What is Major Depression?
Major depression is like the Major League of baseball. It’s a
term that sets that standard in the industry of diagnosing mood
disorders. What it is not is a fly-by-night feeling of sadness
that was brought on by a minor happening in our lives. One can
say they are “depressed,” when truly they are only feeling blue
over an event that occurred. Major depression defines a state
of being that is persistent, a nuisance to living our everyday
life, and a disturbance to those around us.
There are many types of true depression, including postpartum
depression, bipolar depression, and clinical depression.
Clinical depression is another word for major depression, and
is a mood disorder that only a qualified physician can
diagnose. Symptoms of clinical depression are easy to
distinguish from other forms, partly because of their ongoing
effects on the lives of depression sufferers. Common signs of
major depression are listed below. They occur in episodes one
to two times per year, and gradually worsen if not treated over
time.
• Persistent low mood. Clinical depression is often
diagnosed based on the length of time during which the sufferer
has been experience their symptoms. A depressed individual may
have sadness, disinterest, or excessive irritability over an
extended period. A severe life event may trigger an episode,
though some are brought on for no recognizable reason.
• Sleep and appetite disturbances. Sufferers of major
depression often exhibit changes in their sleeping and eating
habits. They may sleep less or more, and eat less or more.
Typically, it depends on the moods being generated by the
depression, and the coping mechanisms of each individual.
Staying in bed all day for weeks on end is a red flag.
• Trouble concentrating. If you’ve been having trouble
thinking, focusing, concentrating, or remembering things at
work or at home, you may be have major depression. As with the
other symptoms, these problems must be occurring for at least
two weeks, and must have a big impact on the productivity in
your daily life.
• Thoughts of suicide. Some people joke about wanting to
kill themselves, when in a perfect world, every threat of harm
to oneself would be taken seriously. Studies show that those
serious about suicide do openly communicate these thoughts to
at least one individual, perhaps a doctor even.
• Low self-esteem. Persistent feelings of inadequacy and
worthlessness are an important component of major depression.
One might feel like a failure, or a let-down. Over time, the
sufferer begins to believe these thoughts as truth, which can
then lead to destructive behavior, including suicide. It is
important for one to catch these thoughts as they occur, and
stop the negativity and pessimism as it happens.
• Chronic pain or other illnesses. It is not entirely
known if major depression itself can bring on physical
maladies, or if their manifestation is also a symptom of the
chemical and hormonal imbalance occurring in the body. However,
many depressed individuals do suffer from daily chronic pain,
fatigue syndrome, headaches, and gastrointestinal troubles. It
has also been noted that certain heart condition or even cancer
can also bring on an episode of clinical depression.
It is important to remember that depression is mood disorder
that can often lead to suicide if untreated, so it’s important
to seek help immediately. The good news is that 80-90% of all
sufferers can find relief through medication and therapy, or a
combination of the both. Light therapy may also help ease
symptoms, as some studies are showing lack of light during the
winter months contributes to a depressed mood in some
individuals with major depression.
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