Help Chronic depression

[chocolatebar]

Intensity can be measured, though, at least through self-reporting. The PHQ-9 is a common assessment to measure if depression is mild, moderate, or severe. Depressive episodes are different than MDD (major depressive disorder). Is the depression is mild, short term, and related to environmental factors it may be diagnosed as adjustment disorder.

I have been "measured" a few times and I can tell you that it only considers your capacity to.. work? I don't even know what it measures, because they won't consider what you feel, but what you can do. For example, When I wouldn't get out of bed, they classified it as severe, but later, when I got back to work, they classified it as mild, while inside me, the agony was much more intense.

 

[Pain In The Ass]

Mild depression you can work. Hold conversations. Experience joy. You will feel low occasionally but not for long.

So anyone who can do all of these things; work, hold conversations, experience joy, but occasionally feels 'low', suffers from 'mild depression'? I thought that's just how life is for everyone.

 

[Starryeyes]

Chronic just means a long time or reoccurring.

I have chronic depression. It's lasted 7 years so far

 

[Hurt]

Chronic depression is when someone is depressed for months or years.

 

[Deathinminutes]

From what I just read it says someone depressed longer than 2 weeks. Chronic depression lingers invisibly. It's like not noticing you're breathing. But as soon as you focus it's right there. Or if breathing too loud and someone tells you, and you had no idea. It's just part of our fabric it feels. This is why I try TRY to really connect and be silly even to make strangers smile. They can be and probably are experiencing way worse themselves. Some people still need cussed out though, lol. Just like my father who died of Parkinson's/Lewy body disease, I'll maintain my sense of humor til the last day. Ctb soon and life is getting very real right now. rip ich liebe dich papa

 

[downsolong]

Yes, this is the clinical definition. I see some people mixing the concept of lasting long with having a high intensity. Chronic means long lasting and that's it. There's not much definition for intensity because it can't be measured, like time can easily be.

thank you for clarifying. a recent dr used the term 'major depression' to name the overwhelmingly depressed state i was in. the drs in our chronic pain management group simplify by saying our pain is just not going to heal or go away.

 

[myopybyproxy]

From what I just read it says someone depressed longer than 2 weeks.

This is incorrect.

2 weeks is the minimum for a depressive episode - MDD. An episode may last several weeks or months, after which the person returns to their baseline euthymic state.

Chronic depression is also known as dysthymia or PDD. The minimum is 2 years. It is seen as less severe than MDD.

Just parroting what I learnt in my psychology courses.

 

[KlMeNw]

I've been suffering from non-stop depression since around mid 2015. I've tried every antidepressant, I've tried shrooms, I want to try Ketamine but I can't seem to find any. I'm able to go through life and work a job but just getting through the day completely drains me. I have two kids and a wife that I never spend time with because I have an overwhelming need to be alone and keep my mind occupied. If my mind is not occupied I will start thinking about killing myself, the thought that I need to die is always in the back of my head and with me. I wish daily that I had never been born, and I feel terrible for bringing children into this world because its possible one day they go through this. I have to fake every human interaction I have which is probably the most draining part of the whole thing. Sorry I know I just kind of went on a tangent but this is what Chronic Depression is like for me.

You have my sympathy, very similar situation. The thought of hurting my kids through my suicide keeps me up at night. Then again me just being here is probably psychologically hurting them as well. What to do??

 

[painofzed]

You have my sympathy, very similar situation. The thought of hurting my kids through my suicide keeps me up at night. Then again me just being here is probably psychologically hurting them as well. What to do??

Thanks for the sympathy, just want to add that I have since tried ketamine and am currently on it. Prescribed through a physician legally and taking as prescribed. So far been doing treatments for three months and it hasn't helped other than just getting me so ungodly high I am taken away from my pain for a brief period.

 

[Lauriso]

It is a more subtle but persistent one. You can study or go to work but you feel sad most the time.

 

[looseye]

What happened in 2015 that so many people (me too) became depressed? Someone get me Illuminati's regional manager right now!

I like describing chronic depression as putting your life on hold. There are days, weeks, if you're lucky even months when you function like a normal human, develop your personality and just do what you wanna do. But the rest of the time you're just a sad bitch, hating and neglecting yourself and continuously isolating yourself from the rest of the world because your life-is-fine-battery is out of charge. Over time you grow numb. Every high you go through is weaker than the previous one and the lows eventually become your new normal. I used to think I have become a new boy every 6 months due to how much I grew as a person. Today I still feel like the same immature idiot from 3 years ago.

 

[Need2BFree]

I suffer from chronic depression and I have suicidal thoughts every single second. To me chronic depression sure doesn't feel like mild depression it's soul destroying. With my chronic depression I can't tell you if the sky looks/feels beautiful! I look at flowers in someone's garden and I feel nothing. I'm not experiencing my surroundings as everything feels the same, I don't feel present even tho I know where I am. I'm not experiencing that connection to my surroundings and people etc...
The colour of the world looks dulled down, the world the atmosphere doesn't look vibrant to me. I've lost the ability to enjoy music, people, my dog, life, loss of interest in everything. Things doesn't feel good, enjoyable, pleasant, I dont feel comfort, hugs doesn't feel nice even tho i long for a hug to feel nice. Constant state of boredom even tho I try to do things. When i watch tv i lose interest quite quickly no favourite shows or movies. Never experience motivation, pleasure, a relax feeling, anxiety makes me on gaurd all of the time heightened state of fear.
I don't have preferences as i can't tell you what my favourite meals are as I don't really enjoy food it's bland non appetising. I'm irritable all of the time foul mood crippling anxiety doesn't help. Nothing feels good to me even though I want it too, I've lost the ability to cry. When I do breathing exercises I don't know what a relaxed feeling feels like. I can't even enjoy a long soak in the bath, my energy levels are low, I don't get a buzz from anything. It's hell absolutely hell, I don't enjoy hobbies as I'm just not feeling it. I feel I have no personality. Sertraline had made things worse for me. I can't really tell if I like the beach or not not strong feelings coming throught. Lost my insight list is endless
Sending you hugs and strength x