Normal Depressed Mood Disorder

Mood Disorder

These conditions are natural reactions to losses in life. They involve sadness, lethargy, and in serious cases, for example, grief after the death of a loved one, often despair, anger, insomnia, poor appetite, or weight gain, obsessive thoughts about the lost person, and terrible guilt about any problems in the depressed person's relationship with the deceased individual. What makes these reactions normal is that people eventually recover. After losing a ball game, it may take a day or two to bounce back. After a lay-off, it may take a few months. After the death of a loved one, it may take a year. If they don't recover, they have a clinical depression and should call a doctor.

Normal Depressed Mood and Grief presume a triggering life event. If you or anyone you know displays these symptoms without a loss, or if the depression seems out of proportion to the loss--not getting a raise and sobbing inconsolably for days--call a doctor.

Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

Life is full of changes. Coping with them can be difficult. Many people feel overwhelmed and "crazy" for a while. Then they get things under control. If they don't, and they become persistently gloomy, angry, and unable to cope, that's adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood presumes a triggering life event--the change you have to adjust to. If you or anyone you know displays these symptoms without a life change, or if the depression seems out of proportion to the change--moving to a new city and not being able to get out of bed--call a doctor.

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