Circumstantial Depression and Clinical Depression: How to Identify

Depression is becoming one of the most prevalent forms of mental disorders of modern times. Yet, the exact nature of depression remains a mystery for most people. A greater clarity is required about the different types of depression that can afflict patients.

Circumstantial depression

Commonly referred to as an adjustment disorder, it is a form of short term depression that is caused by a traumatic incident occurring in the patient’s life. These incidents could range from a divorce, suffering an accident, loss of a job or any other event that results in stress and anxiety.

While the symptoms are similar to those experienced by patients who suffer from clinical depression, but several important differences exist between the two.

Both forms of depression result in the following symptoms:

1. A feeling of restlessness enveloping the patient.
2. Experiencing helplessness in the face of life’s problems.
3. Suffering from sleep deprivation.
4. Feeling sad for no identifiable reason and having crying sessions.
5. Feeling anxious and stress about events beyond the patient’s control.
6. A general withdrawal from daily life, such as from the place of work and from a social life.
7. Becoming distant from loved ones, such as friends and families, and refusing to communicate.
8. Indulging in thoughts of suicide and fantasizing about taking one’s own life.

Clinical depression

With clinical depression, several of the symptoms mentioned above are experienced simultaneously, in addition to delusions and various other forms of psychosis.

In addition to the above symptoms, undergoing a traumatic incident can result in circumstantial depression that results in:
1. Aggressive behavior that can lead to violence.
2. Driving recklessly.
3. A general disregard for personal maintenance, including non-payment of bills.
4. Not being able to do well in school or at work due to stress and anxiety.

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