Depression as a term often gets thrown about a lot to describe an emotional outlook. Sadness, grief, disappointment, feeling lonely, all these outlooks can be -- and often are -- labeled as a depressed state. It's an inaccuracy. In fact, depression is a specific mental health condition with a specific set of symptoms. If for no other reason than treatment purposes, it's important to keep the meaning of depression genuine.
There are, in fact, various depression forms, contrary to what the average person, and even the person with some knowledge of depression, may think. The most common depression type is dysthymia. Dysthymia is characterized by long-term, chronic depressive symptoms, though dysthymia symptoms never reach the point of becoming disabling. Though it is not disabling, dysthymia does affect life quality, and can and does prevent an optimal outlook.
A second depression type is major depression. Major depression is different from dysthymia in that it can and does cause functioning disability. Chronic depression may continue on unnoticed, but this is less likely with major depression because regular functioning is so considerably affected. Major depression typically occurs episodically, not chronically, perhaps due to the fact that major depression often demands treatment intervention and can't be overlooked as dysthymia, for example, can. A person may have only one episode of major depression during his or her lifetime, but is more likely to have several.
A third common depression type is bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder can be described as intermittent periods of major depression and states of mania. During a manic state, a person with bipolar disorder may appear exceptionally energetic, talkative, and possibly even euphoric. Inappropriateness in both behavior and judgment are typical manic traits. This swing, sometimes occurring very rapidly, between debilitating depression and mania is a classic indication of bipolar disorder.
Dysthymia, major depression, and bipolar disorder all call for treatment intervention. Treatment for dysthymia can consist of psychological counseling, anti-depressant medication, or some form of combination. Treatment for an episode of major depression almost always involves some form of psychiatric medication, and this is especially true if a major depression episode leads to hospitalization. Bipolar disorder is unanimously treated with medication, with also the typical addition of psychotherapy. Lithium has long been a treatment for bipolar disorder. A case of bipolar disorder that goes untreated will often lead to the afflicted individual having more and more difficulty functioning normally in society, with an eventual possible outcome of considerable medical and / or legal difficulty.
The simple ?down mood? or ?bad hair day? really isn't depression at all. It's merely the experience of normal human emotions in response to external and internal factors. Every case of being sad or lonely is not an example of depression. Low feelings are normal and even healthy. Depression refers to more severe cases where those negative feelings take hold and have a more serious or lasting influence on one's well-being or ability to function.
There are three types of depression, all of which share that similarity. One is known as dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chronic, low-grade depression that lasts over a long period of time. This type of depression is ?sneaky? and may not be spotted easily. Its long-lasting nature allows one to ?adjust? to its symptoms somewhat, making a depressed mood seem like the normal every day nature of things.
Dysthymia sufferers have the overall quality of their lives undermined by depression, often without realizing it. They may think they are simply dour people or that life is inevitably something less than enjoyable.
Those with dysthymia are able to function with a high degree of normalcy, but are constantly nagged by feelings of sadness, despair, loneliness and related emotions.
Situational depression can have more severe symptoms. This is the form of depression that rears its head in direct response to external circumstances. Any number of traumas or trying events can trigger a bout of situational depression. The death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, for instance, may produce intense and temporarily debilitating depressive symptoms.
The key to differentiating situation depression from its clinical counterpart is the temporary nature of the symptomology and the fact that it can often be traced back to a specific cause. One should note that traumatic events can also herald the onset of clinical depression, however.
Those suffering from situational depression may find life very difficult for a period of time. They may feel agitated or nervous, have disruptions in sleeping habits, or experience other common depressive symptoms. However, the problem usually passes as the individual learns to cope with the problems that triggered the episode.
Clinical depression is more severe. If one experiences symptoms that interfere with regular functioning for a period longer than two weeks in length, they may be suffering from clinical depression. Clinical depression can last indefinitely and can be quite devastating.
The hallmark of clinical depression is the inability to enjoy almost any aspect of life. In some cases, the sufferer may even begin to consider suicide as an alternative to continuing on in their depressed state. Symptoms can run the gamut from a vague sense of unease to utter and complete hopelessness.
Interventions are usually required for one to overcome clinical depression. These can involve the use of psychotherapy, prescription antidepressants and other strategies aimed at solving the problem. Those who do not seek treatment for this condition may find the problem literally fatal in the long run. Fortunately, these methods can often be successful in helping one overcome the dreaded symptoms of clinical depression.
Depression is a growing problem, and as the epidemic continues to grow, it only makes sense for all of us to gain a better understanding of the disease. The World Health Organization posits that by the year 2020 depression will be second most devastating disease facing humanity, second only to heart disease in its impact. Depression touches the lives of most everyone and all of us should develop a stronger appreciation of what separates depression from simply having a ?lousy week.?
Although the term ?depression? may encompass many things in popular use, in a strict sense it refers to one of the three variations mentioned in this article. Dysthymia, situational depression and clinical depression represent the three primary types of depression. They share a great deal in common, but can be differentiated from one another by the severity of their symptoms and their longevity.
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