationship with parents, and lack of social support were more likely to cause depression in women than men.

Neuroticism, or being in a negative emotional state is a primary cause of depression in women. Women are more likely to have panic and anxiety disorders in addition to their depression.

Men are likely to become depressed as a result of failures to achieve goals in life. Financial and legal issues and career problems cause depression more frequently in men than women.

Losing a job and worrying about failing as a family provider triggers depression specifically in men.

Men are more likely to experience anger attacks, aggression, and risk-taking behavior as depression symptoms.