What Is the Disease of Sadness? History of Depression
Human losses are an integral part of life of people. So are physical or mental negatives. The term chronic grief, for example, is used to describe long-term and periodic sadness. It is most often felt by the more chronically ill or the people looking after them. These people experience almost continuous loss, not literally, of course. But their actions are based on not so good results when it comes to a chronic problem.
Conceptually, we can distinguish several elements in this analysis of chronic grief. Cyclical sadness is one of them, internal and external stimuli are others. There are more acute feelings of loss, disappointment and fear, and last but not least there is a term such as progressive intensification of sadness or grief.
The feeling of chronic grief is compared to intractable grief and depression. Chronic grief is well illustrated in an example: parents of disabled children. There is another similar example, perhaps a little less intense, and that is multiple sclerosis patients in their middle and productive years. Adults looking after people with dementia can be placed in that group, too.
Through research, the concept can be further clarified. But this is only an initial step toward developing an entire theory that will provide guidance in cares for people who experience sadness over long periods of time.
Research results imply that the concept should be further studied to figure out its prevalence and possible ideal countermeasures, not just drug or similar treatments.
