Many things can lead to depression, especially in our "go-get" lifestyles where we come across many daily stress factors and the slightest mishap can leave us feeling less than worthy. As our lives become even more hectic as time passes more and more people seem to be passing the threshold of frustration into depression and other mental issues putting a strain on their mental and physical health.It is estimated that one in four individuals suffer from depression and will have a major episode once in their life time. It is a common psychological condition and often referred to the "common cold" of psychiatry.

Feeling low or depressed, however, is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles or coping with a chronic physical health problem. It is when these feelings become so overwhelmingor you have a problem coping, involve physical symptoms lasting for an extended period of time and affect you from leading a normal, active life. That's when it's time to seek psychological treatment for depression.

As with all mental and physical health issues depression is separated into types and forms:

1. 1.       Major Depression

• Chronic Depression (Dysthymia); chronic depression or dysthymia is a milder form of depression.
• Atypical Depression; with symptoms that include weight gain, sleeping too much, and feeling anxious.
• Postpartum Depression
• Bipolar Depression (Manic Depression); with symptoms such as mood swings of bipolar depression (manic depression) from the elated highs of mania to the major depression lows.

1. 2.       Seasonal Depression (SAD)
2. 3.       Psychotic Depression

The symptoms of depression include:

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
• Ruminations or constantly thinking about what has not gone well, the past or the future
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

The treatment for depression may the use of prescribed medication such as anti-depressants or more commonlypsychological treatment for depression and or the combination of both.NICErecommend the use of psychological treatment for depression. Psychological treatment for depression begins with an assessment session, in which you will be encouraged to look at your problems and develop an understanding of your problems, once you realize exactly what is causing your depression it will be easier to treat .Once the underlying problem has been pin-pointed, a plan will be developed collaboratively with an estimated number of sessions together with a review date, should this be appropriate. Thispsychological treatment for depression isknown as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT is anevidenced based NICE recommended psychological talking therapy that is short term, problem and goal focussed. It is based on the idea that it is not the events that make us depressed or anxious, but the way we think about them. CBT helps us become more aware of thinking patterns and behaviours which impact on our feelings and helps us to make changes to best cope with our long term condition.Further CBT sessions are structured and involve setting an agenda for the sessions, summaries to check understanding and homework tasks to help to facilitate changes. This may involve keeping records of thoughts or activities or it may involve doing things differently to observe the outcomes. At the end of each session there is an opportunity for feedback and to raise any difficulties.

Whether you are feeling mildly depressed or going through something more severeit is imperative to seek help before it takes a toll on your mental and physical health.