???how

[rukia_yua]

How do u categorize depression?

[trooneh]

Depression is a low mood that is accompanied by low self-esteem and low interest in activities one usually enjoys. It is usually a consistent period of these moods, lasting at least several weeks, and it is enough to noticeably affect your quality of life. Insomnia is a common symptom among those that are depressed, as well as feelings of self-hatred, hopelessness, and guilt. It affects your relationships with your family and friends.

However, the symptoms do not fit a cookie cutter. It is possible to suffer some symptoms and not others, and you could suffer from depression without even consciously knowing it.

The diagnostic criteria by the DSM-IV put out by the American Psychological Association is:
Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode
Summarized from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fourth Edition, Text Revision

A. The person experiences a single major depressive episode:

For a major depressive episode a person must have experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for the same two weeks or more, for most of the time almost every day, and this is a change from his/her prior level of functioning. One of the symptoms must be either (a) depressed mood, or (b) loss of interest.
Depressed mood. For children and adolescents, this may be irritable mood.
A significantly reduced level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.
A considerable loss or gain of weight (e.g., 5% or more change of weight in a month when not dieting). This may also be an increase or decrease in appetite. For children, they may not gain an expected amount of weight.
Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).
Behavior that is agitated or slowed down. Others should be able to observe this.
Feeling fatigued, or diminished energy.
Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt (not about being ill).
Ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions is reduced.
Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (with or without a specific plan), or attempt of suicide.
The persons' symptoms do not indicate a mixed episode.
The person's symptoms are a cause of great distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work, or other important areas.
The person's symptoms are not caused by substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs, medication), or a medical disorder.
The person's symptoms are not due to normal grief or bereavement over the death of a loved one, they continue for more than two months, or they include great difficulty in functioning, frequent thoughts of worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, symptoms that are psychotic, or behavior that is slowed down (psychomotor retardation).

B. Another disorder does not better explain the major depressive episode.

C. The person has never had a manic, mixed, or a hypomanic Episode (unless an episode was due to a medical disorder or use of a substance).

However, the symptoms of depression are present in other disorders, such as bipolar disorder, which is what leads to C there.

[rukia_yua]

I'm not gonna lie, that quote
Is really long and I honestly
Just don't want to read it, but thank you. So can you
Be categorized as depressed.....withoutbeing crazy. I'm definitely depressed I
Just..... I don't wanna be crazy

[trooneh]

Depression is quite different from being "crazy". Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (assuming you're American) suffer from depression at some point in their life. Does that make them crazy? No.

Craziness as you see it would be similar to paranoid schizophrenia, but even that is not something I would consider crazy.

[rukia_yua]

Ha ha well that's a relief...... Not

[Jdawg91]

It is that deep rotting part of your brain which sinks you low into the ground.

[CuriousDestruction]

Well, to categorize is to place in a particular class or group. Depression is considered medically to be a treatable mental illness. Not sure I agree with that but that is what it is categorized as.

[rukia_yua]

I dunno.....I feel like an emo kid but I can't help it