When people talk about depression, usually a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and generally has lost interest in life. Most people do not realize that there are many different types of depression that a person may be suffering, with each type often showing different symptoms.
While this is not an exhaustive list, here is an overview of the most common forms of depression.
Mild / Minor Depression is the least serious form of depression. Usually the symptoms are so severe that they have a great impact on the patient’s life, while depression can still cause discomfort and disruption. Many people who suffer from mild depression never seek treatment – they do not believe that the symptoms are severe enough.
Dysthymic Disorder is a form of long-term mild depression (lasting two years or more). Just as mild depression, most patients do not seek help because they believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, dysthymic depression symptoms usually do not have a huge impact on the lives that suffer in day-to-day. But when the results of long-term depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People suffering from dysthymic depression often can not remember a time when there were depressed.
Moderate depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. Symptoms of moderate and severe depression are more numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on work, home and social life of the patient. Although mild depression and dysthymic depression may go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.
Major Depression (also known as clinical depression or unipolar) is that most people think of when they think of depression – the individual seems to have completely given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from depression could function normally in a work environment, social or at home – your symptoms are very pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk, depression, and professional help should be sought to treat depression.
Bipolar depression (BPD) is also known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the patient have major mood swings from very happy and energetic to extremely low levels. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is classified into a series of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories exist, the four most common are Bipolar I, Bipolar Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder Cyclothymic NOS.
People with bipolar I have the most extreme humor. Their modes of bass can be classified as major depression, while in its positive state of mind that can participate in activities of crazy, absurd and even dangerous. During this state “mania” which may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
People with bipolar II disorder have periods of mania less extreme. In fact, many sufferers bipolar II without treatment, because people confuse the phase of ‘mania’ of her to just stay on their depression. People with bipolar II does not suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
Cyclothymic Disorder is a milder version, but much more long-term bipolar disorder (usually lasting two years or more). As the phase II bipolar mania are relatively minor, but in addition to their depressive phase are not so severe that they qualify as major depression. If left untreated depression can evolve for cyclothymic bipolar II depression.
Finally, bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some symptoms of bipolar disorder, but symptoms do not allow the person to be neatly classified into one of the three other categories. For example, the patient may have rapid cycling between manic and depressive states, depressive or manic states without states.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects between 3% and 8% of women. Symptoms of depression appear about one week before menstruation and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.
Postnatal (after delivery) depression can occur anytime within the first 12 months after birth. Some forms of postpartum depression affects more than 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected have only a very mild form of depression that often goes naturally with rest and support from family and friends. However about 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postpartum depression, and depression as the patient needs treatment and support to overcome illness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by changing light levels throughout the year. The most common of the SAD is caused by low levels of winter light, but a rarer form of the disease is triggered by high levels of light summer.
As you can see, depression comes in many different ways – each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also respond better to different treatments. Being aware of depression may have different shapes, can be much more prepared to help a family friend member.
Jason Anderson is a long-time depression sufferer who finally decided to do something about it for himself and others. Grab a free copy of his report “The 11 Myths About Depression” by visiting http://www.masteryourdepression.com