Chronic depression?

Question

How long does it take for depression to be qualified as chronic? And what do you do about it if it is chronic? ......Considering that the person isn't 'by nature' depressive, or that it isn't one's 'true' personality....

Answer 1

Hi Tina. You are usually talking months and often years. Are you getting help? Personality doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it because there is a biological "beast" that can be activated by any number of different precipitates. Does anyone else in your family have it? Best analogy I can give you is to think of diabetes: If it runs in your family, you may or may not get it. If you weighed 300#, your chances of getting it would be astronomical! Sometimes it just happens. So with depression. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes it gets brought on by too much stress, a huge specific loss, etc. If there is a specific, talking can help. HOWEVER, if it goes on and on and doesn't let go -- sorry Tom Cruise!! - you cannot beat it on your own. Please get help. I have suffered with it from teenagerhood -- not diagnosed properly till well into adulthood. It does not have to stop your life! (I went all the way through med school with it but still came out ok -- just more difficult!) Once I learned it ran in my family, and I was put on the appropriate meds, life returns! People who haven't been through it will never really understand -- but, believe me, when you come out of it and feel like "yourself" again, you will know! If you live near a university of any kind, start with the Department of Psychiatry. Many have specific mood disorder clinics and are up to date on best ways to treat and help. If you notice it relates to season or amount of light, you can help yourself with a light box. ASK. You'll be surprised how many perfectly well functioning people around have been through it -- they may be able to steer you to good local resources. Don't ever give up! I've been there. Getting treated PROPERLY can make all the difference in the world (and don't let anybody lock you into just one kind of medication if that's something you + help person feel you should try. There is way more than one "neurotransmitter" involved in this thing!) GOOD LUCK. You CAN get better -- I promise!

Answer 2

A month or longer is generally considered an indication of major depression. Chronic depression refers to events that trigger depression. Are there events that you identify as causing your depression? Or do you just feel depressed for no reason?
Some people, by nature, are depressives due to medical conditions.
The first thing is to educate yourself about depression and see if it fits your condition and get help. While you are getting help try to reduce your stress while you learn to cope with it.
Depression is a serious illness just like heart attacks and diabetes etc etc. Do not under-estimate the dangers of depression. See a doctor, naturopath, psychiatrist etc.

Answer 3

Why do we want to label things...why can we do not be every moment what we suppose to me....? Live up to what you can become, not what you THINK you are now.

This is what I wrote yesterday to a friend..hope it helps you.
Valerian and St Johns worth and Kava kava are natural anti depression, anti anxiety herbs.
5 HTP and Gaba are also good alternatives...just do not mix them with medications as this can have negative effects. Be aware of medications anyway. A pastor who comes in the ED often, once asked me this question: Did you ever see somebody on medication and heal (he was speaking about anti depression/ anti anxiety and bipolar medications. This boggled my mind....I could not find a person....
Depression is a phase when it is when you see part s of yourself, the world you do not like. You can not accept these realizations. Medications keep you quiet and subdued. Do not forget that the next step is anger and needs to get out before the next step of anticipation, acceptation and goon with your live. Medication might be a bridge for a while but not for ever...
With anxiety something has happened in your past and if you start to go into the anxiety mood is because something triggered this awful memory. You can not or do not want to go to this experience s it is too painful. So what do you do go in panic and nowadays it is called a panic attack.

To get to the origin of your depression or anxiety you can use tools. Tool like EFT (emotional freedom technique) and EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). What caused the anxiety...what is behind your anxiety? You can get there and be more what you really are. Enjoy every moment.

Answer 4

2 years
i got this answer from My DSM IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders , remember however even the DSM cautions "The specified diagnostic criteria for each mental disorder are offered as GUIDELINES (my caps) it goes on to say proper use of these criteria requires specailized clinical training that provides both a body of knowledge and clinical skills"
heres the entry:
Chronic Specifier for a Major Depressive Episode
This specifier indicates the chronic nature of a Major Depressive Episode (i.e., that full criteria for a Major Depressive Episode have been continuously met for at least 2YEARS (my caps)). This specifier applies to the current (or, if the full criteria are not currently met for a Major Depressive Episode, to the most recent) Major Depressive Episode in Major Depressive Disorder and to the current (or most recent) Major Depressive Episode in Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder only if it is the most recent type of mood episode
Criteria for Chronic Specifier
specify if:
CHRONIC-(can be applied to the surrent or most recent Major DepressiveEpisode in Major Depressive Disorder and to a Major Depressive Episode in Bipolar I or II Disorder only if it is the most recent type of mood episode)
Full criteria for a Major Depressive Episode have been met continously forat least the past 2 years
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i found this next part online so i didn't have to type the whole thing from the DSM IV: like i did above
http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/dep.htm

Answer 5

I was diagnosed with chronic depression in 1978 and the counselor signed me up for detox from alcohol. i told me i did not drink during the week and maybe a six pack of beer on the weekend but i was going through a bad divorce..and living in a one bedroom sleeping rooms for gentlemen only
well i went to dry out for 23 days and i took anti buse for over three years
but what i found out is that i did suffer from depression even when i quit drinking or taking ativan...you have to go to the right doctor shrink or whoever who will not misdiagnose you f...forgive my spelling as i am upset thinking about how i wasted a lot of time and money on quack people

Answer 6

I do not feel persistent depression has something to do with spirituality. I suffered from extreme publish partum depression which turned 'persistent' and lasted almost ten years! Melancholy mediciation helped within the quick term and speak treatment helped some too. Then I went to a medical professional who did a whole chemical make-up and helped stability the matters that had come to be unbalanced throughout my first pregnancy. I believe treatment will have to now not be used as a bandaid and God had nothing to do with the sickness or the recuperation.

Answer 7

Most are depressed. It's denied alot, but, if you look at life in the past 15 years, it's difficult not to be depressed. There is alot of schizophrenia and pain and they know it's allowed. This can be depressing. At least you haven't been diagnosed for hearing voices or chronic painers.

Sign up for one of those drug studies.

Answer 8

i don't think continual melancholy has something to do with spirituality. I suffered from extreme positioned up partum melancholy which grew to become 'continual' and lasted practically ten years! melancholy mediciation helped interior the fast term and talk treatment helped some too. Then I went to a doctor who did an entire chemical makeup and helped stability the flaws that had exchange into unbalanced throughout the time of my first being pregnant. i've got self assurance medicine should not be used as a bandaid and God had not something to do with the ailment or the restoration.

Answer 9

as long as you do not fix the real problem of depression, it will stay.
chronic depression is very rare. you need to do full medical checkup and follow the natural ways against depression togeather with the medication. i have seend people who cured after 10 years and even 24 years. it depends. if you need more info refer to my answer about the question "Im Depressed any ideas "

Answer 10

It's called chronic if there is no specific cause.