clinical depression

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Understanding "Clinical Depression"

Definition: "Clinical depression" is a type of depression that is very serious and affects a person's ability to function in daily life. It often requires help from a doctor or mental health professional. People with clinical depression may feel very sad, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, and have trouble doing everyday activities.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You can use the term "clinical depression" when talking about serious mental health issues that need professional treatment.
• Context: It is often used in medical, psychological, and everyday discussions about mental health.

Example Sentence:

• "After feeling very sad for many months and not being able to enjoy anything, Maria decided to see a doctor and was diagnosed with clinical depression."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more technical context, you might hear phrases like "diagnosed with clinical depression" or "undergoing treatment for clinical depression."

Word Variants:

• Adjective: "Clinical" (related to the observation of patients or treatment)
• Noun: "Depression" (the state of feeling sad or hopeless)

Different Meanings:

• Depression (general): This can refer to a lower mood or feeling sad, which may not be as severe as clinical depression.
• Clinical: This can also mean related to a clinic or the practical aspects of medicine.

Synonyms:

• Major depressive disorder
• Major depression
• Severe depression

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Down in the dumps": This idiom means feeling sad or unhappy, but it is not as severe as clinical depression.
• Phrasal Verb: "Pull oneself together" means to regain control of one’s emotions, which can be difficult for someone experiencing clinical depression.

Conclusion:

Understanding "clinical depression" is important because it helps us recognize when someone might need help.

Academic

Noun

1. a state of depression and anhedonia so severe as to require clinical intervention

Synonyms

• depressive disorder
• depression