There is actually a big difference between feeling depressed and suffering from depression (the correct medical term is clinical depression). But what exactly is clinical depression? Well it's normal to feel sad and depressed every now and then, sometimes if you're lucky that feeling will pass, but clinical depression is an illness which has many physical and emotional symptoms that affect your ability to work, sleep, eat or enjoy any positive aspects of life for example, and stays with you for quite a while until it is treated accordingly. It is very common for people not to be sad when suffering from clinical depression; alternatively they feel lethargic, unable to enjoy life's experience. A person often just bottles up their emotions …show more content…
The sufferer has a lack of interest in any social activities, disinterested in sexual activities or extreme decrease in weight. A major depression episode may last up to 6 months and then may experience a short spell of relief but this disorder is a common reoccurring disorder. Dysthymia - Dysthymia is not as severe as major depression; however it is a condition which unfortunately not many know if they are suffering from. They going through life discontented, lonely, unsocialable and frightened at time when in a crowded area believing that this is the norm. Medication has been recommended for this condition (antidepressants) however there are steps to take to overcome Dysthymia and other depressive states - see below. Atypical Depression - Atypical Depression is a variation of depressive states that fluctuate depending on what goes on in their lives, i.e. they believe that outside events control their moods (praise, rejection etc) Other symptom patterns can lead to increase of eating habits, heavy feeling of limbs and can become sensitive to rejection. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) …show more content…
Self-loathing - Feeling pessimistic resulting in harsh criticism and self worthlessness. 6. Petulant - Lashing out at other over small things, easily annoyed or frustrated. 7. Loss of interest - No interest in daily activities or social events. 8. Weight - A dramatic loss or gain of weight is a common signifier. Here are some short tips on how to beat depression- Thinking- Control your thinking; remember depression is a mental disorder. So when you're down, don't say you're depressed, say your "feeling low", you can appreciate that there are "highs" as well as "lows" in life and that "lows" are more controllable. Exercise- You don't have to join a gym to exercise, go for a power walk round the block or run if you want. If you have a favourite sport, join up, you need to find way to enjoy and exploit what you love to do, this will give you more control over your life and health. Reward- Do not allow your loved ones and friends to reward you when feeling depressed, as much as it might think it helping you, unfortunately it maintains you depressed state. Do not allow them to do work or chores for you around your house or work. Ideally, they should encourage you to get up and get on with your life; this eliminates your depressive behaviour.
A 38-year-old single woman, Gracie, was referred for treatment of depressed mood. She spoke of being stressed out due to conflicts at work, and took a bunch of unknown pills. She reported feeling a little depressed prior to this event following having ovarian surgery and other glandular medical problems. She appeared mildly anxious and agitated. She is frequently tearful, but says she does not have any significant sleep or appetite disturbance. She does, however, endorse occasional suicidal ideation, but no perceptual disturbances and her thoughts are logical and goal-directed.
Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person conducts him/herself, and the way he/she think. Depression may include anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, manic depressions. People with a depressive illness cannot merely ‘pull themselves together’ and get better. About 5% of the population will have some form of a mental illness at some point in their lives. Half of these people will also have a substance abuse
Depression brings people down to a joyless state in which they do not see the positive side of any concept. However, with proper medications and treatments, they can be brought back to normal emotion levels. Lets begin by giving the description given in the DSM-IV-TR on Major Depressive Disorder. The DSM states “five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.” (APA, 2000) The American Psychiatric Association also states that the symptoms do not include those symptoms, which are due to a general medical condition or hallucinations or mood-incongruent delusions. The symptoms that the DSM discusses are the following:
This paper will focus on depressive disorders, and it will describe what they are, how they manifest themselves, what causes them and/or what makes certain individuals susceptible to the disorder as compared to others. This piece will also describe the most common treatment practices, and the effectiveness of these treatments. It will conclude by offering some testimonials from individuals who suffer from depressive disorders as well as some additional commentary about depressive disorders and their implications/challenges.
This paper introduces a 35-year-old female who is exhibiting signs of sadness, lack of interest in daily activities and suicidal tendencies. She has no interest in hobbies, which have been very important to her in the past. Her lack of ambition and her suicidal tendencies are causing great concern for her family members. She is also exhibiting signs of hypersomnia, which will put her in dangerous situations if left untreated. The family has great concern about her leaving the hospital at this time, fearing that she may be a danger to herself. A treatment plan and ethical considerations will be discussed.
Depression is much more common than most people think. Because it is essentially an invisible illness and is largely in the mind, it is difficult to correctly diagnose it and most people suffer for months, years, or even decades with depression. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines depression as “a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty with thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide.” Most medical definitions are able to explain what happens and why it does, but after carefully examining this one, we only notice that it explains what happens, but not why. Usually, the symptoms of an illness are...
Depression, also known as major depression, is a severe constant mood state of being depressed and with the feeling of hopelessness over a long period of time. Other names for major depression include chronic depression and clinical depression. Things seem wrong, you hate your life, being happy seems distant, you’ve developed a hatred for the people around you and the thoughts of suicide keep popping into your head. Does this describe you? If it does, you may be suffering from clinical depression, a condition and not a sign of weakness.
Regardless of the person whether male or female who has developed the symptoms of depression, their lives have been invaded by a sickness that can have a devastating effect on their lives; depending on how severe their symptoms are. If left untreated the end result could have an even more devastating effect. Luckily, there are treatments available that are successful.
There are many ways to treat Dysthymia. According to the internet article, Dysthymic Disorder: Treatment, 62% of patients benefit from antidepressant medication. The guidelines for assessing the potential utility of drug therapy are a contributory family history and a past history and a past history of poor response to their forms of treatments. Some antidepressant drugs such as fluoxentine and imipramine can be used with both major and mild depression patients. Antianxiety drugs however don't have as much effect on Dysthymia patients as do antidepressants.
Depression can have a great impact on someone’s life. Imagine trying to balance these symptoms while in school, work, or being a mother or father. Although while suffering from this disorder there are solutions out there
There are loads of ways to manage depression, and often they are used best in conjunction with each other. The basic/main medical options are antidepressant medication & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT is a great treatment for depression, alone or with medication.
Depression is more than experiencing a difficult day or event or being in a bad mood. Sometimes, people seek help even though they are not clinically depressed because they think they need the help they get from a psychologist. When speaking to a depressed individual, it is very important to know the occasion that lead to their emotional trauma. Depressed mood is not the same as a depressed disorder. According to Nydegger, “Depressed mood is a negative affective or emotional quality such as feeling sad, miserable, gloominess for a period of time. Depressive disorder refers t...
The steps may seem small, but they’ll quickly add up. While taking these steps people may find it can be difficult to maintain perspective and sustain the effort required to beat depression, but the very nature of depression makes it difficult to reach out for help. While isolation and loneliness can trigger or worsen depression, maintaining emotionally close relationships can be instrumental in overcoming it. Overcoming depression should also include a healthy lifestyle, such as learning how to better manage stress, setting limits on what the person is able to do, adopting healthy habits, and scheduling fun activities into your day. Some other behaviors that are apart of the upward spiral are intensive aerobic physical exercise, social contact, thinking of happy memories, improving the quality of your sleep, and exposing yourself to sunlight (Smith).
Major depression is a mood disorder illustrative of depression in which an individual’s lifestyle and experiences are compromised. People who are depressed are characterized by emotional, motivational, physiological and cognitive problems. They experience low moods, become secluded and are unmotivated to perform tasks common with that of the norm. About 5% of the European population will be clinically depressed at any one time (Paykel et al. 2005). Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than are men and this is consistent across cultures.
Depression isn’t just a state of being, or someone’s mood. There are different types of depression, and each of those types have their own lists of symptoms and treatments, all similar but they have some differences.