What Is Clinical Depression? Depression Symptoms and Depression Test
Clinical depression is also known as major depressive disorder or major depression. It is different from a depression caused by a medical condition, for example, thyroid disorder or a loss like the death of a loved one. Medical professionals normally rely on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Dsm-5), which the American Psychiatric Association published.
Common symptoms of clinical depression include feelings of worthlessness and anxiety restlessness reduced appetite weight loss increased cravings lack of energy and tiredness loss of pleasure or interest in most activities such as hobbies, sex, and more.
These symptoms range from mild to severe and can disrupt your normal life, which includes school or work. Anyone can suffer from clinical depression, which consists of both old and young. You can get help for clinical depression from rehab centers in West Palm Beach. Fast you will need to reach out to your family and doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. This guide will go into detail about clinical depression. We will cover its types, causes, diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and treatment.
What Is Clinical Depression?
Clinical depression is a case of depression that requires professional treatment. This is because the symptoms of this depression can be categorized as chronic. Depression usually ranges in severity starting from mild symptoms which mainly affect your mood and severe or chronic symptoms which can affect
Types of Clinical Depression
There are two major types of clinical depression. They are unipolar and bipolar depression.
1. Unipolar depression
Unipolar depression is also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. Individuals with unipolar depression usually experience negative emotions, otherwise known as the lows. Negative emotions, otherwise known as the lows. It is known as unipolar because you experience one category of emotions. Symptoms of this type of depression include:
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Sadness
- Tiredness
- Fatigues
- Poor decision making
- Poor concentration
- Feelings of emptiness
- Thoughts of death or actual suicide attempts.
2. Bipolar depression
Bipolar depression is the type of clinical depression where an individual experiences two sets of extreme emotions. The first set is maniac emotions, where the individual has an elevated mood. The other set of emotions includes severe depression or low emotions. Symptoms of this condition include:
- Irritability
- Poor judgment
- Impulsivity
- Poor judgment
- Sleepless
- Increased energy
- Racing thoughts
- Hypersexual behavior.
Causes of Clinical Depression
Scientists’ medical practitioners are yet to uncover the exact cause of depression. However, there are key factors that influence the chances and severity of an individual’s depression. These factors include:
- Presence of depression in your family history. This includes a sibling or a parent.
- Significant life changes are traumatic events such as severe illness or death of a close family member, job loss, or divorce.
- Taking care of a loved one who has a major disability injury or illness.
- Undergoing a severe injury or being very ill. Financial troubles such as big debts or expenses.
- Substance use disorder. Taking medication that can cause depression.
Diagnosis of Clinical Depression
Your Primary Care doctor is usually the first medical professional to learn about your depression. Some May go ahead and treat the condition, especially when the symptoms are mild. However, they may later refer you to a professional specially trained to handle mental health conditions. This profession is called a psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist can use the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders to diagnose your condition. During diagnosis, you should provide all the necessary information, for example, if your family has had a case of depression or if you have been using illegal drugs.
Co-Occurring Conditions
A co-occurring condition is a condition where an individual with depression has another mental condition. Some of the common co-occurring conditions include:
- Alcohol and substance use disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).
Treatment of Clinical Depression
There are multiple treatment approaches for depression. Some individuals try out a single method of fruit, but a combination is most effective. No given combination works for all depression patients.
The medical professionals will have to diagnose your case differently and prescribe treatment based on your needs. For example, they may look at how long you have been experiencing the symptoms and the severity. The following are some of the most common approaches to base your depression treatment.
You should be patient with the medication, as it may take a couple of weeks to work. Furthermore, you may need some tapering off, especially if your depression symptoms are severe. Tapering off will help reduce the chances of Addiction and withdrawal symptoms from the antidepressants.
1. Medication
Antidepressant medication is used to help ease depression symptoms. The most frequently used antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, and escitalopram. Other common antidepressants include atypical antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment approach both on its own and when combined with medication. It helps address what triggers an individual to depression. You may take part in cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify these triggers. Therapists can also conduct Cognitive Behavioral Therapy via video chats, text chats, and emails, in case you have limited access to one.
3. Alternative and Complementary Treatment
Alternative and complementary treatment includes alternative therapies to help an individual overcome depression. Examples of treatment approaches in this category include:
- Coping mechanisms
- Self-care
- Social connection
- Physical activity
- Hobbies and interests
Get Help at Ebb Tide Treatment Centers
Ebb Tide Treatment is a top treatment center from Palm Beach. Our treatment programs include:
- Drug Treatment Palm Beach. This focuses on the treatment of drug use disorder. We help treat substance use disorder for both illegal and prescribed drugs.
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment. Our addiction professionals will help you overcome alcohol use disorder. We offer various programs for alcohol addiction treatment, including access to the 12 -step program and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
- Medication-Assisted treatment. Medication helps to ease the symptoms of a certain disorder. Palm Beach treatment centers usually pair medication with therapy treatment; thus, the name medication-assisted treatment.
- Mental health Treatment. This program addresses mental health issues such as any case of depression.
- Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment. Co-occurring disorders are underlying disorders that have the potential to make the main condition worse. This treatment is usually available in top rehab centers in Palm Beach.
Our treatment advances through various programs depending on your case. They include:
- Inpatient Rehab West Palm Beach
- Partial Hospitalization Drug West Palm Beach Rehab Centers
- Outpatient Rehab West Palm Beach
Conclusion
Clinical Depression is a type of depression where an individual experiences severe symptoms of depression. There are two main types of clinical depression. They include Unipolar depression and Bipolar Depression. An individual with the former only exhibits negative emotions, while the latter exhibits periods of manic excitement and periods of heavy negative emotions.
The exact cause of clinical depression is yet to be uncovered. However, there are multiple key factors known to trigger depression. Examples include the presence of depression in another member of immediate family, a major loss such as job loss or death of a loved one, and more.
Doctors in treatment centers West Palm Beach will use the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose a case of depression. The recommended treatment will depend on your diagnosis. The main approaches to clinical depression treatment include anti-depressant medication like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), psychotherapy which includes Cognitive behavioral therapy, and additional or complementary treatments such as physical activity. Coping mechanisms and re-igniting your hobbies and interests.
You can start your treatment journey at the Palm Beach drug rehab centers offering depression treatment as well. Drug rehab centers in West Palm Beach will also address Alcohol and substance use disorder. You can reach out to Ebb Tide Treatment to get help with mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders. We are a top treatment facility with inpatient, outpatient drug rehab West Palm Beach, and Partial Hospitalization.
