What are the consequences of leaving depression untreated?

Depression overtakes the lives of many and interferes with everyday activity and functioning. More than 300 million people live with depression according to the World Health Organization, and almost half of them aren’t getting the help they need.

Leaving depression untreated leads to complications in one’s life, personal as well as professional. Besides the constant stress and negative outlook, depression can lead to serious dysfunction and in severe cases suicidal thoughts. Therefore it is essential to raise awareness, seek new treatments, and see how important issue this is in our rushing modern world.

To define, clinical depression is a common and serious mood disorder. The symptoms affect the roots of how you feel and think. Negativity originating from this disease makes most daily activities a burden, even those who might have been automatic and part of one’s normal routine before. According to the DSM-IV, depression is present when you have five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: depressed mood; decreased interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed; change in weight or appetite; trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; loss of energy; restlessness or slowing down; feelings of worthlessness or guilt; diminished ability to think, decide and concentrate; thoughts of death or suicide. Depression comes in different intensities based on how disabling the symptoms are, and how much they interfere with daily functioning, but in all forms, it is considered as mental illness and should be recognised and treated.