Depression is a mental disorder that is often characterized by lengthy periods of sadness and melancholy, say the experts from the field of psychiatry.
But just because someone mopes around and hates the world around him or her, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is suffering from depression, but if this kind of behavior, the feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and absolute lack of hope for happiness continues , then, that individual could be, indeed, depressed. Still, there are various types of depression too.
Manic or Bipolar depression – characterized by sudden and extreme changes in mood where one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling as if he or she is in a personal hell.
Postpartum depression is characterized by a prolonged sadness and a lengthy feeling of emptiness by a new mother where physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born child are just some of the possible reasons why some new mothers suffer from 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 of illness, should be seen to immediately.
Cyclothemia – characterized by only a nominal similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the sufferer of this mental disease has a problem with rapid changes in mood.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by depression only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall). However, studies show that more people actually fall ill during the Winter and Autumn seasons, which suggests that light plays a role. Or they could suffer from severe mood swings, wherein a person’s mood may shift from happy to sad to angry in quite a short space of time.
‘Clinical depression’ or ‘major depression’, as some call it, is the correct medical term for depression. Actually, clinical depression is more a disorder than an illness, because it refers to those who are suffering from the symptoms that cause depression.
However, in spite of being an actual disorder, clinical depression can be treated. Doctors are usually highly optimistic that patients suffering from clinical depression will soon be well on their way to good mental health as long as they are treated as soon as they have been diagnosed. Patients who have looked for treatment for clinical depression have proven to be quite successful in their quest, given that 80 percent of those treated have found relief from their disorder.
If you are seeking answers to questions related to clinical depression, the depression section of the health centre can be highly recommended, as well as books on psychiatry and the Internet, which offers a lot of useful information, although self treatment is very much frowned upon. Clinical depression may not pose as great of a threat as the other types of mental illness, but it is best to leave it in the hands of the professionals who can treat and cure this disorder.
Clinical depression is often a very debilitating illness and is so distressing to suffer or observe. Learn more on our website: Treating Depression
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