Depression

A few columns ago I wrote on anxiety and several possible modalities for coping with such mental distress.  Depression is another negative emotion, which we all experience from time to time.  I shall devote this column to describing what is occurring psychologically when we get depressed and some possible ways to alleviate depression.

Clinically speaking, there are two types of depression, endogenous and reactive.  The endogenous type of depression refers to feelings of hopelessness and sadness, which result from some sort of internal, probably biochemical, imbalance.  Women who experience premenstrual stress or depression related to menopausal hormonal changes are examples of endogenous depressions.  Manic-depressive individuals who experience wide mood swings over a period of days, weeks, or months are another example of individuals with a biochemical imbalance, which causes emotional changes.  I will not discuss endogenous depressions, as this type of depression responds best to a chemical rather than a psychological intervention, although the psychological techniques are a useful adjunct to chemotherapy.

Reactive depression refers to the phenomena which results from some sort of perceived loss.  For example, if we don’t get that promotion or an important contract we had our hopes set on, or if we feel our spouse no longer loves us, we experience a reactive depression.