interesting comment Mysticalview
since this thread was started in order to offer
a chance for others to voice their opinion on this topic
I shall keep it on topic

though your comments certainly reflect something about you

the info given was taken from the DSM 5

my opinion on causes of depression? varies depending on the individual


comorbitity- I am well aware that a client may have more than one thing going on when he or she walks in the door


would you like to contribute something about bi-polar and depression?

thank you for your contribution
it takes courage to speak on a public forum about a topic
that most only whisper about and brush under the rug


in this society..it is more acceptable to self medicate with drugs and booze
then to actually take that first step walking into a therapist's office

I commend you for talking about it here
for this is something that many do struggle with every day

PS miss some of your cool pics too

According to the DSM-V, for a spell of melancholy to be considered a Major Depressive Episode, it must persist for at least two weeks, and be accompanied by at least 5 of these symptoms:

Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others).
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5 percent of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Those symptoms can sound rather technical, so here’s a list of common signs put in layman’s terms by the Mayo Clinic:

Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or unhappiness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort
Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness — for example, excessive worrying, pacing, hand-wringing, or an inability to sit still
Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures, or blaming yourself for things that are not your responsibility
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things
Frequent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
Besides Major Depressive Disorder, the other form of depression that’s frequently diagnosed is “Persistent Depressive Disorder.” It’s less severe from day to day than a bout of MDD, but it lasts longer. PDP manifests in adults as a low mood that lingers for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years. During this 2-year period, depression-free intervals last no longer than 2 months. One’s low mood must also be accompanied by at least two of the DSM symptoms listed above.


middle aged and older adults may be especially vulnerable

I urge you to contact a trained professional for help
if you are suicidal
1-800-273-8255 suicide prevention hotline number

According to the DSM-V, for a spell of melancholy to be considered a Major Depressive Episode, it must persist for at least two weeks, and be accompanied by at least 5 of these symptoms:

Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others).
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5 percent of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
Those symptoms can sound rather technical, so here’s a list of common signs put in layman’s terms by the Mayo Clinic:

Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or unhappiness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort
Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness — for example, excessive worrying, pacing, hand-wringing, or an inability to sit still
Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures, or blaming yourself for things that are not your responsibility
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things
Frequent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
Besides Major Depressive Disorder, the other form of depression that’s frequently diagnosed is “Persistent Depressive Disorder.” It’s less severe from day to day than a bout of MDD, but it lasts longer. PDP manifests in adults as a low mood that lingers for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years. During this 2-year period, depression-free intervals last no longer than 2 months. One’s low mood must also be accompanied by at least two of the DSM symptoms listed above.


middle aged and older adults may be especially vulnerable

I urge you to contact a trained professional for help
if you are suicidal
1-800-273-8255 suicide prevention hotline number

Well I have certainly seen the very dark side of depression .. not in my personal life but in my professional one . Sadly many who are depressed do commit self harm or suicide . .. sometimes as a cry for help but in many cases as a result of internal distress with impaired judgement and dysfunctional thought processes ... they see no other solution but attempting to end their life . It is not always treatable ..tends to be repetitive and can be worsened by some of the antidepressant medications .. which initially were beneficial . Certainly there are different degrees of depression .. where counselling can help .. but not all depression is treatable ... sadly the number of depression related deaths ( young and old ) continue to increase .. at least that is my experience in a critical care setting .

Human!! How dare thee!!!...almost killed me for a sec there....If not for the fact that I am not too deep in my suicidal thoughts or that I do fap Everyday happily ...I would've thought that I had MDE and would've been more depressed~ I know u mean good...just saying....every not so active person in the society has most the mentioned issues... prolly~