Depression versus clinical depression: They may wear the same jersey but they’re not on the same team.
We’ve all had days like these. Your kids misbehave. Your boss reads you the riot act. Then you burn dinner to a crisp. After which you shout out, “I’m so freaking depressed!” Then you grab a glass of wine and shed a few tears. You may even feel down for a day or two afterward, because yeah, you’re a little depressed. But that doesn’t mean you’re suffering from clinical depression. The definition of depression and its various forms covers a lot of ground.
We all have bad days or even weeks, but that doesn’t mean we’re struggling with clinical depression.
Let’s take a better look at the definition of depression
As a human being, you’ve lived through some not-so-great days or even weeks when your mood takes a nosedive. And at the end of these relatively short periods of time, you may wonder or even think that you’re depressed. Fair enough. But is that really the kind of depression that interferes with your quality of life? Or the kind that has had so much media attention since the pandemic?
The Webster-Merriam dictionary lists several definitions of depression, one being: “a state of feeling sad: low in spirits: melancholy.” By this definition, depression is basically a case of the blues. And I’m pretty sure most human beings have felt this way at times. But for the most part, these feelings don’t’ last very long, and a person can snap out of it – so to speak.
But in addition to that definition of depression, the dictionary adds: “specifically: a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies.”
Wow. Now to me, that sounds like a heck of a lot more than a case of the blues. You agree?
And here’s the thing: I think this definition creates some confusion because it describes two very different things. A case of the blues is really nothing like debilitating and life-disrupting clinical depression. Additionally, the dictionary’s definition has created a problem with the way people think about clinical depression. It has strengthened the stigma surrounding those suffering with the more severe forms of this mental health disease. Because those who’ve never experienced clinical depression think that it’s just like a case of the blues, and that those struggling with this condition are simply wallowing in self-pity.
People with clinical depression struggle with at least three symptoms associated with this mental health disease.
So then, let’s get clear about the differences between various types of depression, including clinical depression
There are basically three conditions that fall under the umbrella term “depression.” These include:
Depression. The everyday garden variety of depression involves feeling sad or having low spirits. Essentially, it’s a case of the blues that doesn’t last too long. Some people are more vocal than others about expressing their feelings when they’re down in the dumps. Regardless, everyone experiences the blues at one time or another.
Situational or Reactive Depression. This type of depression is like the garden variety mentioned above. But a clearly stressful situation or life event triggers situational ore reactive depression. These can include:
- Loss of a loved one
- Illness
- Divorce
- A move to a new home
- Loss of a job
Relatively speaking, situational depression doesn’t last very long. And this is the key factor in defining situational depression versus clinical depression.
Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one, may trigger situational depression.
Post-partum Depression. Women can begin to suffer from post-partum depression within a month of giving birth. Symptoms include social withdrawal, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and trouble bonding with the baby. It lasts for more than two weeks.
Clinical Depression. This is where I need to refer back to Merriam-Webster for a minute, because they really nailed this one on the head with their addendum to the definition of depression, which reads:
“specifically: a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies.”
Yep. There’s no better way to describe it. It’s a severe form of depression. The only thing that I can add here is that clinical depression lasts for at least two weeks, and usually until the person suffering with this illness gets help.
So, how do you know for sure that you’re clinically depressed?
Are you clinically depressed? Well, that’s a great question. And it’s not always easy to find the answer because, again, there’s a lot of misinformation out there along with misconceptions about this disease. Only a licensed healthcare provider can diagnose you with clinical depression. But I’d like to clear up some of the misunderstandings about clinical depression for those trying to determine whether they need to seek help.
For starters, let me just say again that people with clinical depression struggle with a lot more than the inherent frustrations of a bad day or even a stressful week. They probably don’t have the energy to cook dinner in the first place, let alone the will to cry out in distress if they burn it. They’re fatigued. They feel hopeless. And they struggle with at least three of the following signs and symptoms of depression.
These include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Low Energy
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Feelings of overwhelm
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Sadness
- Sleep issues
- Changes in appetite
- Thoughts of death
Do these sound familiar? If so, please get help.
Symptoms of clinical depression include sadness, despair, feelings of guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, and more.
Is there still stigma surrounding clinical depression?
Yep, I’m afraid there’s still a decent amount of stigma surrounding clinical depression. It’s starting to dissipate. But yeah, it still exists.
Mental Health Advocate Sonja Wasden says, “While the perception of major depressive disorder [aka clinical depression] is changing, many misconceptions linger. … People sometimes think someone who’s struggling with depression is trying to get attention. But no amount of attention is worth the painful feelings of major depressive disorder.”
On the brighter side..?
There’s less stigma surrounding clinical depression because more people are experiencing it. A recent Gallup poll found that U.S. depression rates have reached an all time high. And those numbers just keep on growing. So, more people understand clinical depression these days because they’ve either been there and done that or they’ve gone through it with a loved one.
Depression rates in the U.S. are reaching an all-time high.
But why has so much stigma surround clinical depression in the first place?
Well again, much of the stigma has stemmed from misunderstandings about this mental health disease.
Wasden goes on to explain that: An important part of destigmatizing depression is breaking down common misunderstandings. ..For example, people often think depression is something you can brush off or flip like a light switch. They may say things like “cheer up” or “just be happy.” But depression isn’t a choice. It’s a feeling and it’s real.”
Additionally, the stigma surrounding depression may have something to do with the fact that it’s considered a disability.
Wait.. is clinical depression a disability?
Yes, clinical depression is considered a disability.
Many of the “full disclosure” pages in a job application list depression and anxiety on a short list of disabilities. But I wonder how many people don’t fess up to having depression when applying for a job out of fear that such an admission would send their application flying straight into the trash. Because they know some people still believe that depression is “all in your head.” That belief places blame on the person who has clinical depression. And who would want to hire an employee like that? At the same time, I think that defining clinical depression as a disability also strengthens the stigma surrounding this mental health disease.
Defining clinical depression as a disability strengthens the stigma surrounding this mental health disease.
Does the stigma surrounding clinical depression affect a person’s willingness to seek treatment?
In a word, yes. The misperceptions and stigmas surrounding clinical depression can discourage a person from getting professional help and seeking out social support.
As Wasden says, “The problem with the ongoing stigma is that it may prevent you from speaking up and getting the help you need.”
And that’s not too surprising.
The buzz all around us says people with depression are weak, lazy, attention-seeking, full of self-pity, or simply sad. That same chatter shouts that depression is just a mood that may be here today and gone tomorrow. It’s something you can “snap out of.” Or it’s just a phase. An overindulgence for those who wallow in self-pity. A personal weakness. A character flaw.
Who really wants to identify with all that?
We need to end the stigma surrounding clinical depression so that more people suffering with this disease get the help they need.
So, what can we do to put an end to misconceptions about clinical depression?
I know there’s been an uptick in advocacy to reduce the stigma associated with depression and other mental health issues. And I’m grateful to all those who’ve been involved and am honored to join them. I know this effort takes patience and grace. At times, it feels like an uphill battle.
In a recent CNN and Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 90% of adults in the U.S. said they believe America is experiencing a mental health crisis. And the CDC and other reputable agencies have declared recently that there’s a mental health crisis in America, fueled by the pandemic, political divisiveness, and social unrest.
There’s a mental health crisis in American that includes an increasing number of clinical depression diagnoses.
In some ways these assertions are helpful. But in others, not so much. Because linking the mental health crisis to difficult times is like associating clinical depression with the feelings we have on bad days that we all experience from time to time. And so, it may only strengthen the fallacy that depression is simply a mood that can change as soon as the wind blows in a different direction.
But what we can do to end the misperceptions and stigma surrounding clinical depression is:
- Make it clear that clinical depression is much more than a bad mood. As you well know, depression is a complex, serious, chronic, and, yes, medically recognized mental health disease. And like other forms of chronic disease like diabetes and cancer, depression develops through a complex interplay of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Just like physical diseases, depression requires treatment. A person doesn’t overcome clinical depression by wishing their blues away. Depression treatments should be comprehensive and are most effective when they address the root causes of the disease.
We all need to recognize that clinical depression is:
- Not something a person can overcome through willpower.
- Not a character flaw or sign of weakness.
- A medical condition that shouldn’t be invalidated due to its invisible nature.
- Too often associated with normal, everyday sadness or passing moods.
- A condition that interferes with a person’s ability to concentrate and engage in daily or social activities and negatively affects a person’s quality of life.
We all need to recognize that clinical depression is much more than a bad mood.
2. Encourage those suffering with clinical depression to get the help they need. Yes, diagnoses of depression and other mental health disorders have grown to epidemic proportions. And statistics are only a measure of the number of reported mental health issues. Many others with clinical depression are suffering in silence. They’re afraid to talk about the way they feel because they believe others will think they’re simply self-pitying and overly self-involved. So, they try to work through it on their own or simply shake it off. But they can’t. They need treatment to overcome their clinical depression. And they need encouragement and support to get that treatment. When they feel validated and understood, people struggling with clinical depression will be more likely to seek the treatment they so desperately need.
Moving forward
Mental health advocates should focus on getting others to better understand clinical depression.
So, you have some ideas about what you can do to end the stigma surrounding clinical depression. But you’re not sure where to begin?
I’m with you. Changing people’s opinions sure isn’t easy.
Just try and do your best to get the word out and share what you know about this debilitating disease. For me, this blog is a start. And I’d love to hear what you think. Any thoughts you can share in the comments?
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