The effects of depression
by Jon Mainville
what is depression
What causes depression
Types of depression
Major depression: symptoms that are severe and interfere with a persons ability to work, eat , study, sleep and find pleasure in life. An episode can occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, a person has several less severe episodes.
Persistent depressive disorder: A depressive state that lats for at least two years. A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder can have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for 2 years.
under uniqe circum stances different types can develop such as:
Psychotic depression: This occurs when a person has a severe or major depressive disorderplus some form of psychosis, such as breaks from reality or disturbing false beliefs or seeing and hearing upsetting or frightening things that others cannot hear nor see.
Postpartum depression: postpardum depression is more serious than the baby blues which many women experience after having a child, when their hormonal and physical changes plus the added aspect of having to care for a newborn is to much to handle and can be overwhelming. an estimated 10-15 percent of women experience postpardum depression after giving birth. this can be very dangerious. especially for the baby because the mother grows distant and unnattached from the child.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. The depression generally lifts during spring and summer. SAD may be effectively treated with light therapy, but nearly half of those with SAD do not get better with light therapy alone. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy can reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in combination with light therapy.
How to know if you are depressed or should seek professional help.
If you experience 3 or more of the following symptoms at least once a day every day for 2 weeks you most likely have depression.
1) fatigue or decrease in energy
2) difficulty concentrating, making decisions and remembering certain details.
3) loss of interest in hobbies and activities that you once found enjoyable. this includes sex.
4) loss of appetite or over eating.
5) irritability
6) persistent aches, pains, cramps, headaches, or digestive problems that do not ease after being treated
7) persistent saddness, anxiety or a empty feeling like you are incomplete.
8) fellings of guilt, hopelessness, helplessness, and/or worthlessness
9) thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
10) thoughts of death
Need help?
You are not alone.
Jon Hamm
Ashley Judd
Owen Wilson
Heath Ledger
Andre Waters
Jeret Peterson
Princess Diana
Winona Ryder
words to know
Psychotic depression: This occurs when a person has a severe or major depressive disorderplus some form of psychosis, such as breaks from reality or disturbing false beliefs or seeing and hearing upsetting or frightening things that others cannot hear nor see.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe.