Is depression a disability? I believe it is. Any condition either a physical or mental one that prevents a person from doing normal day to day tasks is a disability in my eyes.
What is a disability? It is a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
There are various forms of depression;
- Major depression, also known as clinical depression
- Manic Depression (now known as Bipolar Disorder)
- Post Partum Depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Anxiety Depression
- Atypical Depression
- Double Depression
- Endogenous Depression
- Situational Depression or Reactive Depression
- Agitated Depression (Agitated depression exposed)
- Psychotic Melancholic Depression
- Catatonic Depression
Each form of depression brings with it its own unique symptoms and complications. Is depression a disability? Yes in the sense that it does prevent you from living a normal life.
If your mental illness affects your ability to carry out day-to-day activities then you are likely to be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.
While I have bipolar I do not think about myself as having a disability yet it does disable me. Some days, week’s even months I can see signs of improvement, until bang the depression takes you falling back down to the ground again with one almighty thud. This is the time when it affects me the most. I can no longer do all the things I would normally take for granted.
Just because a mental illness is not visible to the eye does not mean it is no more disabling than losing a limb. You cannot witness the damage inside someone’s head, which is where the controversial argument about is depression a disability arises from.
The word depression covers such a broad term used to describe feelings and thoughts and every sufferer experiences different symptoms. There is no size fits all with this mental illness.
There is no way in a depressed mood would I be able to get up with the alarm clock and go off to work for an 8 hour shift. It would be impossible. I do not enjoy any activities or socialising when in a depressed state. I become agitated and slightly aggressive and anxiety causes me to react and behave in inappropriate ways. While I am not a danger to others, when stressed I am to myself.
I am exhausted both emotionally and physically, I do not eat and I personally hear voices when I become overtired. (Read what is it like to hear voices). My concentration is poor, negative thoughts invade my life and suicidle thoughts become a regular thinking pattern. This is when depression becomes a disability.
While depression can be managed and lived with, there are times when it causes great changed in your life and does cause you to become disabled in a sense.
What are your own views; is depression a disability?
About The Real Supermum
I personally think it is x
I personally think it is i have had depression it stoped me from doin lots of stuff
x
Yes it is. It can take hold of your life just like any other disability. Just because you cant see it, doesnt mean its not there x
Is depression a disability? http://t.co/KY9PQXrX #depression
Is depression a disability? http://t.co/KY9PQXrX #depression
I think it most definatley is. Like louise said, just because you cant see it doesn’t mean its not there xx
Is depression a disability? http://t.co/KY9PQXrX
yeh i think it is
I feel that there is no ifs buts or maybes to this question it is a definite yes. But so many ppl are quick to judge because they cannot physically see it. I have had times where I just couldn’t face walking out the door or leaving the confinement of my bedroom as it was the only place I felt safe xx xxx
i so think it is i had really bad manic depression at one point it wasnt nice, some people think there lying or pretening they dont know half of whats going on in theres heads its not nice for people to judge x
i personally think it is too. its a nasty thing too have, im still battling it after being diagnosed 15 months ago, but im getting there
x
Is depression a disability? http://t.co/kTibGimm
Yes it is, without a doubt. It affects day to day life and has a significant impact on the quality of life also. How is it different to someone who suffers a physical disability except it mostly cannot be seen at a glance.
I think it is different with the different forms of depression. Two years ago I was diagnosed with Dysthymia (Neurotic Depression) and back then I could consider it a disability.
Unlike other mood disorder, Dysthymia is fairely treatable (the effort you put in will eventually pay off) by now, I don’t see myself as disabled.
I can understand that with more permanent mood disorders such BPD and MDD you could consider it a disability, but I don’t think all the mood disorders as described in DSM-IV should be ultimately considered a disability.
Just noticed you didn’t mention Neurotic Depression in the post. No one is aware of it, so weird.
Is depression a disability? http://t.co/4h9AFZEK
yes i think it is, it affects everyday life
Severe depression yea, all kinds of depression effect your everyday life but some cases are extreme x
No De[ression is not a disability I have a real disability I was bullied so much because of it :/
I really hate it that . I struggle with cutting eating disorder people thought that I had no feeling or that I wont understand what they are saying about me . But I do understand I do know .I have try 2 commit sucicde at less 3times by overdoesing . My disability is 22Q I’ve a youtube channle called Princess22Qxo
it has been over 1 year since I’ve not cut my self now I’m helping others as well
I’m in 12th grade now doing much better
some times yes it can be because it effects every apect of your life
No !!! it is not a disabiiity. It cant not be 1 if u were not born with it .
I was born with a disability called 22Q . I Hated My Life .. So much that I had
try 2 commit suicide . I use 2 cut ,not eat & suicide .
I was bullied so much in 10th grade . That I could take it anying more .
My family was fighting . My dad was in & out my life . I never really cut so deep that I had left scars only 2 scars on my wrist . I had 2 have heart surgery .
Sorry I’m not good at spelling . But I made a video about me at school in front of every1 . How I use 2 struggle with depression . I still struggle with sucicde , But I’ve awesome BEST FRIENDS who help me . No it has been over 1year since I’ve not hurt my self. I was so scary when I did the video . I thought that no1 would care about it . But I was wrong in so manying ways . My dream is 2 become a famous/actress. I’ve been told by so manying people that I cant become a famous singer/actress. But I don’t care what people say . I’ve a youtube channle called Princess22Qxo
My boyfriend & my mom are helping me has much has they can
Remeber if I can get help so can u
i’m undeceided on this as my husband suffered with it as does my son but my husband was diagnosed with in his 20′s he died at 62 but in the years inbetween he had been self employed & was very successful he didn’t take any med’s for it from late 20′s till his early 50′s we were together 4 years before i knew there was something wrong , he would just say dont feel well i’m going to bed & when he was unwell he liked to be left alone untill 1 day it all fell in on top of him after a long chat & some pushing from me he went to see the doc who gave him med’s which sorted him out & took till he died he still had bad days but coped . my son on the other hand was diagnosed 4years ago got med’s straight away hasn’t found any that he likes worries if he has nothing to worry about & most days doesn’t want to face the world so i’m not saying it is or isn’t a disability i just think it has something to do will your own ability to deal with things & how much you let it get hold of you .i also think not enough is done for people with depression most are just medicated & sent home which in my opinion doesn’t help them get better x
Depression is certainly disabling, and of course I’ve had my fair share of not eating/sleeping/shitting/getting out of bed/speaking/moving/whatever (gross, I know, but mental illness is not pretty). I consider it a spectrum: some people will cope relatively well, some will be severely, chronically disabled. I personally don’t consider myself disabled; I don’t have it easy but I’ve had depression since my early teens and managed to study well despite what I’ve gone through (not pretty). However if other people consider that their depression disables them I’m in no position to tell them “no, you’re not disabled” because it’s definitely a condition that makes life much harder to live with.