A Few Key Signs of Clinical Depression

Have you ever found yourself at odds with yourself? You may have told yourself to avoid engaging in certain behaviors, but despite yourself, you engage in the very behaviors you wanted to avoid. It can leave you feeling like you’ve betrayed yourself and can’t trust yourself. Being at odds with yourself in this way can be deeply unsettling, and it’s unfortunately one of the things that depression can do to a person.

If a person has clinical depression, it can lead them to have thoughts that, while being untrue and unhelpful to one’s well-being, will nonetheless suggest themselves powerfully and ring as true. You can’t trust what your mind is telling you, especially when it causes you to endlessly rehearse negative thoughts. It helps to know the signs of clinical depression and to seek treatment for it.

A Brief Breakdown of Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is a mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. A person’s ability to function in daily life is seriously hampered by depression because it can affect their cognitive ability and make them fatigued or lethargic. Clinical depression is also known as major depressive disorder, and it is a serious mental health condition marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest.

Depression is a common condition that affects around 5% of the global population, and it can occur at any age. It affects people from all walks of life. Women are more likely to experience depression, though that figure could be inaccurate because men are also typically less willing to report that they’re experiencing depression and seek help for it.

There are several different types of depression, including major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder. A challenge that someone with depression often faces is that there are common misconceptions about depression. As a result, they might not seek the help they need, and loved ones may inadvertently cause harm by providing misguided support.

Sometimes, depression is seen as just feeling sad or blue. Depression may include sadness, but in some people, sadness isn’t a prominent symptom. This means that depression might go under the radar because it doesn’t conform to the stereotype of it. Some other common misconceptions include the idea that it’s something a person can easily get over or snap out of and a sign of weakness or personal failure.

Clinical depression isn’t caused by external circumstances only, and it will have both physical and emotional symptoms. It’s hard to easily boil down the causes of depression as the causes are often complex and stem from a variety of interacting factors such as one’s environment, circumstances, family history, the strength of one’s support network, and one’s neurochemistry.

When treatment is sought for depression, it’s a mistake to think antidepressants are a quick fix. It takes time to find the right medication and dosage in combination with other factors like appropriate therapy and a consistent self-care regimen to promote overall well-being. Recovery is possible, but it’ll take time.

Key Signs of Clinical Depression

People can be so different, not only in how they experience something but also in how it affects them and how they display the fact that it’s affecting them. That’s how it is in most of life, and so it makes sense that when a person is feeling depressed it won’t look the same as it does for another individual. Loved ones must keep an eye out for changes in behavior that line up with the key signs of depression, and urge them to find the help they need.

While depression will often manifest in different ways, here are some key signs to look out for:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness.
• Feelings of guilt, shame, or worthlessness.
• Irritability, anger outbursts, restlessness, or mood swings.
• Increased sensitivity to criticism.
• Loss of motivation and interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed.
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns which may lead to changes in weight.
• Experiencing fatigue, low energy, or lethargy.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions.
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, migraines, stomach issues, or chronic pain that doesn’t go away with the typical treatments.
• Digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.
• Social withdrawal or isolation from loved ones by working more than usual, for example.
• Recurring thoughts of death, or suicidal ideation.
• Self-harm or self-destructive behaviors.
• Experiencing emotional numbness or a sense of detachment.
• Feelings of being overwhelmed or trapped.
• Difficulty completing tasks or meeting responsibilities.
• Severe mood swings or emotional instability.
• Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.
• Rapid deterioration of mental or physical health.

While people from all age groups and walks of life are susceptible to depression, some groups are at higher risk of depression. These include women, adolescents, young adults, individuals with a personal or family history of depression, individuals who are experiencing trauma, abuse, or neglect, those with a chronic illness or disability, and older adults or those experiencing significant life changes like divorce or retirement.

Common Causes and Triggers of Clinical Depression

There often isn’t a single, simple cause for depression. Rather, clinical depression can be triggered by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors that impact an individual. Some common triggers and causes include medical conditions like chronic illness, neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, thyroid disorders and other hormonal changes, substance abuse or addiction, and sleep disorders like insomnia, for example.

Apart from medical conditions, life events such as trauma, grief, major changes like retirement or moving, experiencing chronic stress at work or in one’s finances, being socially isolated, experiencing bullying or harassment, and relationship issues like persistent conflict or infidelity may also contribute to depression.

A person’s genetics also play a role. A family history of depression and other mental health conditions like anxiety, may be a factor. Other biological factors that can trigger depression include brain chemistry imbalances in neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin, and hormonal imbalances.

A person’s environment can also impact their well-being and the possibility of clinical depression. Clinical depression could be triggered cultural or social pressures placed upon a person, the lack of meaningful social support, exposure to abuse or violence, and issues such as poverty or unemployment. Medications may have depressive side effects, and vitamin D or omega-3 nutritional deficiencies can also affect an individual.

Lastly, there may also be psychological factors that could play a role in triggering depression. These include being prone to cognitive distortions or negative thought patterns, having low self-worth, lacking resilience or coping skills, and being a perfectionist or having unattainably high expectations of yourself and others.

Treatment for Clinical Depression

If you have a loved one who displays the symptoms of clinical depression, what can you do? You can help your loved one by encouraging open conversation with them in which you should listen without judgment. Offer whatever emotional support you can, monitoring them for worsening symptoms and urging them to seek professional help in the form of therapy.

If you struggle with clinical depression, know that it is treatable. The treatment for clinical depression will typically involve a combination of lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and medications.

Some of the lifestyle changes that help reduce the symptoms of depression include getting regular exercise to improve your mood and relieve stress; a healthy diet that focuses on whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids; better sleep hygiene by establishing a consistent sleep schedule and habits that promote good sleep; and building and maintaining healthy relationships for social support.

The second aspect of treatment for clinical depression is psychotherapy. There are several options, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, which identifies and changes negative thought patterns, interpersonal therapy which focuses on relationships and communication, psychodynamic therapy which explores underlying emotional conflicts in relationships, and dialectical behavior therapy which develops coping skills and emotional regulation.

In some instances, family therapy may also be helpful. Involving family members in treatment will help them understand clinical depression better, including what can worsen symptoms and how to be an effective support for their loved one. In addition to family therapy, other treatments like electroconvulsive therapy for severe or treatment-resistant depression may help address depression.

Another aspect of treatment for clinical depression is medication. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs); Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs); and atypical antidepressants. You and your doctor will work together to determine the right medication and dosage for the greatest efficacy and the least side effects.

Clinical depression is serious, but it is treatable. If you or a loved one are struggling with it, seek help immediately from a doctor or mental health professional. Call our office today at Texas Christian Counseling to begin the journey to overcoming depression.