Description

We use the term ‘depression’ in normal conversation to describe distress or unhappiness following an unpleasant event that has happened to us. This depression is a perfectly normal response of course and is usually short-lived without the need for any specific treatment.

In contrast, depressive illness is a much more severe and prolonged condition, with persistent sadness, negativity and difficulty coping. If you have not suffered depressive illness you can understand more clearly the suffering involved by recalling the most distressed state you have experienced in your own life, and imagine that feeling continuing for weeks or months. Depressive Illness is the emotional equivalent of a broken leg. The condition is painful and disabling, but with a very high cure rate. Indeed, many people state they would prefer a broken leg or some other obvious physical problem, which would allow them and the people around them to understand why they are so suddenly disabled.

The question is often asked, "What is the difference between depressive illness and unhappiness?". Both conditions are brought about by stress or things going wrong in our lives. However, with unhappiness, you can put the sad feelings aside for periods of time, and your ability to concentrate and memory will usually not be affected by unhappiness.

Depressive Illness is not simply feeling down for a short period of time after something unpleasant has happened, but is a chemical change taking over your mind. This chemical change blocks out any positives or any possible solutions to your problems, and instead makes you see only negatives in everything around you and in yourself, it convinces you there is no hope of things getting better and every minor problem seems in its own way a major disaster.

For the vast majority of people, depressive illness results from a build-up of stress, which eventually causes a breakdown in internal chemistry. Factors which increase the risk of developing depressive illness when faced with stress include:

• Not communicating frequently with a partner or friends.
• Multiple demands on your time, leaving too little time to relax.
• Certain personality characteristics such as being anxious or worrying easily, lack of self confidence, difficulty in being assertive or expressing your opinion, or excessive perfectionism.
• Having fragile biochemistry, either due to genetic factors, or as a result, of viral infections, medical illness or recent childbirth.
• Drinking excessive alcohol, or smoking a lot of marijuana.

Depressive illness is similar to cancer in many ways. No-one is immune from either, regardless of age, sex, intelligence, social status, etc. In severe cases, the condition is life-threatening. Early, intensive and occasionally prolonged treatment gives the best chance of total recovery, and reducing the risk of relapse. A combination of your own efforts, and appropriate medication, produces much better results than either approach on its own.

THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF FURTHER
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON www.depressiondoctor.com.

Important disclaimer: This site is medical information only and is not to be
taken as advice in treatment which can only be decided by your own doctor.