[jk2833]

Hi guys my son who's 18 has been diagnosed with clinical depression, now I also have depression but not this particular type.
Can anyone explain to me in normal words not dr talk lol what this is like and how it affects you daily?
Just so I can have a better understanding to enable me to help.
We live in the UK so I don't know if 'clinical' is a term used in other parts of the world.
Any help would be great please
Take care
Jk

[Agentfyre]

I guess I would need to know more to fully understand. You said that you also experience depression, what kind of depression do you have? Was it diagnosed? If we know that, we can help you figure out how his is different from yours.

In a nutshell though, clinical depression should just indicate an overall feeling of sadness that could vary in intensity depending on the person, but that it's hard enough for him that it interferes with daily functioning. There's more criteria as well, but that's why more information would be helpful.

[jk2833]

hi thanks for replying I have co morbid depression, so basically its depression, GAD, BPD, obsessional compulsive personality disorder and psychosis. Was never told it was a particular type of depression. I've had depression since the age of 9 but by the time it was diagnosed all of these other conditions were also found.
That's why I want to find out more as everything overlaps for me so it's hard to know if I'm thinking along the right track when talking to my boy.
Any help would be great
Thanks
Jk

[Hellion]

The term clinical depression is also used here...but it can refer to Major Depression, Major Depressive Disorder and on my diagnoses thing it says Major Depression ongoing or something like that...but it all refers to the same thing as far as I know.

Anyways to be honest it really sucks, but it can effect me daily by decreasing my energy so feeling to exausted to even keep up on some basic things, makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning...effects my ability to enjoy anything throughout the day and can persist even during positive events of life. Also there is a feeling of loneliness even around people.

I think as far as what you can do to help is be supportive, and be there for him as best you can and realize its a disorder so I'd say try and understand sometimes they aren't going to be capable of things you think they should be...or might have diffiulties with things. but also don't beat yourself up if you can't cheer him up or whatever...since its not a failure on your part but depression can simply make it hard enjoy and feel things.

Unfortunately a lot of people in my life really don't get it and so it can be hard to tell them if I am struggling with something due to it. Like my mom wants me to try and sweep and mop the floors at least once a week and its like 'don't you get it its even difficult for me to motivate myself to take a shower let alone clean' But then afraid she might try and imply I'm just making excuses(even though she knows about the depression, but she doesn't understand at all how it effects me)..but then tries to assume she knows but it would be more helpful if she'd just be supportive...of course I have no problem helping clean around the house, but there are times everything is too exausting but is like i can't really tell her 'you know i've really been struggling this week and haven't been able to get around to it yet' I don't I just feel I try my best, but my best isn't to the level of normal functioning and people aren't necessarily all that understanding about the fact it really does interfere with functioning.

[waterknob1234]

Depression causes a chronic sadness, fatigue, exhaustion. It also makes it hard for a person to be motivated to do things, even things they once enjoyed. This is sometimes hard for people to understand. Another thing is a depressed person cannot just "snap out of it" or "cheer themselves up." You can help your son best by being loving, caring, and supportive. The other thing that will help him if you can do this is professional treatment from a psychiatrist, and therapist. We are also here to offer our support to you and your son. Best of wishes.

[jk2833]

Thanks fellow members for your advice my son has his first CBT appointment on the 8th September so hopefully he can benefit from speaking to a professional.
He's just so confused about how and why he feels this way, he was always energetic never slept a full night as he didn't need it, but now he can't be bothered there's no motivation.
I've been helping him fill firms out for emplyment support allowance and he's no idea about benefits as this was never going to be the way to go for him, the plan was to be a sports coach working with children. Hopefully he still will do when he feels ready dont want to put any extra pressure on him.
How things change
Thanks again take care
Jk

[jk2833]

Anyways to be honest it really sucks, but it can effect me daily by decreasing my energy so feeling to exausted to even keep up on some basic things, makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning...effects my ability to enjoy anything throughout the day and can persist even during positive events of life. Also there is a feeling of loneliness even around people.

I think as far as what you can do to help is be supportive, and be there for him as best you can and realize its a disorder so I'd say try and understand sometimes they aren't going to be capable of things you think they should be...or might have diffiulties with things. but also don't beat yourself up if you can't cheer him up or whatever...since its not a failure on your part but depression can simply make it hard enjoy and feel things.

Unfortunately a lot of people in my life really don't get it and so it can be hard to tell them if I am struggling with something due to it. Like my mom wants me to try and sweep and mop the floors at least once a week and its like 'don't you get it its even difficult for me to motivate myself to take a shower let alone clean' But then afraid she might try and imply I'm just making excuses(even though she knows about the depression, but she doesn't understand at all how it effects me)..but then tries to assume she knows but it would be more helpful if she'd just be supportive...of course I have no problem helping clean around the house, but there are times everything is too exausting but is like i can't really tell her 'you know i've really been struggling this week and haven't been able to get around to it yet' I don't I just feel I try my best, but my best isn't to the level of normal functioning and people aren't necessarily all that understanding about the fact it really does interfere with functioning.[/QUOTE]

I hear you my friend my mental health really interferes with my life and my mothers favourite saying was 'think positive' yeah like it's that easy!
Your right I do beat myself up if I can't cheer him up , all I feel I'm doing is nagging him but he has to eat and bathe.
I feel so guilty and I know it's not my fault but hereditary it is and it's breaking my heart.
Strange thing is he never had any idea about my mental health until recently as I didn't want the kids to learn a particular behaviour grôwing up, ive seen that happen, I wanted them to be everything I wasn't.
One things for sure I'm adamant I won't do what my mother did.... Ignore it for years
Thank you
Jk