Can Situational Depression Become Clinical Depression
Situational and clinical depression are similar, but not the same.
- Situational depression stems from a traumatic or stressful event and the person is struggling to come to terms with changes relating to it. This type of depression usually manifest within three months of the event or change.
- Clinical depression is more severe than situational depression, but its important to point out that no type of depression is more real or easier to handle than another. Every type of depression is a mental disorder that involves complicated emotions and struggles. With clinical depression, the main symptom is a depressed or low mood on most days for a long period of time. A depressed mood often interferes with a persons ability to work, sleep, eat and enjoy themselves by any means.
Typically, people with situational depression will notice mood improvements a few days or weeks after the stressful event has ended or enough time has passed. However, its possible that if the event triggering the situational depression continues, or if the person never fully addresses it, it could turn into clinical depression later down the road.
Why Does Depression Cause Disability
Many people think the symptoms of depression are based largely with mood: lack of pleasure negative outlook and low self-esteem
This can be the case for someone with mild depression, which often responds quite well to talk therapy.
Severe depression is a different situation.
If you have severe depression, it can cripple your energy levels, your ability to focus, your appetite to fuel your body, and your sleep patterns.
There are profound biological changes that happen within you, including changes in hormone levels, sleep cycles, and brain structure.
When this happens, it can be impossible to get out of bed, much less have a productive eight-hour workday.
So if youre suffering from depression, your whole body is going through it as well.
Grief And Motivation: Feeling Low
Another reason why you may lack drive is because of grief. When people die, and they are close to you, it can lead to various issues. Grief can lead to anxiety and depression and a loss of drive.
Also, grief is not as black and white as the model of grief makes it out to be. You can experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Your sleep patterns may be disturbed one day, and the next, you have a bout of social anxiety. Sometimes, you may even have a good day and then go back to feeling bad the next day. You may wonder what’s a good idea when it comes to treating grief. There isn’t any way to “get over” a loss, and people cope in different ways. However, if your grief is becoming a health condition, is lasting a long time, and is affecting how you’re making money and living life, that’s a problem.
Seeking grief therapy can make a huge difference a therapist can help when you imagine feeling down about yourself. Also, peer support and people who can empathize with what you’ve lost are good moves as well. Grief can change in minutes, a day, and if not days, then a week. Getting help can stop this cycle of feeling sad minutes a day. You will always have feelings for who you’ve lost and feel upset for a long time, but a therapist can help you return to a normal life.
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Can Depression Be A Symptom Of Other Mental Health Problems
Depression can be a part of several mental health problems, such as:
If feelings of low mood or suicidal thoughts are the reason you first speak to your doctor about your mental health, your GP might offer you treatment for depression without realising that you are also experiencing other symptoms.
If you think you’re experiencing other symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about this to make sure you’re getting the right treatment to help you. See our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for information on how to make sure your voice is heard, and what you can do if you’re not happy with your doctor.
What To Do When You Don’t Want To Do Anything
Everyone experiences a lack of motivation from time to time. On days like this, you might feel tired, irritable, or just unable to stir your usual interest in the things you typically enjoy.
Occasional periods of feeling this way are perfectly normal. It might mean that you’re under extra stress or trying to deal with something out of the ordinary in your life. These feelings are temporary and usually nothing serious. They can sometimes be a sign that you need to step back, take a break, and let your mind and body rest.
At other times, these lingering feelings where you dont feel like doing anything can be symptoms of more serious problems such as depression or some other type of mood disorder. If you are experiencing a loss of interest in things you usually find pleasurable or a sense of apathy about life in general that lasts for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor.
If these feelings seem like a more temporary state of mind, there are some things you can do to feel better and regain your motivation.
Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Depression And Lack Of Motivation
How Do I Know Its Depression
Most people will feel down or sad in the workplace at some stage these feelings are entirely normal. Whats important is that youre aware of the symptoms of depression, so you can recognise when your feelings are moving into more damaging territory and act if you need to.
Its also important to recognise when your feelings might be workplace stress, rather than depression. Typically, you should be able to identify the cause of your workplace stress it might be an upcoming presentation, a tight deadline or particularly long workday. When that trigger passes, your feelings of stress should pass too.
Depression, on the other hand, is characterised more by an increased feeling of sadness and guilt, often seemingly without any explanation. You might also lack motivation and focus in your role.
Call Your Primary Care Doctor
For people who are chronically laid low in bed by depression, it is important that you pick up the phone and call your primary care doctor.
Tell her that you are depressed and ask for her help in dealing with it. You might have chemical depression which can be helped with medication and therapy.
If your depression is taking over your life and keeping you in bed, call your doctor right away. You will be glad you did.
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Watch For Other Mental Health Symptoms
Not wanting to do anything doesnt necessarily mean you have depression, but it can sometimes be a sign.
Depression often doesnt improve without support from a mental health professional, so its best to talk to a therapist if the above tips dont seem to help.
Its also best to reach out if you experience:
- persistent low mood
- loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
- general disinterest in most things
- low energy or fatigue
Things To Do When Depressed Include:
- Engage in an enjoyable activity like going to a baseball game or attending a social gathering, even if you don’t initially feel like it.
- Avoid spending long periods of time alone.
- Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
- Take care of yourself. Pamper yourself.
- Break tasks up into small chunks spread out over time to make them more achievable.
- Spend time with friends or family. Talk to a trusted person about what you’re going through.
- Postpone important decisions until you’re feeling better. If you have to make an important decision, discuss it with others because feeling depressed can cloud your judgment.
- Get professional help when needed.
Remember, no matter what you do when you’re depressed, feeling better takes time. You may have to get weeks of depression treatment before starting to feel better, but trust the depression will lift over time.
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What To Do When You Are Feeling Too Depressed To Get Out Of Bed
Are you lying in bed again, feeling too depressed to get out of bed?
Are you feeling badly about yourself, thinking that you are a loser and that the world would be better off without you?
Thats just not true! Its time to get out of your bed and get on with your life. It will be worth it. I promise!
But what can you do to give you the energy to get out of bed? Let me help!
Who Is At High Risk For Depression
Those most at risk for developing depression include women, the elderly, those with a personal or family history of depression, chronic stressors, those with other concurrent mental and physical health conditions, low socioeconomic status, and those taking medications that may cause depression, like birth control or some anxiety medications.
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How Long Is Too Long To Feel Sad
Sadness is a normal human emotion. We all feel sad from time to time, especially when unfortunate events happen or things change.
So if youre still sad, but able to get up, get dressed and go to work every day how do you know when it crosses the line and you should seek help?
Ehrman says that if youre noticing that your situational depression seems to be lasting for several weeks with no real breakthroughs, it might be time to talk to someone who can help you cope better.
Talking about your problems or feelings with someone who isnt personally involved can ease your recovery and help you identify triggers. A professional therapist understands that it might be hard for you to talk about what youre going through, but they wont judge you or rush you.
Often times a therapist can help you determine if what youre experiencing is just a funk, or if its something much more serious. And just because the world is going through a global pandemic doesnt mean you should suffer in silence. People go to therapy for reasons big and small.
Depression is a lot like looking at life through a keyhole, explains Ehrman. If all you can see is your problem or your struggle you lose sight of perspective and everything else thats going on around you. People with really strong depression have lost the capacity to imagine a future. If you start to feel that way and like your sadness has started to affect everything, its a red flag to get help.
How Can Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Help With Depression
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is one of the most effective psychological treatments for depression. CBT uses cognitive and behavioural strategies to help target the thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with depression. All of our online programs use CBT strategies.
Click below to see if our online CBT program can help you tackle your depression to improve the way you feel.
Cognitive strategies to help with depression
Cognitive Strategies
People who are depressed generally have a negative thinking style. They often think of themselves as worthless and that the world is bad or unfair, and they have little hope that their lives will improve in the future.
When something bad happens, people with depression often blame themselves, but when good things happen, they tell themselves they are just lucky. They are also less likely to recognise and appreciate positive events when they happen, and instead are more tuned into the bad things in their lives and brood over those events.
The cognitive strategies in CBT can help people identify and correct this biased way of thinking. These strategies identify and challenge sometimes hidden assumptions and beliefs, and can reframe the way they think about life.
When people with depression are able to reframe their thoughts, they are able to recover from failures more effectively and recognise and take credit for the good things in their lives. Having these skills has been shown to reduce relapse and a recurrence of depression.
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Shine A Little Light On It: Light Therapy
Everyones different. But the thing that really turned me around from someone curled into a ball of depression and hopelessness to sitting up in bed was light therapy.
Bright light therapy is often recommended for people with major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern or sleep disorders.
More research is still needed, but evidence suggests it may have the potential to help people with depression and have antidepressant-like qualities. My psychologist, and a few other experts Ive met, also recommend these lights for people with other types of nonseasonal depression.
Sitting in front of the light for a few moments is necessary to get your dose, meaning theres no need to jump out of bed immediately. As my eyes fight to even open, I usually lean over, turn on the little box of sunshine in my room and its sort of impossible to close them again.
I can check my phone or grab a cup of warm tea and come back to face the light for 20 minutes while still in bed. By the time thats over, Ive found Im ready to get up and start moving. My boyfriend also sits with me and says he feels more awake when he does.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the typical recommendation for seasonal depression is to use a 10,000-lux light box 16 to 24 inches from your face. Use it daily for about 20 to 30 minutes, preferably early in the morning after first waking up. Find a light box online.
Planning And Practical Action
The most important first step for managing depression and anxiety is to focus on what you can practically do to support yourself. Basic planning and time management can help us feel more in control of things. There is a wealth of detailed advice provided by universities, colleges, and student organisations, for planning your student life effectively. Try these tips as a starting point:
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What Can You Do For Depression At Work
First, dont beat yourself up.
This is not a character flaw or weakness. It is a medical issue that requires treatment.
If this isnt your first go-round with depression and anxiety, you may have some tools at your disposal for positive mental health and well-being.
Maybe youre on antidepressants keep taking them, or speak with your doctor about adjusting your dosage.
Ask your therapist to coach you through your bad periods while working they may be able to meet with you during your lunch break or over email.
Without Depression Do Decisions Feel Right
Im depressed and Ive been some shade of depression for seemingly ever so I wonder: do decisions feel right when youre not depressed? I think they must. I think people must make decisions because they feel right. And I think people must make these decisions without thinking about them. To me, whether to take a shower or not or open my mail or not weighs heavily on my mind while other people do it without thinking about it. I think other people dont take decisions so seriously. Everything feels right to them so its okay.
Read Also: How Do I Stop Depression And Anxiety
Other Sites That Can Help
www.atareira.org.nz – Support, education and information for family and whnau.Carers New Zealand – Information and support for people in caregiver roles.Mental Health Foundation – Information about mental health covering a range of topics.Small Steps – A range of simple tools you can use to manage your stress, anxiety and low mood.
What Risks And Complications Can Depression Cause
Having depression can cause other problems. It can affect your mental health as well as your physical health, and it may affect other areas of your life too. For example, depression may cause:
- disturbed sleep,
- difficulties with work and your hobbies,
- difficulties keeping contact with friends and families, or
- suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming.
Some people might also drink more alcohol to try and relieve depression. However, as we said in the previous section above, this can actually make depression worse.
If you have any of these problems, speak to your GP.
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Find What Works For You
If these ideas arent working for you, start looking for something that is right for your situation and what you are feeling. Some strategies that might help inspire you on those days where you don’t feel like doing anything include:
- Listing steps needed to achieve a goal
If youve tried these and other things and still feel lethargic and listless, it might be time to take a look at your symptoms and decide if the problem might be something more serious.
What To Do When You Feel Depressed
When feeling depressed, most people want to sit around the house and do nothing, but this can actually worsen depression. Knowing how to feel better when depressed involves learning about depression, knowing yourself and understanding what works for you.
The important thing to remember when trying to feel better is to make reasonable goals. Anything has the possibility of making you feel more depressed if you set an unrealistic goal. For example, exercising is positive, but setting the goal for yourself to run five miles a day might make you feel more depressed if that’s not something you’re able to accomplish. Small goals and small steps forward work best. You can always set bigger goals as you start to feel less depressed.
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Do Things You Used To Enjoy
If youre depressed I know you dont feel like doing anything right now.
However, one of the best things I did to start to recover was to make myself spend time doing the things I used to enjoy.
I spent time with friends, went on long bike rides and took my dog on walks even though I didnt want to.
What I felt like doing was staying in bed for weeks on end and giving up.
Fighting against my depression just felt so hard and I felt almost completely hopeless.
However, I knew the only way to ever get better was to get up and do things and staying in bed would only make it worse.
I made the decision to make myself do some activities every single week and I slowly started to add more and more to my calendar.
I really tried to add activities that I thought I would enjoy if I wasnt depressed. I started channeling my alter ego and I would ask myself if I wasnt depressed what would I do?.
Acting how I would act if I had already recovered from depression helped me think of other things to do besides just giving up and staying in bed.
If you want some ideas of things you could do check out my list of free self-care activities.