Everyone has days when they wake up and ask themselves “what is the point of even getting out of bed?” but then they roll over, turn off the alarm clock and take a shower to snap out of it. In its most common form, this is a great example of how a person suffering from depression feels, with one exception. They don’t just ‘snap out of it’, they might feel like that 24 hours a day for weeks or even years on end with no break. While medications and psychotherapy can help in many cases, they are not 100% effective and far from cheap. Many people who have never suffered from serious depression seem to have little understanding of the disorder and view it as a minor issue; but at Canadian Disability Benefits, we understand that the symptoms can be devastating and we want to help make sure you receive the full Canadian Disability Benefits you are entitled to.

What is Depression?

Every experiences the symptoms of depression at some point in their life, but for most it is a normal and temporary reaction to a stressful event such as unemployment or the loss of a loved one. However, when these symptoms do not go away and begin to interfere with a person’s ability to live a normal life, they can become a serious mental disability. The Canadian Disability Tax Credit was designed with just this sort of thing in mind and offers up to $35,000 in benefits to help make ends meet when a disability gets in the way of your financial security.

Most commonly when the term depression is used to refer to a disability for the purposes of Canadian Disability Benefits, it is actually referring to a psychiatric disorder properly known as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) but may also refer to any of a number of mood disorders characterized by a depressed state. MDD is also commonly known as clinical depression, major depression or recurrent depression among others and is arguably one of the most common mental disorders experienced by Canadians.

Symptoms of Depression

The specific symptoms of depression, as well as the severity and duration of those symptoms, can vary widely from person to person and even from episode to episode. One overarching characteristic experienced by the vast majority of people however is a lowered mood state and aversion to activities. This can include a lack of motivation to get out of bed or participate in previously enjoyable activities or hobbies, feelings of worthlessness, agitation and countless others. At their worst, these symptoms can leave a person unable to even leave their bed for days on end and thereby make working a complete impossibility. By qualifying for Canadian Disability Benefits through the Disability Tax Credit program, people suffering from depression can take the time they need to properly deal with their disability without having to worry about their finances.

While the underlying causes of depression are not fully understood, both drug treatments and psychotherapy have proven to be quite effective in managing the symptoms of many patients. However, these treatments are not as simple as prescribing an antibiotic or telling someone to just cheer up, they can take years of trial and error before an effective combination is found and even then it rarely eliminates the symptoms completely.

How Canadian Disability Benefits Helps

Psychotherapy, medication, time off work and all of the other costs associated with depression can quickly add up to the point where they tax the financial security of a person regardless of their income level. Canadian Disability Benefits can help you apply for the Canadian Disability Tax Credit and make sure you receive the maximum amount you’re entitled to. With as much as $35,000 in benefits potentially available, you can rest assured that you’ll stay financially secure while living with depression or any other disability.