Types of Depression

All of us feel depressed or sad occasionally. However, these feelings pass within a few days. If you have a depression, you may experience various symptoms that interfere with your daily life, causing pain to you and the people around you. Depression and genetics definitions say that it is a psychiatric disorder characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, helplessness, hopelessness, loss of appetite, inability to focus and thoughts of death. There are many types of depression. Getting as much depression information as possible can help you diagnose the type of depression you have and get the right treatment and lead a normal life.

Major and Chronic Depression

Major depression and chronic depression are the most common types of depression. According to depression definitions and depression therapy benefits, major depression is a disorder characterized by feelings of sad, loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities and hopelessness, which interfere with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep or do other activities. Major depression lasts longer and distresses your normal functions significantly. Chronic depression is characterized by a depressed mood for a long term.  Chronic depression causes less severe symptoms when compared to major depression, but it may lead you to experience one or more major depression episodes in your lifetime.

Other Types of Depression- Atypical Depression

Atypical depression is one of the kinds of depression characterized by overeating, oversleeping, extreme sensitivity to rejection, fatigue and low mood in response to some events. Getting in depth atypical depression information can help you seek help as soon as possible.  Major change in weight or appetite and extreme sensitivity to rejection are the symptoms of atypical depression, which may cause problems in relationships. Depression information offered by experts show that this type of depression is caused by genetic factors, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, a significant loss like death of a loved one or divorce, any type of serious illness like cancer, stroke, HIV or heart disease.

Manic Depression

Manic depression definitions state that it is a complex mood disorder characterized by severe mood swings between mania and depression. There are two sub kinds of depression- manic depression I and manic depression II. If you have a history of at least one manic episode and with or without any major depressive episodes, you may be diagnosed as a manic depression I patient. If you have experienced at least one major depression episode and manic episode, you may suffer from manic depression II.

Seasonal Depression

Seasonal depression is one of the kinds of depression that occurs every year at the same time. Carbohydrate cravings, fatigue and weight gain along with depression feelings are the symptoms of this disorder. Young adults, especially females are more prone to the risk of developing this disorder.

Psychotic Depression

This type of depression is characterized by delusional thoughts along with the normal symptoms of depression. Hallucinations are also experienced by the patients. It is a subtype of major depression that could increase the risk of manic depression or bipolar disorder with recurring episodes of mania.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a type of depression experienced by new moms. Around 10% of new moms develop this condition. Lack of sleep, excessive fatigue, appetite changes and frequent mood changes are the symptoms of this disorder.