A constant sense of hopelessness and despair is a sign someone may have major depression, also known as clinical depression. Everyone has moments where they feel sad - when they fail a test or if they do not get something they want, or the grief felt when someone passes away. In this case, there is a trigger. When suffering from major depression, there is not a trigger. As well, it may be difficult to do daily activities such as work, study, sleep, eat, or to enjoy friends and hobbies. Some people may have clinical depression only once in their life, however, for most with the disorder, depressive episodes will randomly reoccur many times throughout their lifetime. Major depression can sometimes be hereditary, but also may occur to individuals with no family history of the illness. Additionally, depression is a mental illness caused by a chemical reaction in the brain. It truly is more than just having a bad day every now and again, nor is it a period of sadness or grief triggered by a small moment or event. Depression is reoccurring sadness and symptoms of depression that happen more days than not for a period of at least 2 weeks. Though often overlooked or underestimated due to the stigma surrounding it, major depressive disorder is a mental health issue with serious symptoms that can be hard to cure.