How do chronic depression and depression differ?

Symptom or disorder: You can be depressed over something that is happening in your life and it will last for a day or a week. That is not clinical or major depression. Chronic depression or major depression last for more than 2 weeks and generally much longer than that with only brief periods of relief. That kind of depression needs professional treatment. See your md, or a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Depression: There is a mood called depression. This is usually something that is temporary and which doesn't affect how you function overall in your life. When the words chronic depression are used, that is presumed to be a clinical depression. This means that many things can be impacted such as mood, energy level, sleep, appetite, productivity, self esteem, concentration, self-confidence, etc.