Intro to Situational Depression

This video provides an introduction to situational depression, also known as adjustment disorder. It explains the symptoms, causes, and duration of this type of depression, emphasizing that it is often triggered by major life changes.

Have you heard of situational depression? Situational depression is often triggered by a major change in a person's life, such as the death of a loved one or moving to a new place. It is also known as adjustment disorder. Situational depression involves many of the same symptoms as clinical depression. These include extreme feelings of sadness or hopelessness, frequent crying, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, and loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy. Other symptoms can include stress and anxiety, changes in appetite, disinterest in socialization, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. While clinical depression may occur for no specific reason, situational depression can be linked to a certain event. For a person with situational depression, depressive symptoms may begin up to three months prior to the stressful event and can last up to six months after the event.