What is depression?

To many, the concept of depression elicits an abstract, dark feeling akin to “a rain cloud overhead,” or “a deep pit of gloom.” This presentation aims to challenge these narrow views of depression by drawing ideas from my guidebook Blues Clues: An Interdisciplinary Investigation into Depression. Both the guidebook and presentation guide the audience through questions within psychology, neuroscience, and medicine to shift their perception of depression into a tangible, understandable experience. The neuroscience section of the guidebook is highlighted in the presentation for its contribution to understanding depression as an inherently physical experience.