Living with Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (also known as Clinical Depression) is a mood disorder that also happens to be one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. But despite how common it is, it’s still largely misunderstood by people outside of the mental health community. MDD is often confused with suffering one of the normal bouts of depression that everyone experiences at some point in their lives.

It’s normal to be depressed when a major life change occurs. Many things can cause the onset of depression, but some of the most common are the loss of a job, a breakup, the loss of a loved one or a major medical issue. The key difference between this sort of depression and people who suffer from MDD is that one is temporary, and the other is not.

For people who suffer from Major Depressive Disorder, being depressed is often a permanent fixture in their lives no matter the circumstances. The situations listed above can certainly worsen the symptoms, but they will still feel the general effects of depression even after they begin to heal from traumatic events.

Some of the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder include:

• Constant feelings of emptiness, hopelessness or worthlessness
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts
• Fixating on past failures
• Trouble concentrating and making decisions
• Sleep issues, whether it’s sleeping too much or being unable to sleep at all
• Issues with appetite, whether it’s a reduced appetite that leads to weight loss or increased cravings that lead to weight gain
• Being quick to anger, especially over small matters
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• A lowered or non-existent libido
• Unexplained physical symptoms such as back pain or headaches

That’s a large list, isn’t it? But keep in mind that someone who is suffering from MDD probably won’t present every symptom. Some might identify with a large portion of this list, while others might only recognize themselves in a few symptoms.

And remember, just because you only identify with a few symptoms doesn’t mean that you’re “less depressed” than someone else or any less deserving of proper treatment. Don’t let your illness tell you that you need to just “suck it up” instead of reaching out if you think you need help.

This article provides a window into the lives and struggles of real people who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Their experiences give more insight into what day to day life can be like with the illness. One common theme among many of their statements is that they don’t always feel depressed. Fiona Thomas, one of the women featured in the article, had this to say.

“Sometimes I’ll go a few months feeling absolutely fine. I’ll start to question if my illness is even real. And when I least expect it, my depression comes creeping back.”

Someone might make the mistake of thinking that their depression has been “fixed” while going through a particularly stable period. But as many people who suffer from MDD already know, it will almost always come back.

It may sound grim, but MDD is very treatable and there are a variety of options available. And in the same way that people’s experiences with MDD differ in severity and symptoms, there is no catch all treatment that works for everyone.

Talking to a counselor is the first step towards a more balanced life. A licensed professional can take the proper steps to evaluate someone’s safety and quality of life, and then move on from there to get started on an effective treatment plan.

If you or a loved one are suffering from the effects of Major Depressive Disorder, you can always reach out to us. We’re here and ready to help.