clinical depression
Clinical depression is serious, and could ultimately be life threatening. Clinical depression is defined as a mood disorder that manifests intense sadness, beyond what is normally expected. Symptoms can be both physical and emotional. The person is unable to function on a daily basis. They usually have insomnia or sleep all the time, anorexia, possible weight loss or they may overeat and gain weight, irritability, fears and anxieties, apathy, low self-esteem and trouble concentrating and carring out activities of daily living, such as working, cooking etc. They usually don't want to be around any family or friends.
Depression doesn't play favorites. It can effect all ages. In younger people, such as teenagers, depression can cause them to be irritable, rebellious, and even sexually perverse. No two people experience depression exactly the same. Symptoms, reactions, and actions may vary widely, and often it is hard for the person or family to identify that there is a problem.
When someone you know is depressed, it is important to provide the right type of support. Listen to the depressed person - you don't need to have any solutions for them, just listen. Be supportive, and sympathetic. Find out whether or not there are support groups in your community. Don't criticize the depressed person. Don't take the person's behavior personally, and don't feel responsible for their depression. Don't patronize or "baby" the depressed person. Don't lose your temper - depressed people can be irritable, inhibited and antisocial, so try be patient with them and try to understand and remember that the cause for their behavior is the disorder.
Depression doesn't play favorites. It can effect all ages. In younger people, such as teenagers, depression can cause them to be irritable, rebellious, and even sexually perverse. No two people experience depression exactly the same. Symptoms, reactions, and actions may vary widely, and often it is hard for the person or family to identify that there is a problem.
When someone you know is depressed, it is important to provide the right type of support. Listen to the depressed person - you don't need to have any solutions for them, just listen. Be supportive, and sympathetic. Find out whether or not there are support groups in your community. Don't criticize the depressed person. Don't take the person's behavior personally, and don't feel responsible for their depression. Don't patronize or "baby" the depressed person. Don't lose your temper - depressed people can be irritable, inhibited and antisocial, so try be patient with them and try to understand and remember that the cause for their behavior is the disorder.