Crippling depression can take over your life because of several reasons. It can make it difficult for you to enjoy the quality of life. While you may feel that there is no way to escape and that the depression will never go away, several solutions may come to your rescue.

What Is Crippling Depression

This is a severe form of depressive disorder that makes it difficult for you to enjoy your normal life.  Also known as debilitating depression, a person usually undergoes some major depressive episodes. During these episodes, the person may struggle with having negative moods all the time. They may also be struggling with constant feelings of emptiness or being overly sad. A person with crippling depression will usually lack interest in the activities and life they used to enjoy previously.

Since debilitating depression may last for a while, it may affect your physical health. Certain difficulties such as significant weight loss or gain without changing one’s diet are a common impact of crippling depression. Some people also structure with changes in their sleep pattern, increased fatigue, difficulties concentrating and deciding, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. These changes also make it difficult to go to work or even interact with others.

How Do You Know You Have Crippling Depression?

Crippling depression will usually reveal itself as an extreme feeling of sadness or worthlessness that makes it difficult for you to enjoy your daily living. The feeling of depression can be so extreme that you no longer feel capable of doing activities you would normally do. For some people, it becomes extremely difficult to get out of bed or even feed themselves because of the symptoms. Crippling depression also leads to a decrease in motivation and an increase in suicidal thoughts. Common symptoms include:

Easily irritated

Lack of energy

Lack of interest in hobbies or life activities

Difficulties in concentrating on tasks or making decisions

Unexplained appetite or weight loss

Self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness

Increase in appetite and weight gain

Suicidal thoughts or behaviours

Common Causes Of Crippling Depression

Although feeling sad is a normal part of life, it becomes a point of concern when it starts to impact your ability to enjoy life. As a mental condition, crippling depression can be caused by a variety of factors, which vary significantly from one person to another. Sometimes the condition can be a one-time thing, but it can also be a recurring problem. The most common causes include:

Mental illness

A family history/Genetics

Childhood trauma

Stress responses to daily events

Negative thinking style

Ruminative thinking style (Constantly thinking about negative situations in the past)

Circadian rhythm disturbances  

Exposure to discrimination

Female gender roles

Reduced neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine)

Cultural views of depression

Lack of social support

Substance abuse

Physical disabilities

In most cases, crippling depression may develop because of more than one factor., The combination or accumulation of multiple factors worsens the symptoms of major depressive disorder.

How Crippling Depression Is Diagnosed

When diagnosing this kind of depression, the psychiatrist or therapist will focus on your internal feelings. If you have been struggling with feelings of worthlessness or sadness, the therapist will validate if they indicate crippling depression. It is recommended you seek help if you, your child, or your teenager is experiencing many of the symptoms listed above.

How Is Crippling Depression Treatment

Treatment of crippling depression can vary significantly depending on the symptoms. There is no one-size-fits-all remedy, but the focus is improving the overall mental and emotional health of a person. With timely treatment, you can overcome the symptoms and address specific triggers. The commonly recommended treatment options include:

Meditation

Counselling and therapy

Talk Therapy

Exercise

Medication

Socialization such as joining a club or spending time with the people who make you happy

5 Important Tips To Deal With Crippling Depression

It’s normal to feel that you are the one who brought the depression to yourself. However, you should not blame yourself for feeling sad or worthless. Just like any other mental health, depression can happen to anyone. However, it is not always persistent and you have several things at your disposal that you can do to improve your condition.

1. Seek the help of a counsellor or therapist to understand your condition and help in improving your overall health.

2. Your doctor may prescribe medications such as antidepressants which help in overcoming the symptoms.

3. Go for a walk or do some yoga to help move the feel-good hormones and endorphins around your body.

4. Consider adopting a pet as your personal companion

5. Take a social media break to focus on your mental health

Crippling or debilitating depression can make it difficult for you to enjoy the life you once did. However, the symptoms are manageable when you seek the right kind of help, allowing you to lead a normal life. If you have noticed any symptoms that indicate depression, make sure to talk to your doctor for guidance on the next steps to take.