Mood DisorderClinical Depression

Psychology Basis

Clinical depressionDepression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression that requires a medical diagnosis. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Including a change in sleep, appetite,energylevel, concentration,daily behavior and or self esteemin the United States.In 2014, an estimated 15.7 millionadults in the U.S, about 6.7 percent of all U.S. adultshad at least one Major depressive episode, accordingTo the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Depression may also be associated with thoughts of suicide and may require a long term treatment. mayoclinic.org

People may experience:Mood: anxiety, apathy, general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness

Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep

Whole body: excessive hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, or restlessness

Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, or social isolation

Cognitive: lack of concentration, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide

Weight: weight gain or weight loss

Also common: poor appetite or repeatedly going over thoughts

Consult a doctor for medical adviceSources: Mayo Clinic and others.

Media

You’re the WorstA comedic love story about what happens when two toxic, self-destructive people fall in love despite themselves and attempt the impossible…...a relationship.It’s second season featured perhaps television’s ultimate depiction of the dark holes that people crawl into during depressive episodes; and the ripple effect this has on family, friends, and partners.

Chris Geere As Jimmy Shive-Overly, a selfish and insensitive British writer living in Los Angeles. Jimmy excuses his insensitive behavior as merely "telling it like it is".

Aya CashAs Gretchen Cutler, a cynical and self-destructive music PR executive with clinical depression she mostly keeps hidden.

Desmin BorgesAs Edgar Quintero, an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD and Jimmy's best friend and roommate.

Kether DonohueAs Lindsay Jillian (née Cottumaccio), Gretchen's "loose" best friend who "sold out" by marrying a nerdy man for his money.

Connection

“Okay, so here’s an interesting thing that you don’t know about me: I am clinically depressed. It’s been going on my whole life so I’m actually

really good at handling it. It strikes me whenever and I have no idea why, but it’s fine. I’m sorry I never told you — slipped my mind! And who knows? With the right attitude this

could be a really fun adventure for everyone. So the only thing I need from you is to not make a

big deal of it and be okay with how I am and the fact that you can’t fix me.”

Washington Post

The last few minutes of the season’s fourth episode are the first real indication that something is wrong with Gretchen — she’s shown sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night and driving away. In a later episode, Jimmy follows her and discovers that she’s crying alone in her car.

The Washington Post

Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, social and environmental factors. People who have a family history of depression, and people with serious chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer, are at an increased risk of depression. Major life changes, trauma and stress can also bring about an episode of depression, although some episodes of depression begin without any obvious external cause Depression isn't a sign of weakness. It's not something you can just "snap out of." It's an illness that requires professional treatment. Yet with the right care, people can feel better.Antidepressant medications can be helpful for reducing depression symptoms in some people, especially in people with severe depression. Psychotherapy is also an effective treatment, either alone or in combination with medications. The benefits of psychotherapy may have an enduring effect that protects against symptoms returning even after treatment is ended.

Depression isn't a sign of weakness. It's not something you can just "snap out of." It's an illness that requires professional treatment. Yet with the right care, people can feel better.

Antidepressant medications can be helpful for reducing depression symptoms in some people, especially in people with severe depression.

Psychotherapy is also an effective treatment, either alone or in combination with medications. The benefits of psychotherapy may have an enduring effect that protects against symptoms returning even after treatment is ended.

You’re the WorstDepression can sometimes make you selfish because you can't focus on anything but your own shit, so there’s the urge to have a depression dick-measuring contest to write off the other person’s issues as not big enough or to dismiss someones sadness because you don’t think it’s as important as yours. You just win because your condition is listed in the DSM. Jimmy sarcastically snarks at one point because Gretchen has a diagnosed problem….clinical depression, whereas Jimmy's issues have always been more abstract, never explicitly defined. It also feels impossible to support and help your partner when you don't have the strength or energy to help yourself, which causes Gretchen and Jimmy to alternate between isolating themselves and lashing out at each other. But what's always been most realistic about “You're the Worst” is that there are never any set solutions. Gretchen and Jimmy sort of make up over something silly—bonding over the weird incestuous erotic novel he's been writing—but when they go to bed at night, they realize that didn't actually solve anything.

Conclusion

It’s my opinion that the writer of You’re the Worst may suffer with clinical depression or has had a close family member suffer with the mood disorder. His connection with depression is very real. In Season 2, episode 7 Jimmy watches as Gretchen sneaks out of their apartment late one night and drives to a remote area and sits in her car crying. She has no real emotion tied into her crying , she just does it. She has learned to accept that when her depression hits this is what her mind needs to do...Cry….and drink.There is one scene where Gretchen the main character, in full clinical depression mode, and drunk, rips into each of her friends with hurtful words announcing each of their shortcoming, showing them just how broken each of them are, ironically, she is the most broken of the bunch.

References

Mayo Clinic.org

Washington Post

Vice.com

Wikipedia