Without going to a Doctor, how would someone know if they were clinically depressed?

Question

& whats the difference between clinical depression & manic depression???

Answer 1

You can get all your answers to all of your questions on this website. www.panicsurvivor.com

Answer 2

Jules has offered some useful websites. I'd just add that (a) the term "clinical depression" suggests that there is something very precise, but it's not the case - it only means a doctor has declared you depressed; (b) very few psychological terms have the same precision as eg 'measles' or 'tuberculosis' - these physical illnesses can be precisely diagnosed by identifying a virus, a bacterium, or antibodies to these, but psychological things are much less precise; (c) the difference between being 'down' and being 'depressed' is in part a matter of degree, but in general being depressed suggests something long-term, not obviously a response to a specific event, often means feeling numb rather than unhappy and entails a lack of motivation.

On your question about the difference between depression and manic-depression, the latter is about a marked shift from the sort of depression I've just outlined to a state where one is out of touch with what other people call reality - often spending money with no apparent sense of its finite nature, nto sleeping, being hyperactive, talking very fast and constantly and perhaps doing strange things like trying to set a room on fire. The existence of two distinctly different states of this sort is essential for a realistic diagnosis of manic-depression (of bipolar disorder, as seems to be the current fashionable term). Read Kay Redfield Jamison's superb book, "An Unquiet Mind" for an understanding of manic-depression from within - she is a psychiatrist who suffers from the condition.

Answer 3

lack of energy, being tired and lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, poor appetite, trouble focusing on daily activities, an overwhelming feeling... ie. an I dont care attitude, a feeling of being anxious or anxiety without knowing why (a type of nervousness or butterfly feeling in the stomach) those are some symptoms of depression. Manic depression is a chemical disorder in the brain that requires some type of medication as a treatment. Its usually a bipolar disease that includes both a manic stage and a depression stage A manic stage is usually feelings of euphoria, a type of high... like a feeling you can do anything. After those feelings usually comes the depression stage like the symptoms listed above. You should see a doctor for any feelings of depression. You dont want depression to get so out of hand you would think of suicide. Which could happen in more severe depressions.

Answer 4

There is quite a big difference between clinical depression and manic, or 'bipolar' depression.

Clinical depression involves the sufferer feeling continually sad, lethargic, anxious, tearful, fatigued, and without any enjoyment of life. They may also feel very irritable and angry.

Manic depression involves extremes of mood: sufferers experience both intense 'high's and also terrible 'lows'; during the former they may feel invincible and may talk and act very quickly and with tremendous energy.

If you suspect you might have either, you need to speak to your doctor and get the appropriate help. Millions of people suffer depression, and lots of very talented, successful, charismatic people have had manic depression.

Answer 5

I would like to know the same I have been depressed from I was 13 I'm 26 know and doctors have missed diagnosed me, I know that I'm manic depressant why are they so incompetent?

Answer 6

Use these links to the Mind website, they offer easy to read and understand information

Depression
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression

Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+manic+depression.htm

The website is also full of other useful information.

Hopes this helps.

But if you think you are suffering from either of these, please seek help from your GP.

Also Mind offer local associations that can help and support you in an informal way:

http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/

Answer 7

Type in ' depression test' in your browser. And look on the bipolar.com website.

Answer 8

One way could be to take an online depression screening test. Here are a few sites that might be helpful.

http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.html

http://depression.about.com/cs/diagnosis/l/bldepscreenquiz.htm

http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=1123

http://www.depression-screening.org/screeningtest/screeningtest.htm

Answer 9

I don't think you can. But you will definately know that you are depressed. I think that the sad feelings mean that you are supressed, no wait, I know that, sorry.

Answer 10

If you were depressed you would push your friends away, want to stay in a dark room, have mood changes, not talk to anyone. I found this great website for you to find out more info about depression.I have everything from the website listed below. If you need any more information go to the website at the bottom.

Mental Health: Depression
Sometimes physical problems can cause depression. But other times, symptoms of depression are part of a more complex psychiatric problem. There are several different types of depression, including:

Major depressive disorder
Dysthymia
Seasonal affective disorder
Psychotic depression
Bipolar depression
Major Depression
An individual with major depression, or major depressive disorder, feels a profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair.

Major depression is marked by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the person's ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Major depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.

What Are the Symptoms of Major Depression?
Symptoms of depression include:

Sadness
Irritability
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Withdrawal from social activities
Inability to concentrate
Psychotic Depression
Roughly 25% of people who are admitted to the hospital for depression suffer from what is called psychotic depression. In addition to the symptoms of depression, psychotic depression includes some features of psychosis, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't really there) or delusions (irrational thoughts and fears).

How Is Psychotic Depression Different Than Other Mental Disorders?
While people with other mental disorders, like schizophrenia, also experience these symptoms, those with psychotic depression are usually aware that these thoughts aren't true. They may be ashamed or embarrassed and try to hide them, which can make diagnosing this condition difficult.

What Are the Symptoms of Psychotic Depression?
Anxiety (fear and nervousness)
Agitation
Paranoia
Insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep)
Physical immobility
Intellectual impairment
Psychosis
Dysthymia
Dysthymia, sometimes referred to as chronic depression, is a less severe form of depression but the depression symptoms linger for a long period of time, perhaps years. Those who suffer from dysthymia are usually able to function normally, but seem consistently unhappy.

It is common for a person with dysthymia to also experience major depression at the same time - swinging into a major depressive episode and then back to a more mild state of dysthymia. This is called double depression.

Symptoms of dysthymia include:
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of interest or the ability to enjoy oneself
Excessive feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Loss of energy or fatigue
Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions
Changes in appetite
Thoughts of death or suicide
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal depression, called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a depression that occurs each year at the same time, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer. It is more than just "the winter blues" or "cabin fever." A rare form of SAD known as "summer depression," begins in late spring or early summer and ends in fall.

What Are the Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
People who suffer from SAD have many of the common signs of depression: Sadness, irritability, loss of interest in their usual activities, withdrawal from social activities, and inability to concentrate. But symptoms of winter SAD may differ from symptoms of summer SAD.

Symptoms of winter SAD may include the seasonal occurrence of:

Fatigue
Increased need for sleep
Decreased levels of energy
Weight gain
Increase in appetite
Difficulty concentrating
Increased desire to be alone
Symptoms of summer SAD include the seasonal occurrence of:
Weight loss
Trouble sleeping
Decreased appetite
What Causes Depression?
There is not just one cause of depression. It is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a multitude of different factors, including biology, emotional and environmental influences. For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change in one's life, or after being diagnosed with a serious medical disease. For others, depression just happened, possibly due to a family history of the disorder.

How Is Depression Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of depression begins with a physical exam by a doctor. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose depression, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms. If a physical cause for the depression is ruled out, your doctor will likely refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for evaluation.

The doctor bases his or her diagnosis of depression on the patient's report of the intensity and duration of symptoms -- including any problems with functioning caused by the symptoms. The doctor then determines if the patient's symptoms and degree of dysfunction point to depression.
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