Do you feel that your life has come to a stop due to depression? Do you feel exhausted and worthless? Do you lack the motivation and energy to do anything? Is it becoming increasingly hard to get through your day? You just might be suffering from crippling depression.
What is crippling depression?
Crippling depression is an alternate, mainstream term and a modern slang term for major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression. However, people who suffer from this variation of depression explain it as a severe form of major depression with more intense symptoms, leaving the sufferers unable to function normally in their daily life. Someone with crippling depression and anxiety may not be able to do basic tasks in their day-to-day life, like waking up from bed or taking a shower, and it can also affect their ability to study, work or maintain relationships.
The term “crippling” is primarily used to denote the strong emotional pain, mental instability and low mood the sufferers experience in their life that makes them incapable of performing basic life tasks. Although it is described as “crippling” by sufferers, experts avoid using this term as it may be insulting, offensive, or harmful to individuals suffering from physical, cognitive or psychiatric disabilities. Hence the term crippling depression is not recognized officially or used medically. Alternative terms like “devastating” and “debilitating” are often used to describe MDD with severe symptoms.
Related: What Is Major Depressive Disorder?
It is a common type of mental illness. According to studies, major depressive disorder is a highly prevalent psychiatric disorder with an average of 12% lifetime prevalence. While other studies reveal that about 27% of the population experience depression or depressive symptoms at least once in their lifetime.
What crippling depression feels like
Someone struggling with crippling depression may find it really difficult to carry out daily normal tasks like –
- Getting out of bed
- Eating
- Bathing or taking a shower
- Cooking
- Leaving the house
- Going to school or work
- Maintaining personal hygiene, like brushing their teeth
- Practicing self-care, like being physically active
They may also have difficulty sleeping or may suffer from insomnia. They experience a serious decline in daily functioning and their ability to live a healthy, normal life visibly reduces. They may also find it difficult to socialize and may avoid talking or interacting with others, leading to social withdrawal or self-isolation.
Related: What is Existential Depression? 15 Signs You Have It
A person with crippling depression or debilitating depression may also resist help from loved ones and refuse to seek help for the condition. Sufferers often report that they feel like laying in their bed all day and not doing anything at all. Such episodes of low mood and lack of motivation and energy may last for days, weeks or months, when left untreated or unaddressed.
Sadly, MDD can affect all aspects of life and everyday life can seem extremely mentally and physically exhausting and taxing. Although some factors may affect the onset of this mental condition, anyone can suffer from this form of depression regardless of their age, gender, nationality, race, culture or financial background. However, treatment involving therapy and medication can help someone manage the symptoms.
Related: What Depression Looks Like: The Hard-Hitting Truth
Signs of crippling depression
Here are some of the most common crippling depression symptoms, both mental and physical, that you need to know about –
1. Psychological symptoms:
- Stress and anxiety
- Constant feelings of sadness
- Low mood or feeling upset
- Inability to perform daily tasks
- Loneliness & emptiness
- Feeling hopelessness or helplessness
- Being pessimistic
- Irritability and impatience
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of guilt, shame or worthlessness
- Self-harm or suicidal ideation
- Inability to enjoy pleasurable activities
- Low self-esteem
- Frustration or restlessness
- Indecisiveness
- Social isolation
- Extreme mood swings
2. Physical symptoms:
- Fatigue or exhaustion
- Talking too fast or slow
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping or waking up
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight
- Poor immune system
- Unexplained aches, cramps, and chronic pains
- Slow physical movements
- Frequent physical illnesses like the common cold
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
- Low energy
- Psychomotor agitation (body tics & fidgeting)
- Poor personal hygiene
Related: The 8 Types of Depression: Identifying Signs and Symptoms
