Chronic depression

 

Chronic depression

 

First things first. “Chronic Depression ” isn’t technically a diagnosis in the DSM-5, the official guide of mental disorders. That doesn’t mean it’s not a real thing, though. It’s just that most people have depressive episodes with a clear start and end (i.e. MDD, Major Depressive Disorder), so that’s how experts have framed the disorder.

 

Chronic depression or persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a long-term type of depression. Adult symptoms typically persist for at least 2 years. Treatment for PDD usually involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

 

Symptoms Chronic depression

Symptoms of PDD are similar to other types of depression, though they last longer and tend to be less severe. 

In addition to a depressed mood for at least 2 years symptoms of PDD include: 

• sleep issues
• fatigue 
• self-esteem issues
• lack of concentration
• indecisiveness
• irritability
• feeling hopeless
• decreased appetite or overeating

It is also possible for a person to experience symptoms of PDD and MDD simultaneously. 

 

What Causes Chronic Depression?

Honestly, scientists aren’t sure. The current explanation is that depressed people have a “chemical imbalance” in their brain chemistry—specifically, they have low levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which all help regulate mood, sleep, and metabolism. 

That’s the general gist, but it’s a little more complicated than that. For example, chronic depression runs in families, so there may be a genetic component. Like MDD, chronic depression is likely to be caused by a whole host of factors ranging from genes to childhood abuse or neglect to life stress to hormone fluctuations.

Prevention Chronic Depression?

There's no sure way to prevent depression. However, these strategies may help.

·         Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.

·         Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.

·         Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.

·         Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.