What is Clinical Depression?

There are several types of depression and one of them is what we call as clinical depression (or often called as major depressive disorder). It is the term used to describe one of severe stages of depression, which also familiar called as major depressive disorder or major depression. What else you need to know about clinical depression? Let’s explore more this disorder!

You might also like to read more detailed information about depression in women and in men, before continuing!

Other known types of depression are bipolar disorder and dysthymia! Dystymia is relatively less severe, but it usually can be more persistent type of depression!

And for bipolar disorder, it can be characterized by some extreme changes in poles (mood) which include from mania to depression. In the midst of these mood swings, an individual with bipolar disorder may also experience or have normal moods.

What is clinical depression?

If you have a constant sense of despair and hopelessness, then you may have clinical depression. But don’t jump directly to the conclusion, you should see your doctor to find a clearly diagnosis. Furthermore, sometimes the diagnosis of this disorder is not easy, particularly in men.

Generally, people with this disorder may have problems in certain activities, like difficult to sleep, make a social relationship, difficult to sleep and work, or even difficult to eat.

Some individuals with major depression have it for several times in their life, while others only have it once in a lifetime.

It is normal to feel low or sad (with clearly reason) at some point in our live. But people with clinical depression will feel more frequent sadness every day with or without clearly reasons. They are more often to have a depressed mood (drastically decreased mood) most of the day, and their depression symptoms can occur every day for at least 14 days.  

And below is a helpful table that can describe some symptoms of clinical depression:

Table source: WebMD

Who is at high risk of having clinical depression?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health -- it is about 6-7 percent of people in the U.S have this disease! And most of them (almost 100 %) are over the age of 18 (adults), which about 20-25 percent of those adults may experience an episode of clinical depression at several points in their lifetime.

Nevertheless, clinical depression also can affect children, teens, and elderly people - but for this case, most of these populations are more likely to be not diagnosed and untreated.

And below is a helpful list about some causes or triggers of clinical depression. Note: there may be other triggers of this disorder that are not listed in this table! -- Read also about causes of depression!

Table source: WebMD

What else you should know?

1. Many experts believe that the risk of clinical depression is relatively higher for women than men. This may be caused by more hormonal changes in women than in men, which include; menopause, miscarriage, pregnancy periods, and menstruation cycles.
2. Do you know that the depression in men is relatively more difficult to be identified? In fact, men who have clinical depression symptoms are more likely to not interest to find help or share their experiences. This is one of the reasons why depression in men is relatively underreported! Furthermore, depression symptoms in men are more likely with more anger, irritability, and alcohol abuse instead of sadness signs.
3. Can this disorder be prevented? Once you are diagnosed with clinical depression, then you will be at higher risk to experience another. The best idea to prevent another episode of this disorder is by keeping aware or keeping far away from any causes or triggers of this disorder.

Talk with your doctor for more depth-in information about “what is clinical depression’ and what anything you should do to prevent it!

Additionally, -- you may also like to read ways on how to get over depression!
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Reference: WebMD and MayoClinic
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