 CLINICAL DEPRESSION
Depression is a disorder that involves feelings of sadness lasting for two weeks or longer, often accompanied by a loss of interest in life, hopelessness, and decreased energy. Such distressing feelings can affect one's ability to perform the usual tasks and activities of daily living
This is considered to be clinical depression. It is very different from a temporary case of "the blues " triggered by an unhappy event or stressful situation.
Depression affects the mind, but this doesn't mean "it's all in your head." Depression is a medical illness linked to changes in the biochemistry of the brain.
Depression is not a weakness of character. Being depressed does not mean that a person is inadequate.
It means the person has a medical illness that is just as real as diabetes or ulcers.
Like other medical disorders, clinical depression should not be ignored or dismissed.
A clinically depressed person cannot simply "snap out of it" any more than a person with an ulcer could simply will it away.
But depression is highly treatable in the vast majority of cases.
Up to 90% of depressed people respond positively to one treatment or another.
Sometimes psychotherapy or counseling is all that is needed, but there is also a wide array of
effective antidepressant medications and other alternatives.
Sometimes, the first treatment will work well. At other times, a second or even a third treatment trial is required to find the best (most effective, most easily tolerated) treatment for the individual patient.
If you have any questions or comments, we will be happy to hear from you. you can email us
@ Medical Q & A
Copyright © Medical Movement
All Rights Reserved
|