subject: What are the Different Types of Depression? [print this page] What are the Different Types of Depression?
Every one of us at one point has already experienced being what we term as "down". It may not be as often as how it is for other people although throughout our entire existence, we come across episodes that bring us different kinds of stress, feeling of discontentment, and sadness. We go through this often when tragedies or challenges come our way. A loss of a loved one, a divorce, a layoffthese are just some situations which keeps us off guard and leads us to break down. Stress is what we experience, but once this stress lasts for months already, you may have already acquired a clinical depression. This is not just merely feeling sad; it is already an illness that needs professional treatment. Having clinical depression takes your capability of doing your daily activities. And worse comes to worst, you may even get tempted to commit suicide.
Depression comes in different forms, and these are described below:
Major Depressive Disorder
Clinical depression is also known as major depressive disorder. Symptoms of which includes having a depressed mood, or lacking interest in stuff that at a normal day you enjoy doing, fluctuating body weight, difficulty and irregularity of sleep rhythm, getting a feeling as if you are worth nothing, or feeling guilty over something, being out of focused, and thinking of stuff like death and suicide.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings. It is a mood illness that is composed of various elevated moods and depression. Period of mania or high may last for a differentiating moment before depression returns.
Postpartum Depression
Pregnant women are also prone to experiencing depression. Apparently, the hormonal changes women experience when they are pregnant can sometimes affect their mood. Also known as the "baby blues", Postpartum depression may range from mild which can easily be overcome without a need for treatment but it may also lead to a so-called "postpartum psychosis" which if not treated may cause tragedies that includes life of children.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Apparently, not only the pregnant women are prone to depression. Even those at an early age, can fall victim to being depressed. Premenstrual syndrome (or PMS) is characterized by feeling of easily irritated, fatigue, feeling anxious, nervous, acquiring mood swings. It may also be evident physicallyswelling of the abdomen. It may also come out in terms of shift in appetite, body aches, etc. This normally happens several days before menstruating.
