Depression
Depressive disorders come in different forms, same as do other illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes. Some of the most common types of depressive disorders are discussed below. However, know that within each of these types, there are variations in the number, severity, and persistence of symptoms.
Do You Suffer from Depression and not Realize it?
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I had been recently wondering more and more am I suffering from depression. I knew about the symptoms of depression, but I could not believe that this wasn’t just another bad case of the blues. After all, I had been moody and down on my luck before, but I had always bounced back. I did not have any reason to think that it would be any different this time.
My so-called symptoms of depression had legitimate causes in the real world. I had just lost a job, broken up with my girlfriend, and begun to question whether I was on the right path in my life. I didn’t need treatments for depression, I needed to get a new job, figure things out, and get my life back together.
Clinical depression: Depression that meets the DSM-IV criteria for a depressive disorder. The term is usually used to denote depression that is not a normal, temporary mood caused by life events or grieving. DSM describes symptoms and does not discuss the causes of the disorders.
There’s a huge difference between someone “feeling depressed” and a person actually suffering from clinical depression. The affects of clinical depression is unrelenting and overwhelming. Usually medication is needed for clinical depression. Clinical depression is not something that easily passes away. There are several different types of depressive disorders. Many of the depression symptoms overlap, but each type of depression has distinct signs and effects.
Types of Depression
- Major Depression - Major depression is characterized by a persistent sad mood and/or an inability to experience pleasure. Some people may experience just a single episode of depression in their lifetime, but more commonly, major depression is a recurring disorder.
- Dysthymia - Dysthymia, or dysthymic disorder, is a type of “low-grade” depression that lasts for at least two years. Dysthymia is less severe than major depression, but the chronic symptoms prevent one from leading life to the fullest.
- Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) - Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, which was formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression. This condition shows a particular pattern of inheritance. Not nearly as common as the other types of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and mania, or elation. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic, recurring condition. Sometimes, the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual.
- Atypical Depression - Atypical depression is a common subtype of major depression. It features a specific symptom pattern. You may feel better after receiving good news. However, this boost in mood is fleeting.
- Postpartum Depression - Postpartum depression, in contrast, is a longer lasting and more serious depression than “baby blues”, thought to be triggered by hormonal changes associated with having a baby. Any depression that occurs within six months of childbirth may be postpartum depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - Some people who experience recurring episodes of depression show a seasonal pattern known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a major depression that occurs in the fall or winter when the amount of sunlight is limited. This type of depression goes away once the spring arrives. SAD is more common in northern climates and in younger people.
Nevertheless, when over the next few months nothing seemed to be working out for me, I began to ask the question again. Am I suffering from depression? I asked it more and more. I knew that it wasn’t just a case of the blues anymore. It had been over six months now, and my symptoms of depression had not gone away.
In retrospect, the fact that I was still asking the question am I suffering from depression was a sign that I was in denial. Really it was an almost complete denial of it. It should have been obvious at that point, but I still couldn’t believe that I needed help. I wanted to handle things myself, not to go to some so-called expert and get a load of powerful medication. I had seen the affects of some strong depression medicine and I did not cherish the thought of taking medicines myself.
Main symptoms and signs of depression are the following:
* persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
* restlessness, irritability
* decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
* feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed,
* loss of interest or pleasure in sex
* difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as
headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Finally, however, my friends did an intervention. They decided they had to take action since it was clear I was procrastinating and probably wouldn’t do anything about my depression, if indeed it was depression. They told me that I had to go to a depression support group.
Even though I was still asking am I suffering from depression, they had already made up their minds on the subject and knew that I needed help. At first, I was a little bit irritated with them, but I finally realized that my friends were right. I was certainly suffering from some type of depression. I did need help
If you are asking yourself - am I suffering from depression, you shouldn’t delay taking action. Depression is a medical problem, not just an emotional one. If you wonder endlessly “am I suffering from depression”, but never do anything to take care of it, you are only prolonging your suffering. Get some help for your condition and then get back to living. You owe it to yourself to take care of your own life.
It is not smart to ignore your symptoms of depression. It is just plain foolish. Depression can happen to anyone. It is not always easy to recover from depression and depends on what type of depression you have. Don’t gamble on your future. If you have any prolonged symptoms of depression you should see your doctor or a certified professional.
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