Clinical Depression Description: What is Depression? Lacks Some Key Common Symptoms Many People Feel
This description of "what is depression" lacks quite a lot of important key indicators that can help people describe to others what's happening when they haven't even found those words yet from not knowing what's happening to them. Link from the depression self-help guide:
https://www.7cups.com/what-does-depression-feel-like/
It is very important for people to know that MANY people who suffer from clinical or severe depression will have feelings similar to drowning down a dark deep well with slippery walls they can't just decide to climb out of or ignore, feeling numb and/or apathetic. It can also include very physical symptoms like chronic physical pains/aches and very unpredictable energy drain to the point of it seeming like you had another illness similar to an unpredictable chronic flu without the fever or cough.
Of course you wouldn't tell someone who broke their leg to just ignore it and go out for a walk, or tell someone with a high fever who can't go to work to power through it or focus on a task with determination. I feel strongly that even some people with depression don't realize there are others who have it that bad and everyone experiences it differently so one won't necessarily fit same symptoms another does. Part of the problem is having lists of indicators that are missing key points like this. I also think it should include "spoon theory" but taking it a step farther to explain that it's not just a matter of getting enough sleep or knowing how much energy you'll have every day because it can be so unpredictable. Countless times I've had to explain that to people and it would help vastly if online descriptions all mentioned all of this. I know Rome wasn't built in a day and research is still being done etc. Let's set the example by building on each other's first hand experience descriptions instead of disregarding each other because it wasn't what we personally experienced.
Link I posted was actually "What does depression feel like?" which isn't the one I mentioned of "What is depression?" so this is the correct link according to my words: https://www.7cups.com/what-is-depression/ My post applies to both of them however because neither of them have any of those key points.
The depression course on 7cups also does not emphasize the importance of getting enough vitamin D3 (easiest form of the vitamin for the body to make use of it in producing more serotonin in the brain). Today the recommended amount is around 4000 UI in Canada for the safe upper maximum which can change depending on things like body weight and quality of the digestive system.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/the-vitamin-d-dilemma-how-much-should-we-be-taking/article23672033/
Sunlight is only mentioned with seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.) but vitamin D applies to everyone no matter what their condition is and especially important with all forms of depression to ensure there isn't a lack because having a lack of serotonin will result in chronic depression no matter how much positive thinking a person does. Not many people know that UVB rays are blocked by the atmosphere when sun is at lower angle to the Earth's surface so better time to get sunlight for D3 production is at about 45-90 degree angle (10am-3pm approximately but high noon is when sun does more skin damage faster so limiting exposure is also wise within reason). UVB is also blocked somewhat by cloud cover and entirely by window glass so you won't get any sitting by the window unless it's open to let those specific rays in. More info here: https://www.sunsaferx.com/health-tips/vitamin-d-and-sunlight-how-to-know-if-your-sun-exposure-is-producing-vitamin-d/
I know all this may be in the "Health" section of 7cups but should be stated with depression help since many of us become depressed by not being aware of the importance of D3 and it's link with mood health.
