Each of us is depressed from time to time, but clinical depression is a debilitating illness that lasts and interferes with one's daily routine. Notice that experts have different opinions about what is normal loneliness and what depression is. But there are people who really have a very negative emotion, sometimes with much guilt, persecution and feeling of uselessness. Self Inflicted death are defined as any death of a person who has apparently taken his or her own life irrespective of intent (MoJ, 2014).
What's the difference between a Clinical Depression and a Normal Depression:
Sometimes people use the term "depressed" to describe a person who is feeling sad or blue. Depression is usually aggravated by an event such as loss of a loved one, fired from a job, a break-up, etc. Day to day activities can become bothersome to them. They can lose interest temporarily in activities they usually love to do. Depression for these people can be mild, moderate or even severe. But they can still manage to function on a daily basis.
Clinical Depression, on the other hand, disrupts every aspect of a person's life. It can affect them physically, mentally, emotionaly, and spiritually. To diagnose clinical depression, many doctors use the symptom criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Signs and symptoms of clinical depression may include:
• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, tearfulness and emptiness
• Sudden outburst of anger, irritability, and frustration
• Disinterest in all normal activities, such as sex, socialization, hobbies or sports
• Sleep Disruption, which includes insomnia or oversleeping
• Feeling tired and lack of energy, even making simple tasks need an extra effort
• Lack of appetite, weight loss or sudden cravings for food and weight gain
• Increased sensitivity to external stimuli which leads to feeling agitated, anxious or restless
• Slowed thinking process, even talking or making movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, self pity, clinging on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble processing his/her thought, lack of concentration, difficulty in making decisions and remembering things
• Repeated or recurrent thoughts about death, suicidal tendencies, suicide attempts or suicide
• Malingering thoughts lead to unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
Should I end my Life?
Every year, millions of people are trying to commit suicide due to depression, and thousands of them had successfully ended their life. Due to the massive suicide rates, WHO(World Health Organization) have to raise awareness in the community and breaking down taboos about depression are important for countries in making efforts to prevent suicide.
Is there nothing to be worried about?
Severe depression is always accompanied by a prevalent sense of suffering or pain as well as the thought of escaping from hopelessness. The agony of existence often becomes too much for severely depressed people to bear. The state of depression engulfs their thinking, allowing ideas like "Everyone would all be better off without me" to make a rational sense.
How to Spot Them? (WARNING SIGNS)
• Depressed people are high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or ideations should be taken very seriously. Do not hesitate to call for help. The Department of Health, together with the World Health Organization has recently launched 24/7 Hopeline, a local suicide hotline. It may be reached at (02) 804-4673; 0917-5584673; and 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers.
• One of my clinical instructor way back in college once told us during our class, that when a depressed person suddenly showing signs of being joyful or positive. We need to be alert at this times because they have a tendency to kill themselves. This might be a myth or a fact, whatever it is, we just need to be vigilant and watchful to their actions.
What Can We Do To Help Them?
If someone is feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts, our first response is to try to help. We offer advice, sympathize with their feelings, trying to find solutions.
Lend an ear, be quite and listen to them. People who have suicidal ideations, depressed or they don't want answers. They're just looking for a safe place to express their feelings of pain, fears or anxieties.
Don't judge quickly, nag, or refuse to acknowledge their condition. Never tell them to "Get Over It!".
Take away any objects that can cause harm to them, such as firearms, sharp objects, and dangerous medication pills.
Listening is the key. We need to control ourselves to peak in behalf of them. Let them talk, cry, or let them express their feelings that lie behind them. We must understand their own perspective, not ours.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Some people get used to putting on their social mask and continue to blend among other people, while some fall into the abyss and can't get out from it. A suicidal person who is depressed doesn't want to die or end their life, they just want to end the pain, their sufferings and agony. In order for them to achieve this, they resort on killing themselves. If you're down, sad or hopeless, ending your life will never be the solution. Think about others, think about the people who you leave, what will happen to them? Go on with your life. Keep going! Your story doesn't end here.
About the Author
@Ninyea is a content curator. A registered nurse, an artsy-wannabe and an online tutor. A korean food lover. One of the core leaders of SteemPh.Cebu. Has the passion of influencing others to push their full potential and interest on Steemit.