LifeStyle Section


Life Outside The Net

Depression

Life Outside the Net Written by Mitchell Stein, Ph.D.


Okay, cybersurfers. It's time to start a new topic. Based on a query from a reader, the topic for the next few columns will be depression. I'll go first and post some info about depression in the next three columns, and then will attempt to answer your questions about depression. Remember to e-mail your questions about depression or suggestions for future topics to 74124.2046@Compuserve.Com. Otherwise, you'll have to listen to what I want to talk about, and how much fun could that be?

First a couple of caveats. I'm not about to attempt to diagnose whether or not you have "clinical depression" via e-mail, so I'd prefer you kept you questions general rather than sending me a list of your symptoms and asking if I think you're depressed. The intent here is to provide general information about the topic, not start a course of treatment over the Net. Sorry folks. But, if you find a topic about depression too depressing to read, you might want to consider contacting your physician or a local mental health provider.

Almost everyone has experienced depressed mood at some point in their life, but this does not necessarily mean they have had what is called "clinical depression" or a depressive disorder. When things go wrong in life, it is normal to experience a temporary period of "blue" or "sad" mood. If you've ever gotten a bad grade in school, failed to get a job or promotion you wanted, been rejected by someone you wanted to date, and so forth, you've probably experienced a few days of down mood. If you've lost someone you loved, you probably went through a period of grief and mourning, and sad mood is a normal stage of grieving. However, these are temporary life setbacks and mood usually improves on its own as time goes by. (No "Play it again, Sam" jokes please!) The old expression "time heals all wounds" (for some of you it may be that "time wounds all heels") generally applies here.

This is usually not clinical depression unless the down mood is more severe or persists longer than most people would consider reasonable; if so, there is a diagnosis called "adjustment disorder with depressed mood" that may or may not warrant treatment, depending on the type of stressor, the severity of the symptoms, and the amount of time the symptoms have occurred. This is also sometimes called an "exogenous depression" which means that the cause of the depression was due to factors outside the person.

Some people have had very unhappy lives and have experienced numerous unpleasant life events. If so, they may have learned to think in chronically depressing ways. This type of depression is sometimes called a "dysthymic disorder" and often requires some type of treatment.

When we think of "clinical depression," this often refers to more severe types of depression that are more endogenous, due to factors within the person. It could even start with some type of exogenous stressor, but as time passes and if mood doesn't improve, it may slip into this category of depression. When there is nothing specifically wrong in a person's life, and there is no clear reason for someone to be depressed yet they are, it usually fits this category of endogenous depression.

This type of depression can be due to many factors including biochemistry, hormonal changes, depressed thinking, or even due to substance abuse. Sometimes a diagnosis of "major depression" applies here, although it may be subsumed under some physical problem such as a hormonal imbalance, and often requires some type of treatment. Next week, I'll talk more about some of the different causes of endogenous depression.

Symptoms of depression can vary widely from person to person, depending on the individual, the cause, and the severity. Usually we think of the most common symptom which refers to a deeper sad, down, or unhappy mood than would be considered normal or appropriate. Other common symptoms can include decreased sex drive (loss of libido), sleep problems (usually insomnia, but sometimes hypersomnia), decreased energy (anergia), change in appetite and weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased), decreased drive and motivation, loss of interest in pleasurable activities (anhedonia), problems with memory and concentration, increased anger/irritability.

The main thing to keep in mind with depression is that it is a treatable illness and is not a personal failure. Depression can make people feel that things are hopeless, like they will never get better, but that's depression and not reality talking. A good defense against depression is to have a rich, rewarding life that includes having fun. So go out and do something fun (but preferably safe and not involving drugs) this week!

Cheers! :)


Front Page


Copyright (C) 1994 - 1997 by Virtual Press/Global Internet Solutions. Internet Daily News and its respective columns are trademarks of Virtual Press /Global Internet Solutions.