What is Clinical Depression ? Clinical depression is not related to the other types of depression. It tends to be genetic, biological and chemical. Symptoms can be very over powering and cause significant distress to a person’s life. The triggers tend to be different from person to person.
What is Clinical Depression ?
We have millions of neurotransmitters that carry information around the brain and body. They are responsible for the regulation of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. In light of this brain injury can affect how these transmitters deal with the production of the chemicals that dictate our mood.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synapse#Structure
Above is a link to explain how the concentration of transmission crosses the gap between transmitter and receptor in the brain. Having a direct effect on how the brain processes the information and chemical production. Coupled with environmental factors in a persons life. Sufferers of clinical depression are in fact monoamine deficient, although nobody knows why this happens. Medication that helps the production of serotonin and levels the chemical composition in the brain is very effective.
How diagnosis is reached
To have a diagnosis you need to have at least 5 of these 9 symptoms. Low mood for most of the day lasting several days on end. This will almost certainly run into weeks or even months. The patient will have little or no interest in activities that used to give them pleasure. Low energy levels almost certainly go with this. That “can’t be bothered” apathy.
In contrast some symptoms can go either way. Weight control is an issue with the metabolism dictating either excessive weight gain or loss. In many cases thyroid issues are somewhere in the mix. Sleep pattern disruption, whereby you sleep too much or suffer insomnia. Insomnia will definitely fuel any low mood. Psychomotor agitation whereby the patient either paces the room, wringing of hands etc etc. In just the same way the patient can suffer psychomotor impairment. Slow thinking and difficulty making decisions.
Because many of these symptoms can be draining of energy that is already low the next symptom on the list is severe fatigue. Coupled with the emotional symptoms that bring a feeling of worthlessness and guilt. Difficulty with concentration and focus makes getting interested in any project very difficult. Brain fog is a typical symptom of most types of depression.
Last but definitely not least
Feelings and thoughts of suicide quite often cross the mind. In light of the above and before we confirm any diagnosis of this kind though, first make sure the symptoms are not caused by substance abuse. The patient could be suffering another medical or mental condition. Even though the patient will be experiencing mood swings, manic episodes should not present. Neither commonly hypomanic.
Any type of depression untreated can become life threatening when the sufferer gets to a point that is so low down they feel there really is no other option than to end their life. Those left behind can then suffer a grief that can spiral into the same issue. When someone we love takes their own life it leaves us with so many questions. Could we have done something, anything to prevent it? Why didn’t I see the signs? We can’t carry that guilt. Pain felt at that sort of level is very difficult for anybody to see the other side of. Suicide is not the answer we always say. Easy for us to say isn’t it.
Who are we to judge !!