How Disabling Is Depression
Many times, depression can make you feel like you have lost your desire to do just about anything. Other times it can cause you to lose sleep or skip meals. That alone can zap your energy and add to the apathetic cycle of no motivation.
In some cases, depression can be considered a full blown disability. According to Section 12102(1)(A) of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person can be disabled if they have “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Under this standard, depression will generally be considered a disability if it substantially affects a person’s daily life. This is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Depression symptoms can vary from one person to another but often include:
Feeling sad, empty, worthless, guilty, hopeless, anxious, restless, or irritable
Crying, or feeling like you need to cry
Losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed doing.
Disruption to your regular sleep cycle like trouble getting to or staying asleep or sleeping too much
Disruption to your regular eating routine like skipping meals because you had no desire to eat, or binge eating things that “make you feel better”
Thinking, speaking, or moving more slowly
Having trouble focusing, decision paralysis, and having trouble remembering things
Having recurring thoughts of harming yourself or someone else.
While it is normal to experience one or two of these symptoms in a mild form occasionally, it can be problematic if they occur together and frequently. When someone is experiencing a depressive episode they typically experience symptoms like these most of the day, almost every day. In fact, when depression reaches a state of disability, it is often said that the symptoms have “taken over” and the individual feels as if the symptoms are preventing them from functioning the way they would like to, or at least the way they usually do at work, at home or just in their daily routine.
Offering Help for Individuals With Depression
If you’ve been diagnosed with depression or you’re just experiencing the symptoms described above, and are not sure what to do to get better, we can help. Our therapists are highly experienced in treating depression and can help you get to the bottom of what is making you feel this way, and preventing you from being successful. They offer the compassionate care you deserve. Contact us today to get started. You can feel better, and we can help.