Clinical depression is a condition that can be serious, and it is one that should be addressed quickly. Unfortunately, it is not always very easy to diagnose an individual with clinical depression. This is simply because doctors have to base this type of diagnosis on the information that has been obtained from the patient. If they are not completely honest about the feelings and symptoms that they are going through, a true and accurate diagnosis is very hard to achieve. Some of the symptoms of clinical depression would include hopeless and despairing feelings concerning the future and feelings of helplessness. Some of the common triggers that can bring on these types of feelings would include such things as missing a job opportunity that was desired, the death or loss of a friend or loved one, a break-up in a relationship, and other similar situations. There are times that the clinical depression sufferer may slip into this state of mind over a long period of time that can last several months, and others fall into the state of clinical depression very quickly. Quite often, the individual does not even realize they have fallen into depression, until others show signs of concern.