Depression is the second-most prevalent mental health condition in the United States, following anxiety. It affects people of all ages and from all walks of life, showcasing itself as persistent sadness and hopelessness, and disrupting a person’s ability to function in everyday life.
Clinically speaking, depression is diagnosed when symptoms are persistent, lasting for two weeks or more. How long depression actually lasts, however, varies person to person. Untreated depression can last for several months, but it can also become chronic.
Is Depression a Chronic Illness (and Lifelong)?
If you’re wondering if depression is a chronic illness, the answer isn’t straightforward. It depends! While depression can be chronic and lifelong, this is not always the case. Experts state that depression typically lasts between six and 12 months, however, recent studies show that up to 28% of depression patients develop more persistent or chronic symptoms.
Chronic depression is formally diagnosed as Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). It is a long-term condition that mirrors depressive symptoms – low mood and energy, sadness and emptiness, low self-esteem – but lasts for years on end. While the symptoms are not as severe as major depressive disorder (MDD), they can interfere with your relationships, responsibilities, and ability to fulfill daily activities.
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Depression?
People struggling with Persistent Depressive Disorder exhibit many low-grade symptoms of major depression. These symptoms often come and go, though they rarely disappear. Generally, they cause a person to come across as low energy, moody, and gloomy on most occasions.
How can you tell the difference between major depression (the most common form of depression) and PDD? The symptoms of PDD, or chronic depression, last for several years—two at minimum. They also tend to be more mild than the severe symptoms of major depression.
Here’s what chronic depression looks like:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- Frequent worries or feelings of guilt over the past
- Constant low energy or fatigue
- Loss of interest in daily activities
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Avoidance of social situations
- Self-criticism and poor self-esteem
- Inability to concentrate or make decisions
- Fast escalation to anger or annoyance
- Changes in eating habits (eating too much or too little)
- Changes in sleeping habits (sleeping too much or too little)
Who is At Risk for Chronic Depression?
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression today, you might be worried about how long the symptoms will last. Depression gets in the way of daily life and a person’s ability to find joy and purpose—the thought of an extended tenure can be daunting. So, you might be asking: Who is most at risk for chronic depression?
Unfortunately, the cause of Persistent Depressive Disorder is unknown. Like depression, it may be triggered by genetic factors, traumatic events, frequent stress, or changes in brain chemistry. However, research shows that women are predominately affected by PDD. Furthermore, statistics show that the majority of people with chronic depression (75%) will also have an episode of major depression at some point in their lives. While these conditions may co-occur, it’s also possible that depressive symptoms can become chronic over time, without proper treatment.
Is Chronic Depression Treatable?
While chronic depression has the capacity to last for several years, rest assured that it’s also highly treatable. In fact, depressive disorders like PDD are some of the most treatable mental health conditions. Early intervention can prevent symptoms of depression from worsening or becoming chronic.
Unfortunately, however, those facing Persistent Depressive Disorder often delay getting help. PDD symptoms, as noted previously, are long-lasting and less severe than major depression, which makes them feel almost “normal” and therefore, easier to place on the backburner. Over time, however, chronic symptoms can become exhausting and disrupt a person’s overall health and social state.
So, how is chronic depression treated? Similar to other depressive disorders, the recommended treatment for Persistent Depressive Disorder involves a combination of psychotherapy (i.e. talk therapy) and antidepressant medication. The exact course of treatment, of course, varies case by case.
Some of the most effective treatments for depression include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed therapy methods. In addition to these approaches, lifestyle changes and holistic therapies can also support depression recovery. These might include enhanced nutrition, routine changes, exercise, time spent outdoors, social connection, and improved sleep habits.
At Turnbridge, we believe that treatment should always be individualized – Not every case of depression looks the same, and no single course of treatment will work for everyone. Our approach is rooted in evidence-based therapies, where we combine methods like CBT, DBT, and holistic therapeutic activities to meet clients’ evolving needs, at every stage of their treatment journey.
Turnbridge is a recognized treatment provider for young people struggling with depression and other mental health conditions. If you would like to learn more about chronic depression or treatment for Persistent Depressive Disorder, please do not hesitate to reach out to our specialists. We are available at 877-581-1793.