What Is The Difference Between Depression And Chronic Depression?

There is a difference between feeling sad and being clinically depressed. While sadness is a human emotion that people frequently experience depending on the situation, depression is a mood disorder. 

It is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. It is characterised by a constant sense of melancholy and disinterest. Depression may impact how you feel, think, and behave. It can also lead to several social, emotional and physical challenges. Many people with depression may experience symptoms severe enough to interfere with daily activities such as their job, school, social activities, or relationships. 

What is Chronic Depression?

Chronic depression or dysthymia is a form of depression that lasts more than two years. It is also referred to as Persistent Depressive Disorder. 

The primary characteristic of Chronic Depression is a depressed or “empty” mood for more than two years. Some common symptoms are sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness. Other symptoms can include fatigue, insomnia, appetite changes, and difficulty concentrating and focusing.

If you think you may be suffering from chronic depression, it's essential to see a psychiatrist at the earliest. Many treatments available can help you manage your condition so that it does not affect your day-to-day life.

Signs and symptoms of chronic depression

The symptoms of chronic depression can be subtle. They may go unnoticed for a long time. For many people, it is a gradual progression. Withdrawing from the people you love, not enjoying the things you used to love, and feeling constantly exhausted, even after getting a good night's sleep.

If you're worried that you or someone you know may be suffering from chronic depression, here are some signs to look out for:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Lack of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Changes in appetite, leading to weight gain or loss

Causes of chronic depression

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question because chronic depression can be caused by many things. For example, a family history of depression can be one of the contributing factors to chronic depression. In addition, major life stressors, chronic sickness, trauma, medications, and relationship or work troubles can all raise the likelihood of dysthymia.

Biological factors: Changes in brain chemistry in a way that the neurotransmitters are affected is known as a cause of chronic depression. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers in your brain that carry messages.  Additionally, genetics are also linked to chronic depression. 

Major Life Events: Certain life events like the loss of a loved one, losing a job, divorce, or a terminal diagnosis can trigger a major depressive episode. While it is natural for these events to occur at some point in life, the intensity with which an individual experiences it, is different for everyone. 

Environmental stressors: Chronic stress has been closely associated with Chronic Depression. Various other environmental factors such as the family environment, work environment, living conditions, poor diet, substance abuse, and lack of sleep are also known to be stressors that can contribute to chronic depression. 

Diagnosing chronic depression

It can be tough to diagnose chronic depression because the symptoms can be different from person to person. So, if you feel that you might have symptoms of depression, don't hesitate to ask for help. Only a psychiatrist or therapist can diagnose you with depression. They will take into account your history and current factors affecting you and perform some diagnostic tests.

1. Lab tests: Diagnostics tests like complete blood work, a physical exam and a full body checkup are done to find out what factors might be causing your depression. 

2. Symptom evaluation: Your psychiatrist will ask you to fill out a self-report test to check the severity of depression and evaluate your symptoms. This is done so that they can plan the course of treatment for you. Some examples of these tests are—The  Beck Depression Inventory, EQ-5D and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. 

3. Timeline of symptoms: Your psychiatrist will ask you how long the symptoms of depression have persisted with you and with what intensity. 

Treatment for chronic depression

There are many different kinds of treatment options for depression. One approach is an antidepressant medication. Psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)  Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). These work by increasing neurotransmitters in the brain, thus, enabling you to cope better with the surrounding stressors.  

Another standard treatment is therapy. Therapy can be in the form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps you change the way you think about things, or interpersonal therapy, which allows you to understand and improve your relationships. What's important is to find an approach that works for you and stick with it.

If you're struggling with chronic depression, know you're not alone. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options. There are many ways to treat chronic depression, and the right approach for you will depend on your situation.

There is hope for recovery. With treatment, you can feel better and live a full life. Take your first step towards recovery from chronic depression with Amaha’s mental healthcare professionals. You can also join our peer support community and interact with other individuals on the same journey.