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Types of Depression : Clinical Depression

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Types of Depression : Clinical Depression
Types of Depression: Clinical Depression
Although most people believe that depression is just sadness there is a lot more to it and it can be serious health becoming a major life issue if not properly diagnoses and treated. People with clinical depression often can not function normally and lack the ability or desire to find joy in people or activities they once took pleasure in. For years there have been stigmata attached to depression that it is just a weakness or that it is not even real wellness just something people make up to get out of doing things they don’t want to do. The real truth is that clinical depression is a serious and debilitating disease that can disable individuals for weeks, months and often years. Depression according to the American Psychiatric Association has a direct effect on over 17 million Americans. It affects people of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds and religious or cultures.


Symptoms of Clinical Depression

The actual symptoms of clinical depression vary as there are many different forms of depression as well as various degrees of it according to the individual affected. However, some of the more common ones include:

  • Different sleep disorders that can vary from one extreme such as insomnia to the other extreme of oversleeping or extended sleeping. Some even find that they begin waking earlier than usual and have a difficult time returning to sleep
  • Appetite changes is another fairly common symptom and again it ranges from extremes such as either overeating or binge eating or complete lack of appetite
  • Noticeable lack of energy and/or extreme fatigue
  • Aches, pains. Digestive problems or other physical symptoms that persist even when treated medically
  • Loss of interest or elation over things that once brought joy and happiness such as hobbies, friends, family, sports, sex etc.
  • Irresponsibility and a disregard for personal appearances
  • Extended (two weeks or more) of sadness, crying etc
  • Other feelings such as guilt, helplessness, irritability, agitation, hopelessness and often anxiety
  • Dark thoughts of death and suicide


Types of Depression

There are many types of depression as well as varying degrees of this disorder. They can either be short term or long and protracted. Depression can begin rather suddenly or can build up over a long period of time. The three most common types of clinical depression are listed below:

  1. Major Depression-this form of the disorder can be a combination of the previous symptoms listed above. It impairs the ability to eat, sleep, work or enjoy the pleasures of life. Major depression can occur a single time or many times over a long period.
  2. Dysthymia– another type of clinical depression that is less severe than Major depression but is usually chronic in nature (long term) and can also impede them from functioning normally and also prevent them from feeling good.
  3. Bipolar disorder– (often referred to as manic depressive illness): Manic depressives go from periods of elation and increased activity knows as mania to periods of deepest depression.


Treatments for Clinical Depression

Treatment for the clinical depression vary but as with other types of depression, early diagnosis, psychotherapy, counselling, mood stabilizers and antidepressants are the most common treatments but in extreme cases, electroconvulsive therapy may be used.

Types of Depression : Chronic Depression

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Types of Depression: Chronic Depression 

Chronic Depression
Chronic Depression
 
Chronic depression, or as it is often referred to Dysthymia, is a form of depression that is not as severe and disabling as severe depression but can still affect the patient for periods up to two years or longer. People affected with chronic depression are usually able to cope with day to day living but appear to be in a constant state of sadness or unhappiness.
 
Although there are no recognized proven causes of chronic depression medical science believes that it may be caused by certain brain changes. They also believe that a substance known as serotonin (a chemical that acts in the capacity of a neurotransmitter) may also have some effect in patients with chronic depression. They believe a lack of serotonin may reduce the brain’s ability to deal or cope with strong or stressful emotions. Further studies in the field have also revealed that major life stressors such as chronic illness, medications, relationship and work-related problems can also contribute significantly to the effects of chronic depression.
 
Depression symptoms vary widely from case to case and are similar to the symptoms for major depression though not quite as severe or debilitating. These are the main symptoms to watch for in depression:

Types of Depression: Chronic Depression

  • Unaccountable or excessive bouts of sadness that seem to persist on a day to day basis.
  • Overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem, or the feeling that their life is hopeless
  • Sleep disorders such as insomnia, or too much sleeping, often it causes early waking from sleep with an inability to get back to sleep again
  • The guilt of self-directed anger feelings
  • Concentration and decision making skills become significantly decreased
  • Lack of interest in things usually found enjoyable, inability to enjoy oneself
  • Easily recognizable signs of mental and physical fatigue
  • Energy loss and severe tiredness
  • Aches, headaches, pains, stomach problems that seem to not improve even with medications and treatments
  • Recurring dark thoughts of death and suicide
Diagnosing chronic depression or dysthymia cannot be done with any know blood test, x-rays or other laboratory tests. When you suspect you or someone you know may have depression that lasts for a period of two weeks or longer a doctor or psychiatrist should be consulted. The physician will begin a full medical examination to determine there is no physical reason for the symptoms. Sometimes medications both prescribed and illegal or even other medical conditions can trigger the same symptoms. Once he determines that it is chronic depression he can then evaluate the patient and prescribe a course of action. Often if caught early enough it can be treated with the family doctor with medications but psychotherapy may also be recommended. Antidepressants such that are widely used for the treatment of depression are also not without risk. Some can have strong side effects such as insomnia and loss of sexual desires
 
Chronic depression if not treated early can increase to major depression and possibly swing back and forth between the two…this is known as double depression.