We’ve covered OCPD & Burnout and the stress from Big Life Changes and now we’re going to focus on Depression more specifically. In my brief research for this topic I was reminded of how there are cultural, colloquial uses of terms that sometimes differ from their clinical definition. It has been helpful for me over these past weeks to think about what I actually mean and am experiencing when I often casually say “I’m feeling stressed, burnt out, and depressed”. I’ve assembled a handful articles with overviews. Be sure to click the links if you’re looking for more robust information.
And finally, if you find yourself in the grips of depression, I’ve included a slew of Mental Health Crisis Resources graciously curated and provided by a fellow OCPDer.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
What Is Depression?
Symptoms of depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can appear differently in each person. These symptoms can include:
- Feeling sad, irritable, empty and/or hopeless.
- Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed.
- A significant change in appetite (eating much less or more than usual) and/or weight (notable loss or gain unrelated to dieting).
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech that are severe enough to be observable by others.
- Feeling worthless or excessively guilty.
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty making minor decisions.
- Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.
It is normal to experience moments of sadness or feeling “down in the dumps” or the blues as part of the human experience. However, a diagnosis of depression requires that the above symptoms occur for most of the day, nearly every day, for more than two weeks, along with a clear change in day-to-day functioning (e.g., in work/school performance, personal relationships, and hobbies). Fortunately, depression is very treatable.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
National Institute of Mental Health – What is depression?
Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.
To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks.
There are different types of depression, some of which develop due to specific circumstances.
- Major depression includes symptoms of depressed mood or loss of interest, most of the time for at least 2 weeks, that interfere with daily activities.
- Persistent depressive disorder (also called dysthymia or dysthymic disorder) consists of less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, usually for at least 2 years.
- Perinatal depression is depression that occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. Depression that begins during pregnancy is prenatal depression, and depression that begins after the baby is born is postpartum depression.
- Seasonal affective disorder is depression that comes and goes with the seasons, with symptoms typically starting in the late fall or early winter and going away during the spring and summer.
- Depression with symptoms of psychosis is a severe form of depression in which a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions (disturbing, false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things others do not hear or see).
“Atlas of the Heart” by Brene Brown
(Here’s a collection of excerpts from the book that relate to Depression)
“Sadness and depression are not the same thing. Sadness is sometimes referred to as “depressed mood.” However, sadness is a common but not essential feature of clinical depression. Technically, depression is a cluster of symptoms that persist over a period of time. These symptoms can include lack of interest in pleasant activities, loss of appetite, excessive fatigue and/or insomnia, and difficulty concentrating.”
“Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it often sets you on the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis. “Life paralysis” refers to all of the opportunities we miss because we’re too afraid to put anything out in the world that could be imperfect.”
“While shame is highly correlated with addiction, violence, aggression, depression, eating disorders, and bullying, guilt is negatively correlated with these outcomes. Empathy and guilt work together to create a force that is adaptive and powerful. This is why when we apologize for something we’ve done, make amends, or change a behavior that doesn’t align with our values, guilt—not shame—is most often the driving force.”
“Dr. Murthy confirms the connection between loneliness and our physical health, explaining that loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. And at work, he states that loneliness “reduces task performance, limits creativity, and impairs other aspects of executive function such as reasoning and decision making.””
Mental Health Crisis Resources
Man can live for forty days without food…three days without water… eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.
Suicide is a public health issue, not an individual failure.
| CRISIS HOTLINES & TEXT LINES IN THE U.S. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. is free, confidential and available all day, every day. Call or text 988, or talk online at 988lifeline.org. You can also call 1 800-273-8255 (the original hotline number). Crisis counselors reroute about 2% of calls to 911. They also assist people concerned about someone else’s safety. Use of this hotline can prevent violent encounters between police officers and people in mental health crisis who do not pose a threat to others. Call 988 and press 1 to reach a crisis worker with training about veteran issues, text 838255, or talk online at veteranscrisisline.net. To speak to a crisis worker in Spanish, call 988 and press 2, or text Ayuda to 988. Language Line Solutions provides translation for 988 calls in 240 other languages. To speak to a crisis counselor with LGBTQI+ training, dial 988 and press 3, text PRIDE to 988, or chat online (check box for LGBTQI+ support). 988 offers ASL video calls for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For teletypewriter (TTY) users (people with hearing and speech difficulties), use your preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 988. Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741 or talk online at crisistextline.org Are you wondering if you’re in an abusive relationship? Take a survey at partnersforpeaceme.org/about-abuse/is-this-abuse/ Visit pavedc.org/get-informed/ Visit loveisrespect.org/dating-basics-for-healthy-relationships/warning-signs-of-abuse/ Watch “The Gift of Fear” masterclass series, youtube.com/@thegiftoffearmasterclass3679 National Domestic Violence Hotline call 1-800-799-7233 text START to 88788 talk online at thehotline.org Love Is Respect call 866-331-9474 text Lovels to 22522 talk online at loveisrespect.org Trans Lifeline call 877-565-8860 only transfers to 911 if caller requests translifeline.org Are you questioning your gender identity? You can visit mhanational.org/lgbtq/trans/exploring-affirming-gender LGBTQ Crisis Hotline call 1-866-488-7386 join an online support community, thetrevorproject.org Veterans Crisis Line call 1-800-273-8255 visit veteranscrisisline.net National Human Trafficking Hotline call 888 373 7888 National Sexual Assault Hotline call 800-656-4673 talk online @ hotline.rainn.org/online for Spanish speakers, call 1-800-656-4673 or talk online @ rainn.org/es weekly online chats for male survivors, supportgroup.1in6.org Are you questioning if you have an eating disorder? go to nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/ to take a screening tool National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) Helpline call 1-888-375-7767 (M-F, 9am-9pm CST): if you think you or someone you know has an ED; for treatment referrals; for support, encouragement, or answers to general questions.review anad.org to find an online support group and other resources National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline call 1 866 662 1235 (M-F, 9am-7pm ET) to speak with a licensed therapist visit allianceforeatingdisorders.com Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Hotline call 1-800-662-4357 for referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations review samhsa.gov. WARMLINES Mental health warm lines in the United States (limited hours) are for non-emergency mental health crises. They are staffed by “peer specialists,” people who have overcome mental health and substance use disorders, and want to provide empathy and encouragement to people struggling with their mental health. Go to warmline.org to access the directory. Some warmlines take calls from other states. |
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