Short-term depression can still be debilitating
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Situational depression involvessymptoms of depressionthat are related to stress.
These feelings of depression are usually triggered by a traumatic event, sudden stress, or major life change.
Situational depression may be diagnosed asadjustment disorderwith depressed mood.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Things you are normally able to handle seem overwhelming or impossible.
Situational depression typically begins within the 90 day period following the stressful event.
While symptoms usually recede within six months, they may range in severity from milder cases to more severe.
What Triggers Situational Depression?
Situational depression begins after some sort of major life change or trauma.
These include:
Situational depression differs frommajor depressive disorder(MDD) in a few important ways.
Where situational depression is triggered by life stressors, MDD often has a range of causes.
Situational depression is also shorter in duration, where MDD can be much longer-lasting.
How Do I Know If I Have Situational Depression?
Situational depression challenges well-being and can make functioning in daily life difficult.
How Is Situational Depression Treated?
Talking to your doctor can help determine whether you have situational depression.
Fortunately, effective treatments can help you manage your symptoms.
These often involve treating the symptoms as well as addressing the stressor that triggered these feelings.
Situational depression can be a common and natural reaction to a very stressful or traumatic event.
More serious cases may require professional treatment and support.
In some cases, a combination of psychotherapy and medications may be used to treat situational depression.
Psychotherapy approaches may include the use ofcognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT), which is an effective treatment for depression.
CBT helps replace negative thinking patterns with more adaptive ones.
Medications to treat situational depression may include antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
One coping strategy that can be helpful is to put energy toward solving a problem.
As you recover and the situation gets better, you will likely find that your mood improves over time.
If your symptoms seem to be getting worse, talk to your doctor or mental health professional.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.
Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US).
Table 3.19, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Adjustment Disorders Comparison; 2016.
