The term is both misused and overused. It is important for those who work with flower remedies to distinguish between this popular usage of the word and actual, clinical depression, which requires medical treatment. Chronic depression is often the result of a biochemical deficit or an extremely difficult life situation which has lasted for many years. Reactive depression is temporary and related to some recent or current loss. For instance, it can happen when a loved one dies, a marriage or other love relationship breaks up, you lose your job or retire, or the children move out.
Clinical depression wears many masks other than sadness.
They include fatigue, hopelessness, purposelessness, lack of interest in sex or other pleasures, major weight losses or gains, irritability, sleeplessness or sleeping too much, and suicidal impulses. It can SEEM like it is about a recent event, but it may actually be triggering much deeper and older losses. What may have appeared to be a NOT chronically depressed person may have been one on the verge just waiting for the right trigger. Watch closely any reactive depression that is deeply debilitating, lasts longer than is reasonable, or doesn't improve with time. Folks who don't get over a loss that happened years ago may be viewed as chronically depressed.