Depression Treatment
April 23, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under About Depression
A lot of people will be shocked when they find out that I have suffered major depression for most of my life. Although there are many types of depression, they are usually eminent between depression and major depression.
By the occasion I had reach my near the beginning 20`s I had suffer at least three episodes of depression. A that thirty years I had numerous breakdowns and was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I had been treated for it with medication and a large amount of the time it seemed victorious at least until the next incidence.
Every episode seemed to get longer and harder to deal with. In 2003 it lasted for a three month period and I found that it odd that it had in progress in the summer, questioning the SAD theory that I had been given.
In the summer of 2006 the depression return once more this time the episode was not going to go away and once more was during the summer months. I started seeking answer to what was going on. How could I have SAD when I seem to start these occurrences during the sunny days? The medical professionals forward looking to go back into my file and reexamine there analysis. They realized that I actually had been suffering major depression bi-polar disease and we begin a Depression Treatment program.
I only wish that I had questioned 3 years earlier the diagnosis that I was given it may have saved me the past 2 and 1/2years that I have had to undergo an emotional rollercoaster. We try various medications and each one took months to find out if they were going to work or have to start once more with the process.
When I was stressed to find answers I found some of the subsequent information about depression. I hope this will make others appreciate how hard this disease really is either to live with or have someone in your family suffering with it.
Main depressive disorder, also known as major depression, clinical depression, unipolar depression or just depression, is a mental disorder characterize by a pervasive low disposition and loss of concentration or pleasure in ordinary activities. The diagnosis is complete if a person has suffered one or additional major depressive episodes. Analysis is base on the patient’s self reported experiences and experiential performance. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians frequently test for physical circumstances that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course varies extensively, from a one off incidence to a lifelong disorder with recurrent episodes.
But how does that almost certainly effect on us and what kind of depression symptoms should we be looking at?
According to many psychiatric professional any vary or raise in any of the following should be reported to your physician.
Depression can make you feel hopeless and unable to help. But by taking the primary step deciding to get treatment can make all the difference
Medical care is the simply Answer! Look for a professional for there help.
It is thought that there are a lot of reasons that people suffer debilitating depression. Approach of depression is caused by a chemical alter that affect how the brain functions.
The brain is complete up of billions of nerve cells known as neurons. These neurons drive and get messages from the rest of your body, using brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters.
These brain chemicals in unreliable amounts are accountable for our emotional state. Depression happens when these chemical messages aren’t delivered correctly between brain cells which lead to disrupting communication.
The excellent news is that there are a lot of forms of cure that can help you manage with depression, as well as medications that can strengthen weak signals by raise the levels of definite neurotransmitters, or by improving the neurons’ ability to process signals. This ensures that the brain’s very important messages are received.
Although depression can make you undergo alone a lot of people will suffer some form of depression in their lifetime. While depression can have an effect on anyone, its effect may vary depending on your age and gender.
Women are almost twice as probable to become depressed as men. The higher threat may be due to a certain extent to hormonal changes brought on by puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy. The mainly time of beginning is between the ages of 30 and 40, with a later peak between 50 and 60. The circumstance appears to be more common in women.
Men- Although their threat for depression is lower, men are more likely to go undiagnosed and less likely to speak up and get help. They might illustrate the typical symptoms of depression, but are more probable to be irritated and hostile or to mask their situation with alcohol or drug abuse. Suicide is a particularly serious threat for men with depression, who are four times more likely than women to kill themselves.
Elderly- Older people may lose loved ones and have to alter to existing alone. They might become physically ill and not capable to be as active as they once were. These changes can all add to depression. Loved ones may attribute the symbols of depression to the normal outcome of aging, and a lot of older people are reluctant to talk about depression symptoms. As a result, older people may not receive their depression treatment.
Children- Age does not distinguish when it comes to depression. The family structure has changed causing extra stresses to family. Children are exaggerated by the common pressures that they now sense. Bullying, abuse by others, pressures to do well all add to the reason that many children are exaggerated. Symptoms should be looking for by the parent. Suicide is rising in the middle age group due to depression.
I found great information regarding the Definition of Manic-depression also called as Major Depression.
Manic-depression: Alternating moods of abnormal highs (mania) and lows is called bipolar disease because of the swings between these opposing poles in mood. Bi-Polar is a kind of depressive illness that is not almost as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders.
From time to time the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. Mania frequently affects thoughts, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and discomfiture. For instance, unwise business or financial decision may be made when a person is in a manic stage. Bipolar disorder is frequently a chronic recurring situation.
A mild to moderate level of mania is known as hypomania. Hypomania may sense good to the person who experiences it and may even be connected with excellent functioning and superior productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to know the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without appropriate treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in a number of people or can switch into depression.
A largest number of people with bipolar disorder even those with the most severe forms can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and connected symptoms with appropriate treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a repeated illness, a long-term preventive treatment is powerfully suggested and almost always indicates. Strategies that combine medication and psychosocial treatment are optimal for managing the disorder over time. Medications known as mood stabilizers typically are prescribe to help manage bipolar disorder.
There are quite a lot of different types of mood stabilizers exist such as Lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, gabapentin and topiramate.
As an adding to medication, psychosocial treatment including definite forms of psychotherapy are useful in providing support, learning, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Studies have exposed that psychosocial interventions can lead to improved mood constancy, fewer hospitalizations, and improved functioning in a number of areas. Psychosocial interventions usually used for bipolar disorder are cognitive behavioral treatment, psycho education, family therapy, and a newer method, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.
Depression Treatment does Work! Look for help from a professional and begin getting your life back or help your family member get the help that they deserve. They actually do desire to feel better trust me. Depression hurts everyone.
Thanks to jeniferhobson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
By the occasion I had reach my near the beginning 20`s I had suffer at least three episodes of depression. A that thirty years I had numerous breakdowns and was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I had been treated for it with medication and a large amount of the time it seemed victorious at least until the next incidence.
Every episode seemed to get longer and harder to deal with. In 2003 it lasted for a three month period and I found that it odd that it had in progress in the summer, questioning the SAD theory that I had been given.
In the summer of 2006 the depression return once more this time the episode was not going to go away and once more was during the summer months. I started seeking answer to what was going on. How could I have SAD when I seem to start these occurrences during the sunny days? The medical professionals forward looking to go back into my file and reexamine there analysis. They realized that I actually had been suffering major depression bi-polar disease and we begin a Depression Treatment program.
I only wish that I had questioned 3 years earlier the diagnosis that I was given it may have saved me the past 2 and 1/2years that I have had to undergo an emotional rollercoaster. We try various medications and each one took months to find out if they were going to work or have to start once more with the process.
When I was stressed to find answers I found some of the subsequent information about depression. I hope this will make others appreciate how hard this disease really is either to live with or have someone in your family suffering with it.
Main depressive disorder, also known as major depression, clinical depression, unipolar depression or just depression, is a mental disorder characterize by a pervasive low disposition and loss of concentration or pleasure in ordinary activities. The diagnosis is complete if a person has suffered one or additional major depressive episodes. Analysis is base on the patient’s self reported experiences and experiential performance. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians frequently test for physical circumstances that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course varies extensively, from a one off incidence to a lifelong disorder with recurrent episodes.
But how does that almost certainly effect on us and what kind of depression symptoms should we be looking at?
According to many psychiatric professional any vary or raise in any of the following should be reported to your physician.
Depression can make you feel hopeless and unable to help. But by taking the primary step deciding to get treatment can make all the difference
Medical care is the simply Answer! Look for a professional for there help.
It is thought that there are a lot of reasons that people suffer debilitating depression. Approach of depression is caused by a chemical alter that affect how the brain functions.
The brain is complete up of billions of nerve cells known as neurons. These neurons drive and get messages from the rest of your body, using brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters.
These brain chemicals in unreliable amounts are accountable for our emotional state. Depression happens when these chemical messages aren’t delivered correctly between brain cells which lead to disrupting communication.
The excellent news is that there are a lot of forms of cure that can help you manage with depression, as well as medications that can strengthen weak signals by raise the levels of definite neurotransmitters, or by improving the neurons’ ability to process signals. This ensures that the brain’s very important messages are received.
Although depression can make you undergo alone a lot of people will suffer some form of depression in their lifetime. While depression can have an effect on anyone, its effect may vary depending on your age and gender.
Women are almost twice as probable to become depressed as men. The higher threat may be due to a certain extent to hormonal changes brought on by puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy. The mainly time of beginning is between the ages of 30 and 40, with a later peak between 50 and 60. The circumstance appears to be more common in women.
Men- Although their threat for depression is lower, men are more likely to go undiagnosed and less likely to speak up and get help. They might illustrate the typical symptoms of depression, but are more probable to be irritated and hostile or to mask their situation with alcohol or drug abuse. Suicide is a particularly serious threat for men with depression, who are four times more likely than women to kill themselves.
Elderly- Older people may lose loved ones and have to alter to existing alone. They might become physically ill and not capable to be as active as they once were. These changes can all add to depression. Loved ones may attribute the symbols of depression to the normal outcome of aging, and a lot of older people are reluctant to talk about depression symptoms. As a result, older people may not receive their depression treatment.
Children- Age does not distinguish when it comes to depression. The family structure has changed causing extra stresses to family. Children are exaggerated by the common pressures that they now sense. Bullying, abuse by others, pressures to do well all add to the reason that many children are exaggerated. Symptoms should be looking for by the parent. Suicide is rising in the middle age group due to depression.
I found great information regarding the Definition of Manic-depression also called as Major Depression.
Manic-depression: Alternating moods of abnormal highs (mania) and lows is called bipolar disease because of the swings between these opposing poles in mood. Bi-Polar is a kind of depressive illness that is not almost as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders.
From time to time the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. Mania frequently affects thoughts, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and discomfiture. For instance, unwise business or financial decision may be made when a person is in a manic stage. Bipolar disorder is frequently a chronic recurring situation.
A mild to moderate level of mania is known as hypomania. Hypomania may sense good to the person who experiences it and may even be connected with excellent functioning and superior productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to know the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without appropriate treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in a number of people or can switch into depression.
A largest number of people with bipolar disorder even those with the most severe forms can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and connected symptoms with appropriate treatment. Because bipolar disorder is a repeated illness, a long-term preventive treatment is powerfully suggested and almost always indicates. Strategies that combine medication and psychosocial treatment are optimal for managing the disorder over time. Medications known as mood stabilizers typically are prescribe to help manage bipolar disorder.
There are quite a lot of different types of mood stabilizers exist such as Lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, gabapentin and topiramate.
As an adding to medication, psychosocial treatment including definite forms of psychotherapy are useful in providing support, learning, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Studies have exposed that psychosocial interventions can lead to improved mood constancy, fewer hospitalizations, and improved functioning in a number of areas. Psychosocial interventions usually used for bipolar disorder are cognitive behavioral treatment, psycho education, family therapy, and a newer method, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.
Depression Treatment does Work! Look for help from a professional and begin getting your life back or help your family member get the help that they deserve. They actually do desire to feel better trust me. Depression hurts everyone.
Thanks to jeniferhobson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Read more on Depression Treatment and Depression Help
Choosing the Treatment for Your Depression
April 17, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under About Depression
Depression or prolonged sadness is actually quite common in the United States, around 9.5 percent of the American population actually suffers from this illness, however, not all of them get to be treated, thus, depression and its ill-effects continue to be a burden to some individuals. This illness may seem quite simple to treat but in reality, it takes more than a little cheering up to actually cure depression. Constant visits to a cognitive behavior therapist is a must as well as taking all the prescribed medicines that the doctor will ask the patient to take - none of these exactly come cheap, but the amount of suffering that a person is going through because of depression is enough reason already for others to start taking notice and face depression head on through the various depression treatments that are available today.
Depression oftentimes can easily get in the way of an individual’s daily activities and his or hers’ normal functions, one’s zest for life can quickly and easily dissipate due to depression. And in place of an individual’s sunny disposition is more or less a person who hates his or herself, having no self-confidence, trying to isolate one’s self from the world and basically just not caring about living any more. More so, a person suffering from depression isn’t the only one who’s going to suffer from this destructive illness, his or her loved ones are sure to follow suit. By seeing the individual grow through such rough patches, basically not caring about anything or anyone anymore, it’s highly likely that not only will depression one’s relationship with one’s self but with his or her loved ones too. But this shouldn’t really pose as such a problem since people who suffer from depression are actually lucky that there are all sorts of depression treatments that can be used to aid an individual through the course of having a sound mental health.
Depression treatment actually starts with the patient openly acknowledging his or her illness, by just being honest with one’s self, it’ll be a lot easier not only for the doctor but for the patient most of all, to actually cure depression and find an appropriate depression treatment for him or her.
From various medications (like Zoloft antidepressant depression treatment) to all sorts of psychotherapies promising to be the best depression treatment. The patient, as well as his or her family are sure to get the best, positive results from these depression treatments.
Psychotherapy, a popular type of depression treatment actually includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks promising to actually be able to make positive results for the depression patient. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individual by slowly making them to actually open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, more so, the root of their depression. Healthy verbal exchanges between the cognitive behavior therapist and the depression patient is great depression treatment that’ll positively affect the depression patient by helping him or her discuss and talk about whatever they’ve been keeping inside.
Various medications that are available for depression treatment are actually great for helping the depression patient to regulate his or her mood swings, to actually help him or her sleep better and as well as be more pleasant towards others.
Thanks to John Samson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Depression oftentimes can easily get in the way of an individual’s daily activities and his or hers’ normal functions, one’s zest for life can quickly and easily dissipate due to depression. And in place of an individual’s sunny disposition is more or less a person who hates his or herself, having no self-confidence, trying to isolate one’s self from the world and basically just not caring about living any more. More so, a person suffering from depression isn’t the only one who’s going to suffer from this destructive illness, his or her loved ones are sure to follow suit. By seeing the individual grow through such rough patches, basically not caring about anything or anyone anymore, it’s highly likely that not only will depression one’s relationship with one’s self but with his or her loved ones too. But this shouldn’t really pose as such a problem since people who suffer from depression are actually lucky that there are all sorts of depression treatments that can be used to aid an individual through the course of having a sound mental health.
Depression treatment actually starts with the patient openly acknowledging his or her illness, by just being honest with one’s self, it’ll be a lot easier not only for the doctor but for the patient most of all, to actually cure depression and find an appropriate depression treatment for him or her.
From various medications (like Zoloft antidepressant depression treatment) to all sorts of psychotherapies promising to be the best depression treatment. The patient, as well as his or her family are sure to get the best, positive results from these depression treatments.
Psychotherapy, a popular type of depression treatment actually includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks promising to actually be able to make positive results for the depression patient. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individual by slowly making them to actually open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, more so, the root of their depression. Healthy verbal exchanges between the cognitive behavior therapist and the depression patient is great depression treatment that’ll positively affect the depression patient by helping him or her discuss and talk about whatever they’ve been keeping inside.
Various medications that are available for depression treatment are actually great for helping the depression patient to regulate his or her mood swings, to actually help him or her sleep better and as well as be more pleasant towards others.
Thanks to John Samson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Information on depression statistics can be found at Depression Facts Online.
Information About Getting Anxiety Depression
April 5, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under Anxiety & Bipolar
A lot of people who are exerting too much of their brain power usually exhaust not only their physical strength when engaging in various multi-tasking activities, they also tend to over extend their brains up to the point when it plainly needs some good old time for relaxation. A lot of busy people who seem to cannot fathom the idea of relaxing and taking time of from work, as well as their worries, tend to actually start having nervous breakdowns, anxiety depression and all sorts of mental illnesses that can cause a person’s sanity to go haywire, fortunately, if you’re one of those poor unfortunate ones who are unable to distress and is constantly worried and fussing over things, there are actually available cures and various treatments for treating anxiety depression.
Anxiety depression is actually characterized by all sorts of irregularities and erratic behavior from the person who is suffering from it, this is usuallu due to certain stress triggers that may tend to easily cause a person undue jitters and stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what’ll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.
When it comes to effectively curing one’s self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have, go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:
Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one’s mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.
Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this.
Dysthimia - characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it’s been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately.
Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one’s moods.
Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.
But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that’ll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain “difficult situations”; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a “case of the nerves”; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.
Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics. Take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this kind of Anxiety depression is a lot more complicated than the average Anxiety depression, in spite of possibly being a day-to-day habit for those who suffer this kind of Anxiety depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually makes the individual quite more paranoid than usual, anxiety attacks are more frequent, even absurd at times. They can even be anxious even when there’s no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they’re doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.
Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who’ll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, help them calm down and relax.
Thanks to Jocelyn Snider for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Anxiety depression is actually characterized by all sorts of irregularities and erratic behavior from the person who is suffering from it, this is usuallu due to certain stress triggers that may tend to easily cause a person undue jitters and stress. Also, a lot of people who tend to get easily nervous over stressful activities are actually prone to having anxiety depression, its just a matter of being strong-willed when it comes to facing difficult and stress-prone activities. It may be pretty hard to overcome at first, but trying to be calm and cool in times of extreme pressure is what’ll actually save your mental health from going totally downward spiral.
When it comes to effectively curing one’s self from a mental illness, one must keep in mind that you have to be actually honest with yourself and assess what kind of depression or mental illness you actually have, go to reputable psychiatrist to get yourself diagnosed correctly as well as be able to get the right depression treatment for yourself. Here are the various types of depression:
Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one’s mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell.
Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible factors why some new mother go through this.
Dysthimia - characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this time, it’s been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course with any case, should be treated immediately.
Cyclothemia - characterized by a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the individual suffering from this mental illness may occasionally suffer from severe changes in one’s moods.
Seasonal Affective Disorder - characterized by falling in a rut only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall) studies however, prove that more people actually fall in to a rut more during the Winter and Fall seasons and lastly, Mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in just a short time.
But the type of depression that has actually been proven to be quite common among people is anxiety depression, which is actually characterized by the state of being overly anxious about things. Anxiety, a supposedly normal behavior that’ll actually help a person adjust more to a certain stressful activity like first date jitters or a grueling exam the following day. Anxiety actually helps you get psyched up towards facing certain “difficult situations”; anxiety therefore is actually a good thing. Anxiety depression however, is simply the opposite, not to be easily dismissed as a “case of the nerves”; Anxiety depression is in actuality an illness that can be caused from the biological makeup of an individual, or in other words, a hereditary illness.
Also, there are actually various types of Anxiety depression, each having its own unique characteristics. Take for example Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this kind of Anxiety depression is a lot more complicated than the average Anxiety depression, in spite of possibly being a day-to-day habit for those who suffer this kind of Anxiety depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually makes the individual quite more paranoid than usual, anxiety attacks are more frequent, even absurd at times. They can even be anxious even when there’s no apparent reason that calls for them to behave in such a way. People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder actually shows a lot of symptoms, from lack of sleep, to being unable to relax, getting tired easily, cannot concentrate on what they’re doing and even suffering from depression. This kind of Anxiety depression is still curable; just a little work will actually do the trick.
Consult a reputable cognitive behavior therapist who’ll help give the individual the therapy that he or she needs to help him or her loosen up, also prescribed medicines are sort of a must to help these individuals battle anxiety attacks, help them calm down and relax.
Thanks to Jocelyn Snider for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
For tips on anxiety disorder treatment and speech anxiety, visit the Health And Nutrition website.
Primary Signs Of Bipolar Depression - Treatment At The Right Time…
March 21, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under Anxiety & Bipolar
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly “high” and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behaviour go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
The obvious symptoms of bipolar depression or manic depression comprises of the following:
-Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
-Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
-Extreme irritability
-Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
-Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
-Little sleep needed
-Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
-Poor judgment
-Spending sprees
-A lasting period of behaviour that is different from usual
-Increased sexual drive
-Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
-Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour.
-Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
On the other hand, a depressive episode is characterised by the symptoms mentioned below:
-Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
-Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
-Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
-Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
-Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”
-Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
-Restlessness or irritability
-Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep
-Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
-Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
-Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.
Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call “the blues” when it is short-lived but is termed “dysthymia” when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.
In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping and significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.
All these symptoms can be cured only with the help of a qualified physician. So, do not let your affected loved ones suffer. Take the necessary steps before it gets too late.
Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
The obvious symptoms of bipolar depression or manic depression comprises of the following:
-Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
-Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
-Extreme irritability
-Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
-Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
-Little sleep needed
-Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
-Poor judgment
-Spending sprees
-A lasting period of behaviour that is different from usual
-Increased sexual drive
-Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
-Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour.
-Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
On the other hand, a depressive episode is characterised by the symptoms mentioned below:
-Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
-Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
-Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
-Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
-Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”
-Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
-Restlessness or irritability
-Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep
-Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
-Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
-Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.
Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call “the blues” when it is short-lived but is termed “dysthymia” when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.
In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping and significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.
All these symptoms can be cured only with the help of a qualified physician. So, do not let your affected loved ones suffer. Take the necessary steps before it gets too late.
Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
Abhishek has got some great Bipolar Disorder Treatment Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 97 Pages Ebook, “Understanding And Treating Bipolar Disorders!” from his website http://www.Health-Whiz.com/69/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
A Look at the Different Types of Depression
February 27, 2009 by How To Treat Depression
Filed under Anxiety & Bipolar
When people talk about depression, they usually mean a person who is feeling down and lethargic, and who has generally lost interest in life. Most people don’t realize that there are many different types of depression a person can be suffering from, with each type often showing different symptoms.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.
Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren’t so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don’t believe the symptoms are severe enough.
Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don’t believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don’t usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can’t remember a time when they weren’t depressed.
Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can 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 or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.
Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.
People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this ‘mania’ state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their ‘mania’ phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don’t suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren’t so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.
Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don’t allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive 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 around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.
Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.
As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.
Thanks to Jason Anderson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here is a quick overview of the most common forms of depression.
Mild/Minor Depression is the least severe form of depression. Usually the symptoms aren’t so severe that they have a major impact in the life of the sufferer, although the depression can still cause distress and disruption. Many people who are suffering from mild depression never seek treatment - they don’t believe the symptoms are severe enough.
Dysthymic Disorder is a long-term form of mild depression (lasting two or more years). Like mild depression, most sufferers never seek help as they don’t believe their symptoms are severe enough. Also like mild depression, the symptoms of dysthymic depression don’t usually have a huge impact on the sufferers day-to-day life. But when the long-term results from the depression are considered, the impact can be huge. People who suffer from dysthymic depression often can’t remember a time when they weren’t depressed.
Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can 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 or unipolar depression) is what most people think of when they think of depression - the individual seems to have totally given up on life, and has a large number of obvious symptoms. It is unlikely that someone suffering from major depression could function normally in a work, social or home setting - their symptoms are too pronounced. Suicide can be a huge risk with major depression, and professional help needs to be sought to treat the depression.
Bipolar Depression (BPD) is sometimes known as manic-depression, and is characterized by the sufferer having large mood swings from very upbeat and energetic to extreme lows. Both periods normally last for several weeks at a time. Bipolar depression is usually categorized into a number of sub-categories. While there is no firm consensus on how many sub-categories there are, the four most common are Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, Cyclothymic Disorder and Bipolar NOS.
People with bipolar I disorder have the most extreme mood swings. Their low moods can be classified as major depression, while in their positive moods they can engage in crazy, outrageous and even dangerous activities. During this ‘mania’ state they may even suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
People with bipolar II disorder have much less extreme mania periods. Indeed, many bipolar II sufferers go untreated because people mistake their ‘mania’ phase for simply getting over their depression. People with bipolar II don’t suffer from paranoia or hallucinations.
Cyclothymic disorder is a milder but much more long-term version of bipolar disorder (usually lasting for two or more years). Like bipolar II the mania phases are relatively minor, but in addition their depressive phases aren’t so severe that they classify as major depression. If left untreated, cyclothymic depression can develop into bipolar II depression.
Finally, Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a catch-all category for people who have some of the symptoms of bipolar, but those symptoms don’t allow the person to be neatly categorized in one of the three other categories. For example, the sufferer may have fast cycling between the manic and depressive states, or manic states without depressive 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 around a week prior to menstruation, and disappear within a few days of menstruation beginning.
Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression can occur any time in the first 12 months after a baby is born. Some form of postnatal depression affects over 80% of new mothers, although most who are affected only have a very mild form of depression that usually passes naturally with rest and the support of family and friends. However around 15% of mothers get a more severe form of postnatal depression, and like major depression the sufferer needs treatment and support to overcome the illness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression caused by the changing light levels throughout the year. The most common for of SAD is caused by the low-light levels of winter, but a much rarer form of the disorder is triggered by the high-light levels of summer.
As you can see, depression comes in many different forms - each type of depression has different triggers and symptoms associated with it, and each type of depression also responds better to different treatments. By being aware of the different forms depression can take, you can be much more prepared to help a friend of family member.
Thanks to Jason Anderson for contributing this article to our Depression blog:
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
