What actually is clinical depression?

The word depression has become so casual; we use it all the time. “That movie was depressing!” “Fluffy gets so depressed when he can’t go to doggy day-care!” “Rainy days depress me!” It seems like we are all familiar with the word, but what actually qualifies clinical depression?

So what is clinical depression?

According to the DSM-5, clinical depression is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent hopelessness, sadness, and a loss of interest in once enjoyable activities. It is estimated that over 19 million adults in the U.S. have experienced clinical depression. The symptoms of depression are pervasive; these symptoms impact daily functioning, productivity, and relationships. While depression can seem overwhelming, it is important to know there are many ways to treat depression successfully.

Keep in mind, we all have individualized factors that make up our unique mental health. That’s why it is a good idea to connect with a licensed therapist for help understanding your depression. If you are concerned that you might have clinical depression, connect with me here to schedule a personalized approach.

Signs and Symptoms of Clinical Depression:

The truth is, clinical depression is more than just a bad day. When working with a client experiencing depression, I look for specific symptoms or changes in how a person operates. I am curious about changes in sleep and eating patterns, increased negative thinking, and the ability to engage in their lives. These changes are usually persistent, difficult to manage, and undesirable. Depression can affect anyone, and it’s okay to ask for help! Rather than canceling plans again, silently struggling with sadness, or fighting yourself to get out of bed in the morning, consider these changes as a sign it’s time to get support.

Depression changes your feelings.

For some, depression shows up in their feelings and sadness and hopelessness. While others experience anger and irritability. Still, others experience numbness or feeling “checked out” while in a state of depression. It is common to have a mix of tricky feelings when experiencing depression. Sometimes our anger or numbness serves to cover up the sad and vulnerable parts of us. When people are unsure what they are feeling, I recommend looking at recent behaviors to give clues to feelings on the inside. Are you frequently tearful and isolated from others? Could these behaviors be a sign of inner sadness? Are you moving through the motions of life, unable to connect with any true feelings? This could be a sign of numbness. Checking in with behaviors is an excellent way to identify underlining feelings. Although we might not typically think of anger as a form of depression, taking a deeper look at hostile behaviors usually points back to an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and sadness.

Depression changes your body.

Depression takes a toll on our bodies. For some people, depression shows up as unexplained aches and pains. Others report stomach issues, headaches, and bodily tension. Our brains and bodies are constantly “talking”. So when we are experiencing distress in our brains, our bodies become distressed too. Another way depression interferes with our bodies is through sleep and appetite changes. Sleep troubles are typical in depression. Many people report sleeping too much, but never feeling rested. Some report feeling tired but having difficulty sleeping or restless and disturbed sleep. Changes in appetite refer to people eating more than usual but having trouble feeling full, while some people lose their appetite completely when depressed. It’s essential to check in with these changes in your body. Listen to the pains and signals from your body as it might be trying to communicate distress and a need for support. While we all experiences occasional aches or sleepless nights, consistent and pervasive patterns are definitely worth investigating.

Depression changes your mind.

Depression creates a lot of “stinking thinking” in our minds. People with depression have an increase in harmful and hopeless thinking. Negative thinking can lead to thoughts of suicide or self-harm for some people. If you are currently experiencing intense suicide or self-harm thinking, don’t wait to get help! Contact the suicide hotline for immediate assistance. Suicide ideation and self-harm behaviors are serious concerns and should not be taken lightly.

Even if you are not experiencing thoughts of suicide, depression has a way of making us think nothing good will ever happen. Depression creates a very critical inner self-talk and an increased sense of shame. Depression tells us we are unworthy of happiness, unlovable, and will always feel this bad. We can all be hard on ourselves sometimes, but a constant cynical inner voice feeds depression and feelings of worthlessness!

Depression changes your functioning.

In addition to increased negative thinking, depression can put some people in a mental fog. People experiencing depression report that their minds feel scattered, have trouble concentrating, and are less motivated to participate in life. All the symptoms of depression above take a toll on our daily functioning. It takes a lot of energy to perform when dealing with complex symptoms. Therefore, our energy gets zapped by managing these negative symptoms, leaving us totally exhausted and checked out of life! Many people experiencing depression pull away from relationships and activities they once enjoyed because they don’t have anything left to give. Some people find once enjoyable aspects of life as suddenly dull and draining. It is common to isolate when experiencing depression which can cut us off from helpful resources and in turn lead to increased depression.

Takeaways

We use the word depressed a lot, but it’s essential to understand the actual signs and symptoms of clinical depression. Clinical depression shows up differently for each of us and is characterized by hard to manage changes in our body and mind. These changes make daily functioning more difficult and impact the most important things to us. If you notice changes in your feelings, body, mind, and functioning, it’s worth asking, “Am I depressed?” Knowing these characteristic symptoms of depression is helpful for early detection and treatment. Check out the infographic below for a quick reference guide to come common symptoms. Depression is treatable, and there are ways to navigate these tricky symptoms healthily and productively. Connect with me for a free consultation and a personalized approach to your depression!