What is clinical depression?
Clinical depression, or depressive disorder, is a strictly defined medical disorder in which physicians use diagnostic criteria to identify patients. The basic features are as follows: Sad mood (sometimes irritable or anxious state of mind). Impaired functioning in personal and work roles. Inability to enjoy life, including things that once brought joy, such as favorite sports, spending time with friends, and sexual relationships. Other symptoms include fatigue, restlessness, nervousness or anxiety, pain in different parts of the body, inability to sleep or frequent waking or daytime sleepiness, lack of appetite or excessive eating, often accompanied by weight loss or gain, loss of interest in sex or difficulty achieving orgasm, poor impression of oneself (feelings of guilt or worthlessness), difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, light-heartedness or suicide. Yang Zhong, Department of Clinical Psychology, Changshu Mental Health Center
What is not depression?
Clinical depression or depressive disorder is not a normal, common transient feeling of sadness that we experience in various life situations. Although the onset of depression in patients can sometimes be traced to recent traumatic life events, clinical depression is never simply sadness due to a life event.
Clinical depression is not a weakness deficit; anyone can suffer from depression, including those who have lived a full life. Patients need more than their own willpower to overcome depressive disorders. They need the help of qualified health workers.
Depressive disorders are not exclusive to older people; they can occur in older people and be treated just as effectively as in people of other ages.
How common is depressive disorder?
Depressive disorder is a common disorder. One in five to six people in the world has had, is having, or will have depression. One in 20 people at any given time and place will suffer from clinical depression, and women are two times more likely than men to have a depressive disorder. However, drug and alcohol abuse is seen more often in men and may mask depressive disorders.
What are the causes of clinical depression?
As with other medical conditions (e.g., hypertension or ulcers), several factors are involved in the development of depressive disorders. These include somato-chemical imbalances, genetic or familial predisposition, and sometimes accompanied by stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one or divorce. It is important to remember, however, that a brief sad reaction to a life event is not clinical depression.
Depressive episodes can begin when life is going smoothly.
Depressive disorders are not the result of weakness due to overwork. It is usually depression that makes it difficult for the patient to continue working effectively.
What should you do if you are suffering from depressive disorder or if someone you know is suffering from depressive disorder?
If you think a friend or relative may be suffering from depression, you (or they) should contact your physician. Your family physician’s help will determine if you have a depressive disorder and can provide you with effective treatment. When clinical depression is quite severe, antidepressants are often given by physicians. What kind of medications are antidepressants?
Antidepressants are medications prescribed by physicians to reduce the symptoms of clinical depression. They are different from sedatives and hypnotics, which do not treat clinical depression.
Antidepressants do not produce dependence, patients do not become addicted to them, and they can be easily (but slowly) withdrawn when the physician and patient decide to discontinue treatment.
Like any other medication, antidepressants may produce some side effects, which vary from one antidepressant to another and from one person to another, but usually do not pose a serious health problem for the patient. Doctors should inform patients about these side effects before giving medication.
Treatment
The first 2-3 weeks of any antidepressant treatment will not produce any effect. Therefore, patience is needed during this period. If you do not feel better within a month, your doctor may increase the dose of your medication, add another medication, or switch to another medication.
When improvement is apparent, it is important to maintain the medication, otherwise, there is a risk of recurrence and the physician will advise the patient when to stop taking the medication.
Are there other treatments available?
For major depressive episodes, medication is usually the fastest way to get better, especially if the depression is mild. Talking to your physician is helpful and will speed up the recovery process.
What can you do to help someone with a depressive disorder?
Families and friends can help people with depressive disorders in the following ways.
First, make sure the patient sees a doctor and help him/her follow the treatment prescribed by the doctor.
Provide support and encouragement. The patient may feel frustrated during the first few weeks of treatment because it takes a while for the symptoms to go away. You may see some small improvements in symptoms before the patient really feels better. You will want to point out these improvements so that you can encourage him/her.
If the individual is close to improvement, try to engage him/her in brief, past activities that were enjoyable and relaxing, such as walking with friends.
Understanding depressed patients does not improve their feelings and behaviors unless treatment begins to take effect. They are not “lazy,” “stupid,” or “unwilling to help themselves,” so do not pressure them; when they feel better, they will begin to resume their normal duties and participate in activities they activities they once enjoyed.
What can you do to help yourself?
If you are suffering from clinical depression, the first thing to do is to see your physician and follow the treatment prescribed. You will be better able to help yourself and feel better when medication works and you will be able to.
Make an effort to talk to others about your problems or spend some time with your close friends or family, perhaps not seeing everyone, but you will feel better if you don’t avoid them.
Make an effort to reduce your intake of stimulating foods, such as coffee, tea and some caffeinated soda drinks. Because they can make you feel more anxious.
Avoid stressful scenarios as much as possible.
Relax yourself and don’t judge yourself. You are suffering from a medical condition, and once this condition is effectively treated, you will feel like you are moving back to normal. For more information about depression, contact your doctor, there are also books that can help you better understand the disease.