The Blues, the Blahs, or Something More...

National Depression Screening Day is held each October during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Although you won’t find it referenced on your calendar, it is estimated that more than 19 million American adults suffer from clinical depression each year. ACC therapist, Dodie Caudill, helps us understand some of the things we should know about this illness.

At one time or another we’ve all probably described ourselves as being depressed. Is there a difference between being depressed and being clinically depressed? “Time is the key,” Dodie stated. “Clinicians look at 10 signs. If a person is experiencing 5 or more of them consistently for more than 2 weeks, they would be considered clinically depressed. The exception, of course, would be if there was a very specific onset, such as a death, with which the person was struggling.”

There are clinical instruments which may be used to diagnose depression such as the Beck Depression Inventory and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Knowing the Signs, however, is generally enough. “The most common complaints people have relate to issues of sleep (too much or too little), lack of energy, impaired concentration, and a sad or anxious mood,” shared Dodie. “Since we’ve all felt these things, people often don’t put the pieces together to see how much they really are struggling. The one sign which should never be overlooked is thoughts or feelings of suicide. Any use of drugs or alcohol skyrocket the possibility that a person will actually commit suicide. Even suicidal thoughts alone, without a plan, should be a red flag to get help immediately.”

“Like most mood disorders, depression is a brain disease with a genetic component. It often runs in families,” Dodie went on to say. “For those with a family history, early treatment is even more important. Prevention, however, is even better.” Good nutrition including omega 3 fatty acids, exercise, and monitoring stress levels to keep them low will help to lower a person’s risk. Stress is a precursor to depression in most people.

Although most cases of clinical depression can be effectively treated with a combination of medication and counseling, more than two thirds of those suffering do not seek treatment. Some see their symptoms as just who they are or as a normal part of life for everyone. Others fear a cultural stigma. Dodie shared her concern for those who seek only half the treatment. “We are a society where taking medication for a condition is acceptable while going for counseling may be less so. Sadly, insurance often makes it more affordable to fill a prescription than to see a therapist. Taking medication is faster than seeing a clinician, too. Unfortunately, medicine only treats the symptoms and not the core issues. In the long run, someone taking medication alone to treat clinical depression is more likely to relapse when they discontinue usage.”

Clinical depression has far-reaching ripples. It brings a great deal of personal suffering. It impacts marriages. Young children raised in those families often grow up feeling unloved. Jobs are lost. Financial problems are created. Spiritually, it is harder to experience God’s presence and His love. If you or someone you know may be struggling with clinical depression, seek help. Dodie believes that God offers each of us hope, comfort, and healing. She says, “My desire is to help clients draw on God’s infinite resources in order to grow and reclaim their lives.”