Depression: The Dark CloudThere are many mental illnesses that affect all kinds of people living around the world. Some are worse than others and some can be like a cloud that never seems to go away. Depression is a common mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world today. It is a terrible burden for its victims and can leave them with a feeling of sadness they have never known before. No one is immune from this illness, which makes it an even more interesting psychological condition. This disease can occur over a long period of time or occur in no time. Depression is a global illness that affects many types of people and has a variety of causes, symptoms and treatments. Depression is a problem that affects our world today and even dates back to ancient times. There is no single reason why people suffer from depression, but rather it is a mixture of genetic, biochemical, environmental and psychological components (“Depression”). This condition can happen to anyone, at any time. People of all ages and social, racial, ethnic, and economic groups can become victims (Hales 18). When someone suffers from depression, they feel hopeless. They believe that “the sun shines less brightly, the sky becomes overcast, people seem cold and distant, and the future seems bleak” (Elliot and Smith 22). It is difficult for someone to live a normal life while being depressed because they do not continue their daily activities as they did before being plagued by this illness. It is a life-changing illness that is treatable, but can last for months or years, or "other times it turns into a serious afternoon... in the middle of 'a paper ......ression.html #>.'Depression'. Nimh.nih.gov. np September 23, 2010. Web. February 22, 2011. .Dowling, Colette. You mean I don't have to feel this way? New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991. Print. Elliot, Charles H. PhD and Smith, Laura L. Phd. Depression for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, 2003. Print. Hales, Dianne. Depression. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. Print. Schmid, Beatrice. Personal interview. March 7. 2011. Smith, Melinda et al. “Understanding depression: signs, symptoms, causes and help.” » Helpguide.org. npWeb. December 2010. February 17, 2011. “What is depression? » Healthtree.com. np 1998-2010. Internet. February 22 2011. .