“Physical pain is a sign something ain’t right.
Mental pain, in my opinion, is the exact same thing.”
Robert Whitaker, Author of Anatomy of an Epidemic and Pulitzer Prize Nominee

Mental and emotional problems can interfere with one’s life in every aspect. Depressive disorders are associated with poor work activity, disrupted sleeping patterns, bad eating habits, and can put a toll on family units and social life. Anxiety and stress have become acceptable diseases of the 21st century, linked to fast lifestyles and demanding jobs. More than 1 in 20 Americans are depressed, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 20% of adults will suffer from some type of mood disorder that requires treatment over their lifetime (1).

The diagnostic criterion for depression is set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition as follows….
Depressed moods or loss of interest or pleasure most of the time for 2 weeks...