how has this post improved your understanding of depression?
I found it very interesting to read about the line between mild and severe depression, and the concept of resilience.
However, I have a question: How does the term: "depressive episode" fit in? I was diagnosed with one of those previously (the classical burn out situation), and it sure felt quite severe and lasted for quite a long time (that's a subjective feeling, of course). But there was no medication involved in it's passing away.
As far as I understood, a "real" depression is something else than a depressive episode, in that it is a constant, long-lasting condition rather than an effect limited to some months - am I correct here?
A depressive episode is another name for severe depression @sco, which can also be termed unipolar disorder, clinical depression, major depression etc.. Too many names, right?The diagnosis of depression is totally categorical; that is to say, based on the symptoms you present. It seems like you had a cautious mental-health professional assisting you :) What I can tell by your brief explanation is that despite the fact that your symptoms met the criteria required for the diagnosis of a depressive episode, they did not seem to require aid from medication. A proof of this is the fact that you feel they have alleviated! So glad to hear that!
Don't get to caught up with the terms :) they are there just to help researchers and clinicians to do their job.
Thank you for your interesting comment!
phew, that IS complicated.
However, I think here in Austria the policy is much more restrictive towards psychotherapeutic drugs, than e. g. in the US.