How to Define Depression


There are broadly two categories of depression: the reactive type, which comes on as a result of some external circum­stance, such as the death of someone close to you, losing a job, divorce or chronic illness; and clinical depression, which is depression that is mainly biological in origin. The origins of clinical depression are still not clear, but Dr Puri’s research throws new light on the factors previously thought to trigger depressive illness. Within these two broad categories there are more specific classifications for depression which are used by doctors to facilitate diagnosis and treatment: mild, moderate and severe. The classifications are based on the number and degree of symptoms – of which there are many – present in a patient at any one time. These are only guidelines, and many patients spill over from one category to another or progress from, say, moderate to severe depression. Few fit neatly into one classification and no two depressions are identical.

As well as the type of depression and the degree to which the patient is suffering, there is often a context in which the person is depressed, such as those affected by seasonal light deprivation (SAD), postnatal depression and bipolar disorder, or manic depression.

Define Depression

What Does It Feel Like to Be Depressed?

As we said earlier, depressive illness is very different from the sort of low mood that you might experience when something difficult or unpleasant is happening in your life, or you are merely going through a boring, uneventful period where there seems to be nothing exciting to look forward to. These low moods are part of everyday life; it is to be in a state of perpetual happiness zines would have you believe.

Depression is different. You might not even realise that you are depressed, because the feeling is so utterly alien to a normal mood, and can sneak up on you insidiously and without warning, changing your ability to see things clearly. You might feel bewildered, mad even, and blame your deep reluctance to get out of bed, or to do anything, or to speak to anyone, on the fact that you are undisciplined, weak and useless. You might convince yourself that you have a terminal disease which might explain your extreme symptoms. You might just chink that the world as you know it has come to an end, and that no one else has noticed. You will almost undoubtedly feel hopelegs, exhausted and ashamed. These feelings, as you can see, are not the feelings we so often get from a passing low mood.

Filed Under: Health & Personal Care

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About the Author: Andrew Reinert is a health care professional who loves to share different tips on health and personal care. He is a regular contributor to MegaHowTo and lives in Canada.

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