What is Major Depression?  

What is major depression? This mental health condition can impact millions of adults and youth every year — removing the joy from life. Thankfully, with the help of luxury depression treatment centers, tools such as medication and psychotherapy can minimize the symptoms of depression and help bring back a healthy balance.  

 

What is major depression? Is this different from regular depression? What is it exactly?  

 

It is normal to feel sad from time to time. Life can bring ups and downs and, for the most part, you ride the waves through it. But when that sadness takes hold of your life, removing the joy and motivation, it could be a mental health condition known as major depression.  

 

Stick around as we dig deeper to answer the question, what is major depression? — and better understand what it looks like and how it is treated.  

 

What is Major Depression? 

What is major depression? Major depression, sometimes referred to as clinical depression, is a mental health condition that is marked by chronic feelings of hopelessness and sadness.  

 

Many people feel like they are ‘down in the dumps’ at times. This is often temporary or situational, such as those feelings that follow after an argument with someone you love, failing a test, or getting reprimanded at work.  

 

Unlike feelings of sadness that stem from life’s struggles, depression symptoms begin to change your perspective — including the way you feel, think, and function. It also impacts the way you view life around you. Many who suffer from the condition report feeling “lifeless” as if the world was just passing them by and they didn’t have the energy or motivation to join it.  

 

The good news is that regardless of how desolate life may seem at this very moment, there is help. With the right treatment, it is possible to return to daily activities once again.  

 

What are the Warning Signs of Major Depression?  

Are there signs that will help you determine what major depression is vs. just a bad day or a temporary low? Believe it or not, there are a few warning signs that you can look out for that can help you determine what you are dealing with.  

 

Understanding that major depression can impact each person differently, below are a few common signs or symptoms:  

 

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness 
• Loss of interest and joy in daily life 
• Changes in appetite and weight — either gain or loss 
• Sleep changes — either oversleeping or insomnia 
• Irritable or easily angered 
• Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or self-loathing 
• Impulsive and/or reckless behaviors 
• Inability to focus, forgetfulness 
• Physical aches and pains 

 

Diagnosing Major Depression 

It is important to keep in mind that the best way to know for sure if you or someone you love is suffering from major depression is to seek help from a mental health professional. They will use a list of diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5-TR to determine if what you are dealing with is truly major depression, such as —-  

 

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. 
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day. 
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. 
• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down). 

• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. 
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day. 
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day. 
• Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide. 

 

To be diagnosed, you will need to reflect —-  

 

• A change in your level of functioning 
• Have five or more of the above symptoms present during two weeks 
• At least one of the symptoms is either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure 

 

Treatment for Major Depression?  

What is major depression treatment? Typically, major depression is treated using psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. How it is approached should always be determined based on the individual.  

Psychotherapy for Depression 

Psychotherapy is a more formal term for talk therapy. This involves working closely with a treatment specialist to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are associated with your major depression.  

Different techniques can be used based on your need, many teaching you how to better handle certain situations. A few types of effective psychotherapy for depression include cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and interpersonal therapy.  

 

Medication for Depression 

Medication is another tool that has proven itself beneficial for the treatment of depression. These work by making adjustments to the level of chemicals found in the brain that may play a role in depressive symptoms.  

When used in conjunction with psychotherapy, medication can help calm some of the worst symptoms allowing the talk therapy to be more effective.  

There are many different types of antidepressants available. Working closely with a mental health professional can ensure you get the best one for your needs.  

 

Looking for Depression Treatment Centers? Amend Treatment is here for you. 

At Amend Treatment, our clients are provided with a serene environment with all the luxurious amenities. High-quality care and comfort mixed with privacy and tranquility offer the perfect space to work on your healing.

Let the cares of everyday life fade away as you begin focusing on yourself — and learning to overcome your depression symptoms.  

Remember, major depression is a mental health condition that needs to be treated seriously. With the right team and the right support, you will get the right treatment. 

Stop struggling with your depression symptoms and the grip they have on your everyday life. You now have a better understanding of what you are dealing with and know that treatment is available.  

By calling Amend Treatment today, you can get started on your healing journey. Let the professionals help you answer the question: what is major depression?