Clinical depression is much different then normal depression. Normal depression lasts a short time and then disappears to be replaced with a more positive mood. Clinical depression can last for days, months, even years. More importantly, normal depression does not disable a person. A person with clinical depression can act irrationally or “out of character” and clinical depression can make a person unable to function day to day or even hour to hour.
People may experience some or all of the following symptoms of clinical depression: sadness, anxiety, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, insomnia, weight gain or loss, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, thoughts of death or suicide, excessive emotionalism, physical ailments that do not respond to treatment. (Becker & Kleinman, 1992) Clinical depression affects about 10% of the population. During their lifetimes, 10-25% of men and 5-12 of women will suffer from clinical depression. This disorder affects twice as many women as men and is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
There is no standard cause for clinical depression, although studies show that some people are predisposed genetically to becoming clinically depressed. Trauma, such as losing a loved one, can also be a factor for becoming clinically depressed. Treatment for clinical depression often requires psychotropic medications to get the symptoms under control. The majority of patients respond well to medication although this does not mean all patients will respond this way. Therapy is also helpful in helping identify the source of the depression and minimizing the symptoms.
There is no cure for schizophrenia. (Williams, 1992) The movie Prozac Nation is about clinical depression. It follows Elizabeth Wurtzel through college and into a job writing for a magazine while battling clinical depression. Like many, Elizabeth did not realize she was depressed, she just knew her life was out of control and she hurt all the time. She engaged in self destructive behavior to try to make herself feel differently. She lashed out at people around her, and then was overcome with remorse, only to complete the vicious circle by lashing out at those who tried to help her.
Eventually she ended up going to a therapist but was reluctant to admit she could be helped. After much work and a few back slides, she gave the therapy and the medication a chance. The medication turned her around and she began to put the pieces of her life back together. The movie portrays clinical depression as violent and self destructive. This is an apt portrayal for some patients but does not represent the majority of clinical depression sufferers. Elizabeth did a lot of drinking and drugs in the movie and this is common with clinically depressed people.
This “self medicating” can lead to other issues, such as drug addiction or alcoholism. Elizabeth also went through a roller coaster of emotions in this movie. Clinical depression does not mean the person feels “down” all the time. Clinically depressed people frequently have sudden bursts of temper or crying jags, both for no apparent reason. Prozac Nation gave an accurate portrayal of Elizabeth and the people around her trying to deal with her depression, both before and after treatment. Many people do not realize they have clinical depression, thinking instead that this is the way things are and nothing will help.
Prozac Nation presented a truthful picture of someone who is suffering from clinical depression and the effort it took to overcome and deal with it. It showed all aspects of her inability to function, from lack of hygiene or cleaning to her self doubt and constant worry that she would drive people away. This movie gave a good interpretation of how someone with clinical depression not only acts, but feels as well. Feeling out of control and unable to stop is not a normal feeling and few stop to think of how someone with this disorder may be feeling when confronted with the symptoms.
Prozac Nation showed me that people are individuals, even with psychological disorders. There are many variations of clinical depression and all people will not fit into one mold. In looking at a diagnosis of clinical depression, all factors should be considered. The movie proves that the complexity of psychological disorders makes it important to get as much information as one can about the patient. People’s lifestyle, stress levels and ways of coping with these things all tell a lot about whether the depression may be clinical or normal.
The movie portrays clinical depression fairly accurately. It tends to exaggerate the symptoms and behaviors to illustrate the severity of the disorder but otherwise shows an accurate portrayal of someone suffering from clinical depression. Prozac Nation does a good job of making people aware of clinical depression and in some cases may help people identify the disorder in themselves or a loved one and seek help. Elizabeth’s struggle to cope and survive with depression is a good example of the disorder from the patient’s viewpoint.(“Prozac Nation”, 2005)
References
(1991). Psychosocial Aspects of Depression (J. Becker & A. Kleinman, Ed. ). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved April 9, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=o&d=48980387 Skjoldbjaerg, Erik (director). 2001. Prozac Nation [Motion Picture]. United States: Millennium Films. Williams, J. M. (1992). The Psychological Treatment of Depression: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. New York: Routledge.