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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