Answer and Explanation:
Depression is a mental illness that causes changes in one's mood to the point of interfering in one's daily life. It is unfortunately quite common, and symptoms include insomnia, lack of appetite, sadness, low self-esteem, lack of interest in general activities, among others.
Even though depression is now better explained and understood by society than it was years ago, there is still heavy stigma around the illness. People seem to have accepted that the person with depression does not choose to be sad, but that it is a condition that needs to be taken seriously like any other disease would. Still, there are misconceptions that have prevailed, making it harder for a depressed person to want to acknowledge the illness and seek treatment. "Normal" people often do not know how to behave when dealing with a depressed person. Many seem to minimize the symptoms and believe that there is no reason to be depressed since there are so many things to be done. On the other hand, there are also those who maximize the illness with the idea that depressed people are incapable of functioning normally at work, in a relationship, in life in general.