Depression Life eradicator might be a more appropriate name for this disease. That's right, this disease drains the zest for living and replaces it with anguish, guilt, pessimism, irritability, and the inability to experience pleasure. People used to think it was "all in your head" and if you really tried, you could "pull yourself out of it." Now doctors know that depression is not a weakness but is a medical disorder that has a biological basis. (Rosenfeld, 1999). Depression is a serious illness that can take a terrible toll on individuals and families and can lead to a downward spiral of disability