Health articles

Depression comes in different types however they are not the same. They have their own characteristics too. Knowing and understanding the different types of depression can help you identify reasons for your depression, manage your symptoms, and get the treatment that is right for you.

Major depression is also referred to as major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It is characterized by mixture of feelings and a combination of symptoms that interferes with a person's ability to deal with normal and once pleasurable activities. A person may experience a single episode of clinical depression but it usually occurs in several episodes in a person's life.

Atypical depression is a subtype of major depression. It has the characteristic of having patterns of symptoms in a sense that a person's mood is lifted when positive events happen but eventually goes away when the events end.

Dysthymia is also referred to as chronic depression or recurrent, mild depression. Its symptoms are way milder than major depression but can last for as long as a couple of years or more. Because it has less severe symptoms, it is much more likely to be ignored and go untreated.

Bipolar disorder is also referred to as manic depression or manic depressive illness. It is characterized by rapid cycles of dramatic mood swings. There are extreme highs which are referred to as mania and extreme lows which are referred to as depression and normal moods in between. Bipolar disorder causes thinking disturbances, distorted perception and poor social functions.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is also referred to as seasonal depression or seasonal mood disorder. It is an occurrence of serious mood change when seasons change. It usually happens during the fall or winter where sunlight is limited that result in less production of serotonin. SAD is common in people living in northern climates. It also happens in summer but is less typical.

Psychotic depression occurs when a severe depressive illness co-exists with some forms of psychosis such as hallucinations, delusions and break with reality.

Postpartum depression occurs in women experiencing a complex combination of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes associated with giving birth. A rapid decrease of hormones from chemical changes is believed to be the cause but is not yet entirely clear, however these changes increases the risk of depression.

If you think you are suffering from depression, don't hesitate to talk to someone, or better yet, talk to your doctor. Whatever kind of depression you might have, seek medical help. There are treatments that are effective so you could enjoy a better life.