Depression will take on many shapes and forms. It is a debilitating disease. According the World Health Organization simply known as WHO, indicates depression is the fourth leading cause of disability affecting a whooping 121 million people around the world.

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder. It causes abnormally low moods in millions of people. It is more than just feeling the blues it is a disorder both housed in psychological and biological causes. Major depression has it roots in a chemical imbalance in the brain.s neurotransmitters, namely dopamine and seratonin. However, all forms of depression are somehow connected to psychological and environmental stressors. The stresses of everyday life can be daunting and very overwhelming for people suffering from depression. People suffering from depression will have low energy, loss of interest in the activities they love, lack of interest in social activities and even sex, aches and pains, loss of appetite, sleeping too much or sleeping too little, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, uselessness, and a general feeling that there is not much reason to go on living. In the most severe cases people with depression can refuse to leave their home, cut off from all social interaction with other people, think about death and even commit suicide.

Different forms of depression

Major Depression Disorder

Major Depression Disorder is the most debilitating and severe form of the depression. A person can suffer from just one bout of depression in this form or can have different episodes throughout their lives. This form is very serious, and this is the kind of depression that will lead to suicide in many of its sufferers. Fortunately it can be treated effectively with seratonin reuptake inhibitors and therapy.

Dysthymic Disorder is also known as chronic depression, and moderate depression. The symptoms are less severe than major depression, but nevertheless they too can be debilitating. People suffering from Dysthymic disorder usually have a pessimistic outlook on life, they do not achieve their full potential in life and may not be able to achieve success in life, partially due to the fact that they feel they will always be a failure. Because of this they miss out on many good opportunities because they just don.t try. They may also have trouble maintaining friends because they just do not see the joy in life, or they may be too shy or feel too worthless to be loved by another human being. This condition can go on for a period of one or two years or can go on for a lifetime. Dysthymia is sometimes referred to as situational depression because the stressors in life have a big part to play in the disorder. People suffering from this moderate form of depression can also have at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime.

Psychotic Depression

Psychotic depression is a condition where all the classic symptoms of depression are present as well as psychotic symptoms, namely hallucinations and delusions. It is different from schizophrenia in that the sufferers are aware that their delusions are not real.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression is a brief depression brought on by the racing hormones during pregnancy. Postpartum depression affects about 15 percent of women a few weeks after they have given birth. The condition only lasts for a few months or so.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder said to be triggered by the changing seasons. It is mostly commonly found during the fall and winter months when less sun is available but can also occur in the summer. Sufferers only experience depression during the season, which triggers the symptoms. SAD responds well to light therapy. Sometimes antidepressants and psychotherapy is also required.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder previously known as Manic Depressive Disorder is characterized by moods swings ranging from a state of euphoria known as mania and the polar opposite state of depression. The depression experienced in this Bipolar Disorder is not the same as in Major Depression and the medication and treatment is totally different. People with Bipolar Disorder will be treated with antidepressants, antipsychotic, and anticonvulsive medication as well as psychotherapy, cognitive and interpersonal therapy and education and life skills training.

Related Articles

• Chronic Depression
• Treatment Of Depression
• Mania
• Mood Disorder
• Bipolar Symptom
• Depression Treatment
• Bipolar, Manic Depressive Disorder & Bipolar Affective Disorder

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