A Look at Clinical Depression
Depression comes in many different forms, which vary significantly from person to person. Unlike situational depression which often resolves with time, clinical depression is a more severe form of depression that is long-lasting. Also known as major depressive disorder, clinical depression is not the same as depression that occurs after a traumatic event.
Clinical depression can leave people feeling unhappy or hopeless for long periods. Symptoms from person to person can range from mild to severe and differ greatly. Overall, clinical depression in any form can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and produce secondary effects on the people in their social circle.
Impact of Clinical Depression on Social Circle
Unlike many illnesses, clinical depression has profound impacts on a person’s entire social circle. Individuals suffering from clinical depression may lack motivation, leaving them unable to perform daily tasks. In turn, this can place pressure on family and friends to provide care for their loved ones.
It is quite common for friends and family members of individuals with clinical depression to feel guilty about the diagnosis. Often, they worry they’re responsible for the diagnosis or feel helpless. The role of caregiving can become tiring and leave caregivers unable to attend to their own needs too. In addition, caregivers often experience compassion fatigue.
Not only does clinical depression impact caregiving duties, but it can also place a strain on relationships with family and friends. Clinical depression can leave other family members with extra burdens and add stress to households. Furthermore, many individuals with clinical depression struggle to maintain employment, placing strain on their coworkers to pick up the slack.
With this in mind, treatments for clinical depression must also include supportive measures for an individual’s social circle.
The Stigma of Mental Illness
Within the last decade, mental illness awareness efforts have taken a big leap forward. Through awareness movements and social media efforts, our society has become more accepting of mental illnesses. While it may be to a lesser extent, the stigma around mental illness remains. The diagnosis of “clinical depression” still leaves some lingering stigma for many people.
Stigma can have long-lasting impacts on those struggling with symptoms of clinical depression. For example, many delay or deny seeking treatment due to public stigma. They may feel their friends and family don’t understand or fear judgment or rejection from loved ones. Others may worry about placing a strain on their relationships or wonder how others will perceive them. In turn, studies suggest almost half of people may not seek treatment as a result of stigma.
Diagnosis of Clinical Depression in Our Society
The varying symptoms can make diagnosing clinical depression difficult. Given the wide variety of symptoms and range of severity, clinical depression remains challenging to diagnose in our current society. Not to mention, the stigma surrounding mental illness makes many people suffer in silence, making diagnoses even more difficult.
One person presenting with clinical depression may feel angry or agitated, while others may withdraw from daily activities entirely. Sleep and eating patterns can also vary widely. Some people may be able to mask their symptoms, while others present symptoms openly. Given the many ways clinical depression can present, it’s not difficult to see why diagnosis can be challenging.
Many of the physical signs of depression can also overlap with other conditions. For example, clinical depression can manifest in the body leading to headaches, back pain, digestion issues, problems sleeping, etc. Although the diagnosis of clinical depression can come with some hurdles, many long-term treatments show promising results. Many people with depression respond positively to treatment after a formal diagnosis is made.
What We Can Do
Many people experiencing symptoms of clinical depression may need a push to seek help. If you’ve noticed a loved one seeming withdrawn or exhibiting signs of depression, encourage them to seek help. Encourage loved ones to join support groups and provide assurance. Loved ones, caregivers, and other people within a person’s social circle can play a vital role in helping to fight against stigma.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of clinical depression, know you’re not alone. Depression may be a result of genetic, biological, environmental, or psychological factors, or even a combination of all of these. If you’re concerned about yourself, start by making an appointment to seek evaluation.
Worried about the stigma? There are also many ways you can work to cope with stigma. It’s normal to want to isolate yourself and avoid discussing how you feel. Remember that you are not your illness. You may have symptoms of clinical depression, however, you are not clinical depression. Individual or group therapy may help you to connect with others who understand how you feel.
