education series: what is depression?
Recognizing the symptoms of your depression decreases stigma, decreases the likelihood of relapse, and facilitates communication among your providers.
This is the first of a three-part series on mental health education.
The DSM 5-TR:
The DSM is short for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and was created by researchers and scientists brought together by the American Psychological Association (APA). These researchers found that the same cluster of symptoms tended to happen together, creating a label to communicate between doctors and patients about a shared experience. However, this does not mean that you will experience every possible symptom of depression. The DSM-5 cannot tell how depression manifests in your everyday life, but it can give a general description.
Why is receiving a diagnosis important?
Diagnoses have pros and cons. Receiving a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (commonly shortened to depression) can provide a sense of relief and universality, realizing that you are not alone in your experience. A diagnosis can also help different providers have a common language to discuss appropriate treatments. However, diagnoses can carry stigma and will become a part of your medical record. If you plan to use insurance for mental health treatment, you must receive a diagnosis.
An arm reaching out of the ocean represents the experience of depression for clients struggling with burnout, people-pleasing, and emotional exhaustion
Five out of nine symptoms must be present for most of the day every day for two weeks AND create difficulties in your life (whether that’s financial, in relationships, with family, or at work) to qualify for a diagnosis of major depression disorder.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Symptoms of depression:
*Depressed mood most of the day, every day
*Anhedonia: loss of interest or joy in your usual activities ( example: No longer finding enjoyment in your gardening)
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and/or worthlessness
Feelings of guilt
Changes in appetite (overeating or undereating)
Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
Poor concentration and difficulty making decisions
Fatigue
Hypersomnia or insomnia
Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep
Sleeping too much (anything over 10 hours)
Suicidal ideation with or without a plan, I.e. believing you would be better
off if you were dead
If you are experiencing thoughts of wanting to die, please call 911, 988, or
go to your nearest ER.
None of these symptoms are better explained by a medical condition or substance
*One of these symptoms must be present
The more symptoms you have, the more severe your depression is ranking from mild, moderate, to severe. If you experience suicidal ideations it automatically qualifies as severe. If it is not the first two-week period that these symptoms have been present, then your depression is labeled recurrent.
How is sadness different from depression?
If you have never experienced depression, the next closest emotion is sadness. But, if you have been depressed, you also know that those two things are not remotely similar. I describe sadness as a blue feeling whereas depression is more of a black feeling. With sadness, engaging in enjoyable activities reduces the sadness and is typically related to a specific time-limited event. For example, if you do get a bad grade on a test, you may be sad, but then a walk around the park boosts your mood back up. With depression, there may or may not be a specific triggering event. And “Just go for a walk” or “Have you tried yoga?” never made anyone feel better.
Additional resources: