The concept of depression and all the various forms of the word have evolved in society over time. The meaning of depression has moved from a vague, broad idea to a specific clinical diagnosis with clear criteria.
The concept of melancholia (from which we get our modern-day word, melancholy) was first used by the ancient Greeks to describe a general feeling of profound sadness. The word “depression” started being used by early psychiatrists like Emil Kraepelin in the 19th century to differentiate depressive states from other types of melancholia.
By the 1930s, the diagnostic criteria for depression were defined and introduced into official medical journals and scholarly conversations. Today, the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 (2013) provides clarification and classification of depressive disorders, which are now considered serious conditions that affect a person’s ability to function effectively in their daily lives.
The words associated with depression have even changed meaning in less formal settings and in different contexts. If you talk with an older adult, they might say that something is depressing or that they’re depressed because their favorite television show got cancelled. But if they said that in a medical setting, it might be taken to mean that they are experiencing clinical depression.
Younger generations are more sensitive to the use of the word. They often reserve it mostly for medically defined depression and mental disorders instead of a synonym for being bummed or feeling down about something.
The Clinical Definition
While the term depression can sometimes be used loosely, clinically, depression is much deeper than just feeling sad or disappointed. Everyone feels down from time to time, but true depression affects how a person thinks, feels, and functions daily. According to the DSM-5, symptoms can include:
- persistent low mood
- loss of interest in things that once brought joy
- changes in sleep and appetite
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- trouble concentrating or making decisions
These substantial emotions can be present for weeks, months, and even years. They interfere with all aspects of life, including work, school, relationships, and daily functioning.
There’s a difference between casually saying “I’m depressed” and living with actual clinical depression. Depression is a real medical issue rather than just a mood. It’s important to have a generally accepted definition of the vast spectrum of the concept of depression and to be careful with our word choices when we’re communicating about depression to others.
What is “almost depression”?
It’s not a clinical term recognized by psychologists or even one that is used in modern language. But it is a concept that is worth exploring because many people find themselves living in that gray area where life feels hard but not quite hard enough to meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of depression. You might not have every symptom listed in the DSM-5, but you still feel weighed down, unmotivated, and disconnected from your usual world.
This “almost depression” might be revealed in constant low energy, the feeling of going through the motions of life without joy, or an unrelenting sadness that lingers just under the surface in life. It’s more than just a bad day, but it’s also not the full force of a major depressive disorder either.
The Danger of “Almost Depression”
What makes “almost depression” so dangerous is its invisibility. People who live with it often function well enough in their daily lives to pass by undetected. They still go to work, they attend family gatherings, and they pay bills. To the outsider’s eye, they may look fine, but inside, they might be struggling to get out of bed.
A person who feels this way might live in a gray fog that can last for months, or longer, slowly dulling their ability to feel excitement, creativity, or hope. And because it doesn’t scream for help the way that major depression sometimes does, almost depression can go unrecognized and untreated.
While it’s not as extreme as clinical depression, this state of “almost depression” can be just as exhausting as the full-blown version. Imagine waking up every day with a stone in your chest. You walk around, carrying this extra weight along with you. You function. You don’t alarm anyone with your struggle, so you convince yourself that this extra weight isn’t worth mentioning. But over time, that stone can grind down even the strongest spirits.
One of the most troubling and dangerous parts of this “almost depressed” state is how easily it can be dismissed. People blame themselves for laziness or attribute their lack of motivation to stress. They might be embarrassed to speak up because they don’t believe that their struggle is serious enough to warrant help.
Society doesn’t help this matter one bit. Our modern culture praises and glamorizes productivity, giving extra credit to those with seemingly resilient spirits. When someone functions well despite obstacles, they receive praise. While productivity and resilience are positive and should be recognized, they can also mask a struggling heart. Admitting those struggles can be difficult in a culture that values busyness and bravery.
Therapy Offers Support
Some people in this “almost depressed” state might hesitate to seek therapy because they don’t want to waste a therapist’s time. They might think that therapy is reserved for people in an absolute and obvious crisis. But it’s also for those who want to prevent a crisis. It’s for those who simply want to live an abundant life, as God desires.
A therapist listens without judgment to the struggles that you’re experiencing, and they care, even if those struggles sound insignificant to you. They won’t undermine your struggles or dismiss them as trivial. They will offer honest feedback and tools to help you contextualize your struggles and teach you how to mitigate them.
God wants you to live a life of fullness
God wants you to live a life full of abundance, and living with feelings of “almost depression” can feel like a spiritual drought. You might be in that drought now, where your prayers seem to bounce back from the ceiling, and faith feels like an empty ritual. But even in those silent stretches, God is not absent.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10, NIV
Scripture is filled with raw cries from people who knew the taste of despair. David in the Psalms poured out his anguish. Elijah sat under a broom tree, begging for his life to end. Job tore his clothes in grief.
These voices remind us that sadness is not foreign to God’s people. Sadness is part of the human condition. But in that sadness is also beauty, because it is in that place of utter defeat that we utterly surrender to God. He meets us when we can’t move to meet Him.
“Almost depression” can sharpen your hunger for God’s presence. When life feels dull and muted, your prayers can take on a fervor that easy days rarely produce. You cry out in your weakness, and God promises His strength.
Hope in the Fog
“Almost depression” may not have a place in the medical textbooks, but it has a place in the lives of countless people. It’s the gray fog that you might live in that will never make a headline, but can feel like an ever-present hurdle.
If you’re living in a state of “almost depression”, it may be an important time for you to reach out for help. A licensed Christian therapist can help you rise above the fog to see your life with more clarity and through the loving lens of your Heavenly Father. He wants you to live a life of abundance. The therapists in our office can help you get there. Connect with us today.
Photo:
“Depressed”, Courtesy of Getty Images, Unsplash.com, Unsplash+ License
