From the author: Published on the website of psychologist Lyudmila Gorokhova www.your-psy.kz Depression is a term that, if not used, is definitely heard by each of us almost every day. When we talk about our bad mood, we often “diagnose” it as depression. The question then arises: is depression really a condition that needs to be treated? Or is this a common mood disorder that occurs as a result of stressful situations? Of course, stress factors (loss, relationship breakdown, serious illness, job loss) affect mood, physical health and the level of depression. But nevertheless, what is characteristic of depression is the very way a person perceives (in a state of depression) the world around him and himself. From the Latin deprimo, meaning "to crush", "to crush". In medical dictionaries, the term depression has the following definition: a mental state characterized by depression. A person may be agitated and restless, or, conversely, his actions may be sluggish and slow. A person’s behavior is based on pessimistic beliefs and despair; his sleep, appetite and attention are disturbed. For self-diagnosis of depression, the following criteria are used: -a feeling of hopelessness and hopelessness of the current situation.; -negative self-esteem, obsessive pessimistic thoughts; - persistent long-term decrease in mood; feeling of melancholy; -anxiety; excessive feelings of guilt; - expressed indifference to everything, apathy; - a sharp loss or, conversely, a sharp increase in appetite; -sleep disorder (very early awakening in the morning, daytime drowsiness, insomnia); -motor retardation, fatigue. Severe depression may be accompanied by suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. Depression and depression require prompt seeking of professional help. The fact is that the longer a person is in a state of depression, the “more familiar” depressive thoughts become, which determine a pessimistic and sometimes negative perception of the world and attitude towards life. Depression requires psychotherapy and, in some cases, drug therapy. Having sought psychological help, after the initial appointment, a person suffering from depression feels an improvement in their condition and gains hope for recovery. Psychotherapeutic work restores a person’s ability to control his mood and his thoughts. Allows you to understand and eliminate the causes of depression. The duration of the full course of psychotherapy depends on the level of depression, as well as on the establishment of the so-called psychotherapeutic alliance, aimed at fruitful interaction between the specialist and the client. It is important to know that depression is treatable and the sooner you seek help, the faster your recovery will come..