Most of us have gone through periods of feeling sad, lonely, or unhappy; having normal ups and downs with how we feel. For example, when you break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, or when you have a fight with someone close, etc. However some people experience these feelings on a much larger scale. Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects people of all ages, regardless of their color, race or economic status. Also it affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. This disorder is very common in the United States and it is affecting more than 17 million people each year.
How do you know if you are suffering from depression?
Take this test and you will find out
Types of depression: There are three types of depression.
Major depression:
This is the most severe category of depression. A major depression can result from a single traumatic event in your life, or it can result from the slow development of many personal disappointments and life problems. All of these symptoms below interfere with a person's capacity to work, eat and sleep.
If you had these symptoms more than 2 weeks, you are probably dealing with major depression.
Depressed mood most of the day
Loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Lack of energy
changes in appetite or weight
changes in sleeping patterns
difficulty in concentrating or making decisions
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
irritability, anger or anxiety
Dysthymia Depression:
Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression. This is a disorder with similar but milder symptoms than major depression. In order to be diagnosed as Dysthymia, that disorder has to last for at least two years. Dysthymia is an illness that affects 3% of the population. Also it can be associated with drug abuse, smoking, alcoholism and other addictions.
Feeling hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, anger, irritability,impatience
Sleeping too much or too little
Low energy
Fatigue
Overeating or loss of appetite
Low self esteem
Difficulties in concentrating
Difficulties in making decisions
Bipolar depression:
This disorder is also called manic-depressive illness. People with bipolar disorder have two different kinds of moods called manic and hypomanic episodes. As well, it is presumed to be a chronic condition because the majority of individuals who have one manic episode have additional episodes in the future. Every individual with bipolar disorder has a unique pattern of mood cycles, combining depression and manic episodes, that is specific to that individual, but predictable once the pattern is identified. Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life.
Symptoms:
A high energy level with decreased need for sleep.
Unwarranted or exaggerated belief in one's own ability.
Extreme irritability.
Extreme irritability.
Impulsive, thoughtless activity, with a high risk of damagingconsequences