Depression Learning

Clinical Depression

Although most people believe that depression is just sadness there is a lot more to it and it can be a serious health becoming a major life issue if not properly diagnoses and treated. People with clinical depression often can not function normally and lack the ability or desire to find joy in people or activities they once took pleasure in. For years there has been a stigmata attached to depression that it is just a weakness or that it is not even a real wellness just something people make up to get out of doing things they don’t want to do. The real truth is that clinical depression is a serious and debilitating disease that can disable individuals for weeks, months and often years. Depression according to the American Psychiatric Association has a direct affect on over 17 million Americans. It affects people of all ages, genders and ethic backgrounds and religious or cultures.

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

The actual symptoms of clinical depression vary as there are many different forms of depression as well as various degrees of it according to the individual affected. However some of the more common ones include:

Different sleep disorders that can vary from one extreme such as insomnia to the other extreme of oversleep or extended sleeping. Some even find that they begin waking earlier than usual and have a difficult time returning to sleep

Appetite changes is another fairly common symptom and again it ranges from extremes such as either overeating or binge eating or complete lack of appetite

Noticeable lack of energy and/or extreme fatigue

Aches, pains. Digestive problems or other physical symptoms that persist even when treated medically

Loss of interest or elation over things that once brought joy and happiness such as hobbies, friends, family, sports, sex etc.

Irresponsibility and a disregard for personal appearances

Extended (two weeks or more) of sadness, crying etc

Other feelings such as guilt, helplessness, irritability, agitation, hopelessness and often anxiety

Dark thoughts of death and suicide

Types of Depression

There are many types of depression as well as varying degrees of this disorder. They can either be short term or long and protracted. Depression can begin rather suddenly or can build up over a long period of time. The three most common types of clinical depression are listed below:

Major Depression-this form of the disorder can be a combination of the previous symptoms listed above. It impairs the ability to eat, sleep, work or enjoy the pleasures of life. Major depression can occur a single time or many times over a long period.

Dysthymia- another type of clinical depression that is less severe than Major depression but is usually chronic in nature (long term) and can also impede them from functioning normally and also prevent them from feeling good.

Bipolar disorder- (often referred to as manic depressive illness): Manic depressives go from periods of elation and increased activity knows as mania to periods of deepest depression.

Treatments for Clinical Depression

Treatment for the clinical depression vary but as with other types of depression, early diagnosis, psychotherapy, counseling, mood stabilizers and antidepressants are the most common treatments but in extreme cases electro convulsive therapy may be used.

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