Depression is a low mood that lasts weeks or months and affects daily life. It often arrives gradually – so gradually that many people blame themselves for not 'snapping out of it'. But depression is an illness with well-understood, effective treatments.
Depression is more than a bad week. It's a persistent low mood, heaviness or emptiness that colours most of the day, most days, for at least two weeks – and often much longer. It affects energy, sleep, appetite, concentration, and the ability to enjoy things that used to matter.
It can affect anyone – regardless of how strong, successful or grateful they "should" feel. And it commonly coexists with anxiety.
Grief after a loss is natural and different from depression – though they can overlap. If hopelessness, guilt, or suicidal thoughts appear, that points to depression and deserves care.
Depression treatment usually combines self-help, talking therapy and – for moderate-to-severe episodes – antidepressant medication. A combination of therapy and medication typically works better than either alone for more severe depression.
CBT is the most evidence-backed psychological treatment for depression. Counselling and interpersonal therapy also help, depending on what's driving the episode.
Modern antidepressants (SSRIs) help restore the brain chemistry that depression disrupts. They're not addictive and they're not "happy pills" – they lift the fog enough for you to rebuild.
CBT for depression targets the cycle where low mood leads to withdrawal and inactivity, which deepens the low mood. In sessions you work on:
A typical course runs 12–20 sessions. Many people combine weekly therapy with short written exercises between sessions.
You don't have to perform positivity in therapy. At CINQ.IN, Piyusha Pande and Omkar Naik work with depression at your pace – including the sessions where just showing up was the win.
For moderate or severe depression, a psychiatrist may recommend an SSRI antidepressant. Modern SSRIs have fewer side effects than older antidepressants and are not addictive.
Medication decisions belong to you and your psychiatrist together. Dr. Dnyanda Deshpande (MD Psychiatry, 15+ years) takes a measured approach: medication when it genuinely helps, explained clearly, reviewed honestly.
Reach out if:
Our PHQ-9 depression self-check takes 2 minutes and can help you decide whether to talk to someone. Whenever you're ready, book a consultation – in person or online.
If you're in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself: please don't wait. Call 112 (India Emergency), go to your nearest hospital, or call a suicide-prevention helpline right away. CINQ.IN does not provide emergency services – but these do, and reaching out is a sign of strength.
Mild episodes sometimes resolve with time and support. But moderate-to-severe depression rarely improves without treatment – and untreated episodes tend to last longer, recur more, and get harder to treat. Early help means faster recovery.
No – they're not addictive and don't create cravings. However, stopping them abruptly can cause temporary discontinuation symptoms, so they should always be tapered with a doctor.
Talking about painful things can stir them up temporarily – your therapist will pace this with you and teach grounding skills. Most people find sessions become something they look forward to within a few weeks.
No. Many people with depression feel more numb, empty, or exhausted than sad. And it's a full-body condition – affecting sleep, appetite, energy and thinking, not just mood.
Low mood or loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities for two weeks or more, plus changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes thoughts of death. A professional assessment is the reliable way to know.
It depends on the type. Short, stress-induced depressive episodes can ease once the stressor is addressed or removed. But recurrent depression, and moderate-to-severe episodes, are recommended to be treated – waiting risks months of suffering and relapse. Depression is highly treatable with therapy, medication, or both, and treatment usually shortens and softens the episode.
Clinical information on this page is paraphrased from the UK National Health Service (NHS) condition guides and reviewed by the CINQ.IN clinical team (Depression information, 2026). It is for general education and is not a substitute for professional advice.
If you're in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself: please don't wait. Call 112 (India Emergency), go to your nearest hospital, or call a suicide-prevention helpline right away. CINQ.IN does not provide emergency services – but these do, and reaching out is a sign of strength.