Life Changing Mindset

What is the difference between clinical depression and depression?

There's the kind of depression that lasts like 2 years and you need medicine for, the kind that has your dopamine levels or neurotransmitters all screwed up. Then there's the kind that comes from something bad happening to you, like losing a loved one. Clinical depression can be caused by grief, but is there a difference between clinical depression and the normal depression everyone else feels?

Public Comments

1. The symptoms, intensity and experience can be the same. The context matters. Someone who has no reason to be grief sticken or unbearably unhappy with life, probably has a disorder. Someone who is sad because she has gone through divorce or other loss, abuse, poverty, lacks an education and means for themselves, lacks a support system etc. is more likely someone who needs therapy but, isn't suffering a mood disorder. Though a disorder can cause a lack of education, support system, failed relationshiops etc. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are trained to see who is suffering because of a disordered mood and who is suffering because of bad luck, an abusive past, low skill sets, personality disorders, anxiety etc. There are also some conditions that can cause depressed mood such as a thyroid issue so, it is important to see your family doctor or get your psychiatrist to do a work up. You might get medication before that because your symptoms are just so or just incase it isn't another illness but, no worries just ensure it is getting done.

2. I'm not sure if I understand the question. If you're asking if a person would feel different with depression than they would with clinical depression, then I don't really think there's a sure answer. I think it just depends on the person and what they've gone through. For some people, depression hits them harder and other people who fall in and out of it. I wanna say that the symptoms are generally alike, but the person that is actually affected by either of them is what defines which one it is. If that makes any sense at all.

3. Clinical depression lasts for more than 6 months.

Depression usually lasts for a short time only.