From time to time, most of us experience gloomy moods that disappear with an invigorating walk, a stimulating conversation with friends, or a soothing massage. But if you’re feeling blue for more than a few weeks and have difficulty functioning in daily life, you may be suffering from clinical depression, an intense, pervasive mood disorder that attacks the mind and body simultaneously. Triggered by various biological, psychological, and social factors, this medical condition affects nineteen million Americans every year, more than half of which are women.