When it comes to major clinical depression it can be quite confusing. Mood disorders is a broader term, therefore I put together this presentation in PDF format about this disease, how to identify the symptoms, some of the myths that surround this illness and what to do if someone has it.
What Major Clinical Depression is and is not.
Lots of people have sadness and depression or low mood periodically. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t have these emotions. It is when we have a mood that lasts over 2 weeks and is accompanied by some of the following symptoms that makes it a disease.
Concentration, memory, mood disturbance, judgment, appetite changes (loss or gain weight in a short period), and problems with sleep are the most common signs. Interrupted sleep, unable to fall asleep, waking up several times, and being unable to go back to sleep is very common with this illness when sleep is problematic. When we have a collection of these symptoms over a 2 week period, we can call it an illness.
Brain Receptors, norepinephrine, and seratonin.
Brain receptor sites produce a balance of epinephrine and seratonin. These chemicals when not balanced produce the symptoms listed above. Some people can change some of their living habits and thus regulate these brain chemicals, but some people are not able to. Some people are genetically predisposed to have this in their family (like diabetes).
When it has gone on for a long time, the brain requires usually more than good emotional hygiene. In some cases, anti-depressant medication is called for to assist these chemicals to produce the right amount. Eventually, the receptor sites will put out their own proper amount in time, for most people. However, to do nothing will add to the problem and it will get worse.
Children and Adolescents
In children, it shows up a little different than adults. Children can’t express what is going on but their behavior shows there is a change. They may start doing poorly, wanting to isolate, not see their friends, get angry or cry easily and in some cases act out with dysfunctional or even aggressive behavior. Getting assessed by a good pediatric psychiatrist is a great idea when trying to figure out what is going on with a child or adolescent.
Suicidal Thoughts, Plans, or Intent
Even though suicidal thoughts, plans, or intent are not common, if someone has any of these symptoms, they must be treated.
Suicidal thoughts are things like “I wish I were dead”. Suicidal plans are things like “I feel like driving my car off the road…where did that thought come from? I don’t want to do that!!!. Suicidal plans are “I’m saving my pills and Friday I will kill myself with the overdose”. Because we don’t know how fast the thoughts can progress from the first to the third, and we also can’t control someone’s impulsive behavior, it is never an option to ignore someone because they don’t have a plan or don’t want to or “have plenty of reasons why they wouldn’t”.
Good Emotional Hygiene
When someone has poor “emotional hygiene”, it means they don’t know how to express their feelings or what to do appropriately when they do have them. They don’t know how to take care of themselves, emotionally. Emotional hygiene is kind of like learning to floss and brush with the dentist for our teeth. However, unless we receive instruction, we may end up with gum disease. Then we may need antibiotics on top of the instructions on how to floss and brush so we don’t end up with the gum disease again.
In like manner, if someone doesn’t pay attention to their feelings or block or numb them, they are going to end up with an illness eventually. Anger that has turned inward is another way of describing clinical depression. In addition to medical treatment, they will need to discover ways to deal with their anger appropriately. This is the “talk therapy” that usually accompanies any kind of medication treatment.
For ways to help with “emotional hygiene” and self-care, see xyz
Other Ways to treat major clinical depression
There can be other ways to treat Major Clinical Depression. There are also lesser types of depression that may not be as severe such as Dysthymia. A Naturopathic Doctor or Acupuncturist may have alternative treatments (if suicidal thoughts, plans or intent are not present.)
What are things you can do if someone has it or you think they have it? Â There is help, education, and medication if necessary. Â There are alternative treatments available.
A lively discussion with Bob and Michele about what is and isn’t Major Clinical Depression. Why it is different than sadness or normal depression?