Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Depression and Treatment Options

Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a serious mental health condition with severe, long-lasting physical and mental symptoms that can disrupt your ability to perform routine tasks; negatively affect your work, relationships, and overall quality of life; and impact your brain’s ability to function as it should. People suffering from it often describe it as feeling as though a huge weight has been placed on their chest.

The good news is that if you have clinical depression, it does not have to rule or ruin your life. It is one of the most treatable mental health conditions, with approximately 80% to 90% of people treated for it responding well to therapy.

What are the symptoms of clinical depression?

According to DSM-5 criteria, to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must experience five or more of the following symptoms and have experienced them for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

• Persistent low or depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
• An increase or decrease in appetite, which can lead to weight gain or weight loss
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Low energy or fatigue
• Slowed speech and movement
• Cognitive difficulties such as trouble concentrating, indecisiveness, and/or difficulty thinking clearly
• Feeling worthless or ridden by excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Thoughts of death and/or suicide

Two of your symptoms must include a persistent depressed mood and loss of pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Additional criteria are that the symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of your day-to-day life; and that they are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition, such as bipolar disorder.

What is the difference between clinical depression and depression?

Depression is a general term that describes a range of emotions that may include sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of pleasure in activities usually enjoyed. Typically, it is a situational response to a distressing life event such as a job loss, the death of a loved one, a career setback, the end of an important relationship, or an unexpected medical diagnosis, but it is usually only a temporary state of mind that will pass with time and without the need for clinical intervention.

Clinical depression, on the other hand, is not just a temporary feeling. It is a serious, diagnosable mental illness, the symptoms of which are much more severe and persistent than common depression. It can significantly interfere with your ability to function in your day-to-day life.

Who can be affected by clinical depression?

Clinical depression can affect people of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, or background. The average age of onset is in one’s 20s, but it can develop in children and older adults, as well.

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression as men, but this discrepancy may be partially attributed to the fact that men tend to be less likely to seek help for their symptoms.

What causes clinical depression?

The exact cause of clinical depression is unknown, but studies have found several factors that can contribute to its development. An imbalance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, for instance, that affects brain chemistry; the genetics of having an immediate family member with depression; and/or adverse childhood experiences such as abuse or abandonment.

It can also be triggered by stressful life events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or financial or relationship difficulties, in people who are susceptible to it.

Can it be prevented?

There is no sure way to prevent clinical depression, but you can help reduce your risk by living a healthy lifestyle that prioritizes self-care practices such as:

• Getting enough quality sleep
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
• Staying hydrated
• Limiting your use of alcohol and caffeine
• Avoiding substance use

How is it treated?

Clinical depression treatments may include prescription antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, a combination of both, and/or complementary treatments.

Psychotherapy Options

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping you identify and reframe negative or irrational thought patterns and distorted views you have of yourself and your situation that are contributing to your depression and affecting your emotions and behavior.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on the way you relate to the people in your life, and on helping you improve problematic relationships due to your depression by learning new ways of interacting with others that can improve the way you connect with them.

Problem-solving therapy Problem-solving therapy involves a practical, systematic approach to problems in your life, such as unemployment, for example, and helps you find effective ways of solving them.

Psychodynamic therapy Psychodynamic therapy focuses on exploring subconscious thoughts, early childhood experiences, and other challenging milestone life events to provide insight on how they may be contributing to your depression, and help you learn more adaptive ways of functioning that reduce their influence.

Complementary Clinical Depression Treatments

Exercise Studies have found that regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of depression and lift your mood.

Engaging in activities you used to enjoy Engaging in activities you used to enjoy before you got depressed and stopped doing them can help turn your symptoms around. Don’t avoid things you find difficult. Do them anyway.

Take care of your body Don’t let your depressed feelings cause you to throw off self-care habits. Having a routine for sleep, eating meals on a predictable schedule, and engaging in regular exercise are all important. Stick to them even if you don’t feel like it.

Connect with others Spend time with people you care about and who care about you.

Sunlight Try to spend 10-15 minutes outdoors in the sunlight a day.

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a type of brain stimulation therapy that is used in severe cases of clinical depression that don’t respond to traditional forms of therapy. It involves using magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the areas of your brain involved in depression and mood control.

Can someone who has had clinical depression get it again?

Yes, having experienced an episode of clinical depression puts you at risk of having it again in the future. Clinical depression is often a recurrent condition, but not everyone who has recovered from it will get it again. The following are some steps you can take to lower the chances of it coming back and causing a relapse.

Recognize the warning signs Warning signs of depression returning can include

• changes in your normal sleep patterns
• losing interest in food, or binge eating to deal with your emotions
• fatigue
• irritability
• wanting to isolate
• having undiagnosed aches and pains
• loss of interest in doing things you usually enjoy
• feeling gloomy more often than not
• feeling tired all the time
• trouble concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions

Use the tools you learned Be consistent about using the tools and strategies you learned through therapy. It can help you get through the rough patches and keep symptoms from getting worse.

Reach out to a mental health professional ASAP Discerning whether what you are feeling is just the normal ebbs and flows of feelings we are all prone to, or whether it is a warning sign of depression creeping back into your life can be difficult. Best to err on the side of caution and reach out to a mental health professional as soon as possible.

If you have questions or would like to set up a risk-free appointment to meet with me or one of the other faith-based counselors at our office, please give us a call.