Major depression is a serious but treatable illness. MDD, as the disorder is called, is also known as clinical depression and is differentiated from other forms of depression by its pervasiveness.
One definition says, “Clinical depression is the more severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. It isn’t the same as depression caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder.”
The Mayo Clinic says, “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest…it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.”
With clinical depression, there is great difficulty to keep up with your normal day-to-day activities. Simple chores like doing dishes become monumental tasks, starting with the lack of energy sometimes just to wash that first glass. Soon enough, there’s a pile of dishes that you’d probably not be able to explain, if asked.
Amazingly, I’ve found as depression lifts there’s such a concern for the mess made and a prompt rectifying of the untidiness that only recently had no impact on you.
For the clinically depressed, one of the worst experience at times is feeling like life is not worth living. The will to live becomes a sombre monologue and it’s at this juncture intervention is crucial. Some have not been able to recover from the despair and unfortunately, on (too many) occasions suicide trumps whatever betides.
Clinical depression, according to pscyhcentral.com, is characterised by the presence of the majority of these symptoms:
• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either the individual (eg, feeling sad or empty) or observation made by others (eg, appears tearful). In children and adolescents, this may be characterised as an irritable mood.
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (eg, a change of more than five per cent of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly daily.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
• Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day.
• Fatigue or loss of energy almost daily.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt almost daily.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, almost daily.
• Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
A major depressive episode, the site says, is not a disorder in itself, but rather is a description of part of a disorder, most often major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.
A person who suffers from a major depressive episode must either have a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities consistently for at least a two-week period. This mood must be different from normal mood; social, occupational, or other important functioning must also be negatively impaired by the mood change.
A major depressive episode is also characterised by the presence of five or more of these symptoms listed for clinical depression above.
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness, says the experts. It’s a disease that can be treated—an illness which requires intervention. Most people would first present these symptoms to their family doctor or general practitioner who may or may not encourage you to seek further help. As an individual, client/patient, it’s in your interest to always explore the possibilities for more specialised treatment.
I listened to my intuition and sought help when, having lived relatively well for a number of years, suddenly almost all of the symptoms were presenting in my life. And that has happened more than once in my lifetime, so far.
I searched websites and self-administered measurement tests. I read voraciously everything available. And having been prescribed Zoloft, I took to the iIternet to read everything published—good bad or indifferent about the drug. I searched the manufacturer’s website, Googled personal testimonies, and listened to Oprah where women were speaking about adverse effects of the drug.
I quickly learned that I needed help (medication) and that I also had to have talk therapy, and thankfully, then I could afford both. People around me were taught to understand that I could not simply “snap out of it” despite their best efforts to cheer me up.
My diagnosis required long-term intervention and despite the despair I experience so often in a week, month, of year, I remain steadfast about preserving my life and valuing the gift that life itself is.
With medication, therapy or both, you can live very successfully, maintaining balance even with a clinical depression diagnosis. I encourage you to seek and embrace the help you need.