Hey you, welcome to my interpretation of a deep dive into clinical depression, where I am aiming to shed some light on the intricacies of the mental health condition. In this blog, we'll explore the definition, symptoms, causes, and potential treatments for clinical depression, providing a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this challenging illness.
Introduction to Clinical Depression
Clinical depression, commonly known as just "bog-standard" depression, is more than just occasional mood swings. It's a serious mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and engage in daily activities, casting a persistent shadow of sadness, lethargy, and disinterest continuously. I define daily activities more in my Recurrent Depressive Disorder blog which you can find here!
Causes of Clinical Depression
Clinical depression is a complex little bugger with diverse causes, stemming from genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Common triggers include:
- Family history of depression (thanks genetics)
- Chemical imbalances in the brain - where maybe your serotonin (the happy juice if you will) is not quite as high as it should be
- Traumatic life events (loss, abuse, major stressors)
- Chronic illnesses or pain (this could be things such as cancer, MS or a serious accident that caused physical injury)
- Certain medications (for women birth control can be a contributing factor!)
- Alcohol or substance abuse
Symptoms of Clinical Depression
The symptoms of clinical depression manifest in various ways, impacting both mental and physical wellbeing. Key indicators include:
- Persistent sadness or a "low" mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyable activities
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia or oversleeping)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Diagnosis and Seeking Help
Typically healthcare professionals diagnose clinical depression through a series of assessments such as the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, medical history, and sometimes, psychological evaluations. If you have had the above symptoms for longer than 2 weeks I would highly recommend speaking to a GP or health professional. Mental health practitioners can provide a tailored treatment plan, including therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
p.s...Waiting lists are super long on NHS for therapies so I would highly recommend some support groups, telling your loved ones the position you are in and definitely begin medication if that's what a GP recommends. Also diet, sleep and exercise do play a huge part but lets keep it simple for now. I am working to find some self referral options so far I only have one for the UK which you can access here. I used ieso previously and would highly recommend them for clinical depression and generalised anxiety disorder. They are also able to deal with OCD and other conditions.
Living with Clinical Depression
Living with clinical depression requires ongoing self-care and awareness. I personally have experienced the ups and downs of clinical depression and its important to maintain regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and a strong support system.
It is also really important to speak with professionals and people alike yourself to understand healthy coping mechanisms and triggers. I will provide you with more on tools you can easily access soon!
Also remember and here comes the contradictory statement, its okay to have a day or a week where you just aren't okay. That is part of being human, its how we deal with feeling low that makes the long-term difference in looking after your mental wellbeing.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Reach out to mental health professionals, friends, or family or even little ol' me – your healing journey is a collaborative effort!
Stay tuned for more insights into mental health on our blog. 🌟💙 #ClinicalDepression #MentalHealthJourney #UnderstandingDepression
Founder, The Affordable Therapy Co.
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