DEPRESSION

Depression is a common term for a sad or low emotional state, often associated with a loss of ability to feel pleasure. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is clinical diagnosis for a state of intense sadness, despair, or hopelessness that is disruptive to normal functioning. Other symptoms can include irritability, physical agitation, insomnia, loss of appetite, preoccupation with death and/or rejection, lethargy, and even some psychotic symptoms such as delusions. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide for people older than 15.

In dynamic terms, depressive distress can be seen as a sign of a significant inner disturbance, indicating a need for growth. Most people have had experiences that seriously hurt them in their lives. Intense sadness, pain, and confusion can be skipped-over or put on hold as a person gets on with the necessities of everyday life. The feelings may seem to go away, but in truth they tend to rebound in unexpected ways, such as depression later on. Delays in grief and mourning are notorious sources of depression. Another major contributor to depressive distress is the tendency to turn strong feelings such as anger, outrage, and disappointment against oneself. Self-esteem that people normally have to protect them from the pain of life events can become self-hatred in depressive states.

The mental and emotional origins of depression are different for everyone, but it is seldom one event, or one key memory, that causes depressive distress. Certain patterns in how people relate to themselves and others are most often the culprit. These patterns light the way for growth through this kind of distress, and to resolution of the pain. Such patterns develop early in a person’s life and can change for the better with persistent work in therapy.