What type of depression is biological?

This was published by Kregel Publications;

 It is taken from chapter 6

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The following are general physical or emotional symptoms associated with clinical depression. These symptoms relate to the illness itself. Other effects on the body will come from taking prescribed medications to combat the depression. Doctors and pharmacists should explain these effects in detail at the time they are prescribed. If you aren’t sure if some symptom is medication or illness related, ask the professionals.

    •  Gastrointestinal complaints. Many suffer symptoms of nausea and diarrhea. Others tend to become constipated.

    •  Increased heart rate and migrating pains in the back. Such symptoms are common with normal reactions to stress, but they can be strongly related to biological depression.

    •  Poor concentration and short-term memory. In deep depression, it can be impossible to pull even simple ideas from what is written or stated. The brain may not be able to process daily events or familiar ideas. Inability to concentrate is normal during times of grief and can indicate other problems. It is present even in mild forms of depression. A sustained inability to concentrate or remember should be investigated by professionals.

    •  Psychomotor agitation. Our narrative has already mentioned physical agitation. I paced the house endlessly, rubbing my head and wringing my hands. At times it felt like a flame was running red-hot from my upper torso down my legs.

    •  Psychomotor retardation. Sometimes symptoms run opposite to agitation. Depressed individuals can tend toward agitation at one time and psycho motor retardation at another. With retardation, the tendency is to sleep or eat more than usual. The general level of functioning is slowed.

    •  Loss of appetite. Those with psychomotor retardation may want to overeat, while those in a more agitated state never feel hungry and may be made nauseous by food. For me, loss of appetite was one of the first indications that something was wrong. I had symptoms of a gastrointestinal virus. This is one reason a depressed person who goes on antidepressants and starts to feel better may gain weight.

    •  Diurnal mood variation. During an episode, it is common for feelings of depression and agitation to reach a climax late in the morning. I was sometimes so agitated at this time of day that only walking for miles with a friend or relative could be a distraction. The intensity of symptoms normally subsides through the afternoon and evening.

    •  Sleeplessnesss. There are clinical descriptions for difficulties related to sleep. Terminal insomnia means the person wakes up at two or three night after night and is unable to return to sleep. Others have difficulty falling asleep (initial insomnia) or in reaching the deeper levels of sleep state (middle insomnia). Again, the insomnia must be a fairly frequent problem to be an indication, and insomnia can relate to other causes. Also, as with psycho motor activity levels, some depressed people go to the other extreme—called hypersomnia. The person sleeps for abnormally long periods, dozes off during waking hours, or takes excessive naps.

    •  Chronic fatigue. I’ve sometimes felt “exhausted to the bones,” an intense, overwhelming tiredness that only someone who has been really sick can understand.

    •  Intense sadness. Intense sadness is the signature symptom associated with being depressed. It can feel like a tortuous pain in the chest. Minutes drag like hours. How intense is intense? This is suffocating gloom, far beyond the “doldrums” or being “down.” I believe the literal hell is far worse than depression, but I understand why depression is described as “a living hell.”

    •  Tearfulness. Some shut down emotionally during depression, but tears are a frequent symptom. I have wept so often during an episode that my cheeks became red and chapped from crying.

    •  Feelings of worthlessness. Depression generates dark, negative thoughts and feelings of failure. The feelings are accentuated when the sufferer knows that this illness is placing burdens on loved ones. A depressed person looks at others who are adequately and easily fulfilling roles of employee, parent, or spouse. Brain dysfunction intensifies feelings of failure when one can’t meet the obligations for these roles.

    •  Inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia). The depressed person cannot experience normal reactions of pleasure or joy. In this unrelenting inability to feel pleasure, no special expression of love will make a difference, nor will “good news” bring cheer. For instance, the person cannot feel the warmth and wonder of surveying God’s creation.

    •  Suicidal thoughts and plans. As seen in chapter 4, suicidal thoughts accompany depression as fever accompanies the flu.

    •  Loss of sex drive. Depressed libido can be a symptom of depression and a side effect of antidepressants. Other antidepressants sometimes alleviate the problem. This can be especially difficult for a man to accept.  This was copied from the book Broken Minds

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Reformed Theology

Founder of Key Life Ministries