Various Types of Depression and Its Symptoms
August 18, 2009 by Depression and Anxiety Tips
Filed under About Depression
The American Heritage Dictionary describes depression as being “a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death.”
Depression is the common cold of mental disorders — most people will be affected by depression in their lives either directly or indirectly, through a friend or family member. Confusion is commonplace about depression, for example, about what depression exactly is and what makes it different from just feeling down.
The facts
If you are depressed, you may have feelings of extreme sadness that can last for a long time. These feelings are severe enough to interfere with your daily life, and usually last for weeks, or months, rather than days.
Depression can affect people of any age, including children. Studies have shown that 2% of teenagers in the UK, are affected by depression.
Symptoms
generally, the symptoms of depression include:
• Feeling sad, hopeless and despairing
• A loss of interest and pleasure in normal activities
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Loss of sex drive
• Sleeping problems, such as an inability to get to sleep or early waking
Types of Depression
Major Depression
When you hear the term clinical depression, it merely means the depression is severe enough to require treatment. When a person is badly depressed during a single severe period, he or she can be said to have had an episode of clinical depression. More severe symptoms mark the period as an episode of major depression (also known as unipolar depression and major depressive disorder). Many mental health experts say the key to judging this gradation lies in the amount of change a person undergoes in his or her normal patterns along with a loss of interest and a lack of pleasure in them. An almost-daily tennis player, for instance, who began to break her court dates frequently, or a regular bridge player who lost interest in weekly games, might be edging into an episode of major depression. The more severe the depression, the more it is likely to affect its sufferer’s life.
Dysthymia is another mood disorder. People who have it may feel mildly depressed on most days over a period of at least two years. They have many symptoms resembling major depression, but with less severity.
Symptoms of depression may surface with other mood disorders. They include seasonal major depression (also known as seasonal affective disorder), postpartum depression, and bipolar disorder.
Atypical Depression
We think of depression as one thing. It’s not. In this in-depth article, leading depression experts tell WebMD about the many forms of depression.
Psychotic
Psychotic depression is a less common type of depression and its symptoms include an even more severely depressed mood, more severe psychomotor disturbance, and psychotic symptoms (either delusions or hallucinations), and over-valued guilt ruminations. Psychotic depression has a very low spontaneous remission rate. It responds only to physical treatments (such as antidepressant drugs).
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is when a person has mild and alternating mood swings of elation and depression occurring over a long time period. Because the mood swings are mild, and the elation is often enjoyable, frequently people with cyclothymic disorder do not seek medical help.
The periods of elation and depression can last for lengthy periods, such as a few months. Often, a person with cyclothymic disorder has a relative with bipolar disorder, or they may develop bipolar disorder themselves.
Thanks to Peter sams for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Depression is the common cold of mental disorders — most people will be affected by depression in their lives either directly or indirectly, through a friend or family member. Confusion is commonplace about depression, for example, about what depression exactly is and what makes it different from just feeling down.
The facts
If you are depressed, you may have feelings of extreme sadness that can last for a long time. These feelings are severe enough to interfere with your daily life, and usually last for weeks, or months, rather than days.
Depression can affect people of any age, including children. Studies have shown that 2% of teenagers in the UK, are affected by depression.
Symptoms
generally, the symptoms of depression include:
• Feeling sad, hopeless and despairing
• A loss of interest and pleasure in normal activities
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Loss of sex drive
• Sleeping problems, such as an inability to get to sleep or early waking
Types of Depression
Major Depression
When you hear the term clinical depression, it merely means the depression is severe enough to require treatment. When a person is badly depressed during a single severe period, he or she can be said to have had an episode of clinical depression. More severe symptoms mark the period as an episode of major depression (also known as unipolar depression and major depressive disorder). Many mental health experts say the key to judging this gradation lies in the amount of change a person undergoes in his or her normal patterns along with a loss of interest and a lack of pleasure in them. An almost-daily tennis player, for instance, who began to break her court dates frequently, or a regular bridge player who lost interest in weekly games, might be edging into an episode of major depression. The more severe the depression, the more it is likely to affect its sufferer’s life.
Dysthymia is another mood disorder. People who have it may feel mildly depressed on most days over a period of at least two years. They have many symptoms resembling major depression, but with less severity.
Symptoms of depression may surface with other mood disorders. They include seasonal major depression (also known as seasonal affective disorder), postpartum depression, and bipolar disorder.
Atypical Depression
We think of depression as one thing. It’s not. In this in-depth article, leading depression experts tell WebMD about the many forms of depression.
Psychotic
Psychotic depression is a less common type of depression and its symptoms include an even more severely depressed mood, more severe psychomotor disturbance, and psychotic symptoms (either delusions or hallucinations), and over-valued guilt ruminations. Psychotic depression has a very low spontaneous remission rate. It responds only to physical treatments (such as antidepressant drugs).
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is when a person has mild and alternating mood swings of elation and depression occurring over a long time period. Because the mood swings are mild, and the elation is often enjoyable, frequently people with cyclothymic disorder do not seek medical help.
The periods of elation and depression can last for lengthy periods, such as a few months. Often, a person with cyclothymic disorder has a relative with bipolar disorder, or they may develop bipolar disorder themselves.
Thanks to Peter sams for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
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Bipolar Symptoms to be Aware of
August 1, 2009 by Depression and Anxiety Tips
Filed under Anxiety, Bipolar, OCD & Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder is a mood effecting illness that can be very problematic for those who suffer from it, and millions of people do. Many people do not even realise that the way they are feeling is actually a medical condition until the find out about bipolar symptoms and recognises that they are in fact bipolar. Here are the depression and mania bipolar symptoms to look out for if you suspect you are bipolar or someone you know is.
Depression bipolar symptoms
• Having no energy and constantly feeling tired
• Losing interest in things you were once keen on, this can also include sex
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Sleeping much more or much less than normal
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Suicidal thoughts
Everyone will feel depressed at different times in their life, but when a person is bipolar these times go on for much longer than would be expected and they begin to affect a person’s quality of life.
Mania bipolar symptoms
• Excessive energy
• Sleeping much less than normal
• A constantly racing mind
• Becoming very talkative
• Engaging in risky activities – this can vary from person to person but usually with bipolar symptoms these activities are not usually something a person would do
• Reliance on drugs or alcohol
Manic bipolar symptoms can also be characterised by impulsive acts that can have disastrous consequences for a person’s life. For instance they might suddenly decide to quit their job or go on a massive spending spree that they can’t afford with no thought to the outcome.
Of course these are just the main bipolar symptoms and there are more which are on the bipolar symptoms spectrum and can be easily identified. Those people who are bipolar will find that their bipolar symptoms will alternate with each other and there will also be times when they feel on a level – neither high nor low.
During a bout of depression or mania however the bipolar symptoms will be much more obvious and can reach extremes which seem totally out of character and can be quite frightening for the person who is bipolar and those around them. One good idea to chart bipolar symptoms is to use a mood chart. This is where the person with bipolar disorder notes down how they are feeling each day and this will help professionals to be able to plot their bipolar symptoms and can assist diagnosis and possible forms of treatment for the condition. Using a chart to track your bipolar symptoms can also be very useful to gain an insight into how well medication is working.
One thing is for sure; if you do recognise bipolar symptoms in yourself or someone close to you it is wise to seek medical help. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, but if the symptoms are recognised quickly a plan of medication and therapy can really help the sufferer to lead a normal life in which their bipolar symptoms do not interfere too much.
Thanks to Lina Smith for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Depression bipolar symptoms
• Having no energy and constantly feeling tired
• Losing interest in things you were once keen on, this can also include sex
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Sleeping much more or much less than normal
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Suicidal thoughts
Everyone will feel depressed at different times in their life, but when a person is bipolar these times go on for much longer than would be expected and they begin to affect a person’s quality of life.
Mania bipolar symptoms
• Excessive energy
• Sleeping much less than normal
• A constantly racing mind
• Becoming very talkative
• Engaging in risky activities – this can vary from person to person but usually with bipolar symptoms these activities are not usually something a person would do
• Reliance on drugs or alcohol
Manic bipolar symptoms can also be characterised by impulsive acts that can have disastrous consequences for a person’s life. For instance they might suddenly decide to quit their job or go on a massive spending spree that they can’t afford with no thought to the outcome.
Of course these are just the main bipolar symptoms and there are more which are on the bipolar symptoms spectrum and can be easily identified. Those people who are bipolar will find that their bipolar symptoms will alternate with each other and there will also be times when they feel on a level – neither high nor low.
During a bout of depression or mania however the bipolar symptoms will be much more obvious and can reach extremes which seem totally out of character and can be quite frightening for the person who is bipolar and those around them. One good idea to chart bipolar symptoms is to use a mood chart. This is where the person with bipolar disorder notes down how they are feeling each day and this will help professionals to be able to plot their bipolar symptoms and can assist diagnosis and possible forms of treatment for the condition. Using a chart to track your bipolar symptoms can also be very useful to gain an insight into how well medication is working.
One thing is for sure; if you do recognise bipolar symptoms in yourself or someone close to you it is wise to seek medical help. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, but if the symptoms are recognised quickly a plan of medication and therapy can really help the sufferer to lead a normal life in which their bipolar symptoms do not interfere too much.
Thanks to Lina Smith for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Online Bipolar Support provides useful
information about bipolar disorder or
bipolar depression, four different types, bipolar symptoms and bipolar treatment.
Anxiety/depression?
July 29, 2009 by Depression and Anxiety Tips
Filed under Anxiety, Bipolar, OCD & Schizophrenia
Can you answer JaggedLittlePill’s question about Depression?:
I’m only 15.. currently taking Metronidazole. I spoke to my doctor 2 days ago about some dizziness/nausea side effects.. which were normal. But now 4 days into the pill i’m feeling pretty bad anxiety/depression symptoms. Are these also side effects of the pill? If you’ve taken it.. have you experienced this? Any answers appreciated! Thanks!
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I’m only 15.. currently taking Metronidazole. I spoke to my doctor 2 days ago about some dizziness/nausea side effects.. which were normal. But now 4 days into the pill i’m feeling pretty bad anxiety/depression symptoms. Are these also side effects of the pill? If you’ve taken it.. have you experienced this? Any answers appreciated! Thanks!
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