Almost everybody, at some point in their lifetime, will experience periods of sadness. They may feel depressed for days or even weeks due to a romantic breakup, financial issues, illness or job loss, for example. While painful, those blue feelings are pretty normal.
Clinical depression, however, is different. Severe, pervasive depressive disorders are serious mental health disorders that can ultimately affect nearly every aspect of someone’s life. Sufferers can find themselves largely unable to care for themselves, handle routine daily activities and maintain regular employment.
Normal sadness is difficult but possible to manage
Feeling unhappy, sad or “down” is a reasonable response to difficult circumstances. Although the negative emotions someone feels with reactive depression may be intense, those suffering can generally still function, even if they do so with difficulty. They can usually still:
- Go to work or school
- Care for themselves and their families
- Maintain relationships
- Enjoy activities from time to time
Sadness related to a specific event often lessens over time, particularly with support from family and friends. As circumstances change or time begins to lessen their feelings of grief, those suffering ordinary depression will see a gradual improvement in their symptoms.
Clinical depression affects one’s daily functioning
Major depressive disorder involves symptoms that are more severe, last longer and significantly interfere with daily life. Symptoms can include:
- Persistent sadness or feelings of emptiness
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Significant changes in sleep or appetite
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Thoughts of death or suicide
To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, symptoms generally must persist for at least two weeks and represent a change from one’s previous level of functioning. If the symptoms continue for two years or longer, the condition is called persistent depressive disorder. In some cases, true depressive disorders may be associated with episodes of psychosis or be part of a bipolar disorder cycle. Other types of severe depression can include premenstrual dysphoric disorder, perinatal depression and perimenopausal depression.
The reality is that “the blues,” no matter how intensely felt, are significantly different from true depression in terms of how it may affect a sufferer’s life. If you are unable to maintain regular employment because of a depressive disorder, you may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).