Is It Possible to Have Depression if I'm Still Able to Run My Life?
It's possible for someone to function in everyday life despite having depression, because depression is an illness that has a range of severity. Those who have a relatively mild form of depression may feel unhappy, have difficulty experiencing joy, and have a number of physiologic effects, but these symptoms don't keep them from being able to fulfill their responsibilities.
With a moderate depression, it becomes more challenging to manage responsibilities because of problems with mood and, often, concentration and fatigue. As depression becomes more severe, it grows more and more challenging to make decisions and maintain confidence. With the most severe depression, one eventually loses the ability to manage any significant responsibility. This is because of physiologic problems, including the ability to think clearly -- and because mood is so disordered that it includes a feeling of hopelessness profound enough that it's associated with thoughts of suicide.
Recommended for you
- What to Do When Someone Experiences Depression After a Stroke
- How to Deal With Post Heart Attack Depression
- Since her cancer diagnosis, my mother has seemed very depressed. Does she need professional help?
- My mother has been depressed since her cancer diagnosis; how can I persuade her to see a therapist?
- See all 573 questions about Depression
