Types Of DepressionThere are several types of depression that can affect your life. They each have some similarities such as feeling sad and depressed all the time and a lack of interest in doing anything. Each has its own distinctive aspects as well.
Major Depression This type of depression is the one most people are referring to when they talk about depression. According to the National Institute of Mental health, Major Depressive Disorder is one of the most common mental health problems in the United States. In any given 12 month period, 6.7% of the adult population in the U.S. is experiencing depression. The symptoms include depressed mood,
insomnia,
low self esteem,
persistent sadness, and thoughts of suicide.
Postpartum Depression is one of the types of depression that often gets overlooked. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that it affects 7 to 13 percent of all women who have recently had babies. Changing hormone levels are thought to be responsible for this serious and undertreated illness.
Dysthymia is a chronic depressive illness that has similar, but milder, symptoms of Major Depression. These symptoms have to be present for at least two years for dysthymia to be diagnosed. Dysthymia is characterized by persistent sadness and low mood that occur more days than not. Other symptoms include appetite disturbance, sleeping problems, poor concentration, fatigue, hopelessness and
low self-esteem.
In adolescents and children, the symptoms must be present at least one year and can be characterized by an irritable mood.
Bipolar Disorder is not solely a depressive illness but certainly deserves mention here because of the depressive component. Bipolar means two poles or something that contains two opposite parts. This illness is also called manic-depressive disorder. A depressive episode within bipolar disorder is just the same as an episode of Major Depression. All the symptoms are the same. The manic part of bipolar disorder involves an overly excitable, agitated episode.
Cyclothymia is a chronic condition that has been present a minimum of two years for adults and one year for children or adolescents. It is similar to Bipolar Disorder but is a milder condition. There are depressive episodes, but these are less severe than in Major Depression. There are also hypomanic episodes, which are similar to manic episodes but are also less severe.
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