Depression- books on dealing with manic depression

Depressive disorders: A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.
How many people get Depressive disorders? Prevalance: 9.5 percent of adult Americans (NIMH) Prevalance Rate: approx 1 in 10 or 9.50% or 25.8 million people in USA [about data] Incidence (annual): estimated 18.8 million American adults annually (NIMH) Incidence Rate: approx 1 in 14 or 6.91% or 18.8 million people in USA [about data] Prevalance: In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness.5 The economic cost for this disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary. 1