The Effects of Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is a mental health illness that affects all aspects of an individual's life. When clinically depressed, an individual struggles with low moods that occur most every day for periods of at least two weeks at a time. She loses interest in the life activities and relationships that she usually found pleasurable. Clinical depression usually onsets between the ages of 30 to 40 and peaks between the ages of 60 to 70.

Definition

• Clinical depression is a disabling condition that adversely affects all aspects of an individual's life: their employment or education, hobbies, familial and other relationships, and overall health.
  Unlike feelings of sadness or feeling "down," those who are clinically depressed cannot just "snap out of it," and need treatment to cope with the effects of clinical depression to reclaim their lives.

Diagnosis

• In order to be treated for clinical depression, an individual must seek a diagnosis from a health care provider who is qualified to administer a mental state exam. General practitioners, clinical social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists are all qualified to perform such an examination.
  During the evaluation, the health care professional will interview the individual and any family or friends who may be able to speak to the individual's behavior or state of mind.
  Initially, the health care professional will determine if the individual has experienced an unusual low mood almost every day for at least two weeks and if they have lost interest in usual daily activities, particularly those activities once considered pleasurable.
  If this is the case, the health care professional will elicit further information to determine if the individual's symptoms are those of clinical depression. A physical exam will also be conducted to determine if another medical problem is causing the individual to experience symptoms of clinical depression.

Symptoms

• In addition to experiencing a debilitating low mood most every day for at least two weeks and a loss of interest in usual life activities, interests, hobbies and relationships, those who are clinically depressed exhibit three or more of the following symptoms:
  - Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, and unnecessary or extreme guilt
  - Poor concentration and poor memory
  - Lack of sex drive
  - Withdrawal from usual life activities
  - Insomnia or hypersomnia
  - An increase or decrease in appetite
  - Weight loss or weight gain
  - Thoughts of death or preoccupation with suicide, or even attempted suicide

The Effects of Clinical Depression

• These behaviors significantly negatively impact all aspects of an individual's life. The person's desire and ability to function normally is greatly impaired. Because of self-reproach, exhaustion and feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness and guilt, as well as an impaired memory and ability to concentrate, and sleep disorders, an individual's performance at work or school will be impaired. The results of this effect will vary. Such results may be as minimal as co-workers and classmates being irritated with the individual, to the individual performing so poorly that she loses her job or is unable or prevented from continuing her education. As a result of poor performance, feelings of inadequacy may increase, as may guilty feelings. These feelings will circle back around and continue to affect the person's performance, and the person's overall life.
  Personal relationships are also greatly affected. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and guilt feed into the clinically depressed individual's already present tendency to withdraw from her relationships and other social activities. It may be difficult for family and friends to deal with this change, especially if they are not able to understand what the clinically depressed individual is experiencing. Significant others and children are particularly affected with how the clinically depressed individual is behaving. As a result of this increasingly complex social dynamic, family and friends may also withdraw from the relationship.
  Due to negative emotions, mental health effects and how the clinically depressed individual is physically affected by their behaviors, a clinically depressed individual's general health may be affected. A lack of necessary sleep, a lack of or excess of food, and a lack of physical exertion can all impact an individual's health. For one example, the individual may gain a significant amount of weight due to overeating, hypersomnia and a lack of energy. Cardiovascular problems may result.
  Finally, it is not uncommon for a clinically depressed individual to be preoccupied with thoughts of death. As a result, they may attempt or commit suicide.

Treatment

• Once diagnosed by a qualified health care professional, adults who are clinically depressed can successfully be treated with therapy and anti-depressants. In severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy may be prescribed. It has been discovered that those under the age of 24 may not always respond well to anti-depressants; it is now more common for these individuals to be treated with counseling. They are also encouraged to exercise regularly.