Depression

There are several types of depression – major depression, dysthymia, bipolar depression, and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Clinical depression or major depression is a serious and common disorder of mood that is pervasive, intense and attacks the mind and body at the same time. Current theories indicate that clinical depression may be associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that carry communications between nerve cells that control mood and other bodily systems. Other factors may also come into play, such as negative life experiences including stress or loss, medication, other medical illnesses, and certain personality traits and genetic factors.

Symptoms of depression:

• Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
• Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Restlessness or irritability
• Inability to sleep or oversleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Dysthymia is a milder form of depression that lasts two years or more. It is the second most common type of depression but because people with dysthymia may only have two or three symptoms, may be overlooked and go undiagnosed and untreated.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that follows seasonal rhythms, with symptoms occurring in the winter months and diminishing in spring and summer. Current research indicates that the absence of sunlight triggers a biochemical reaction that may cause symptoms such as loss of energy, decreased activity, sadness, and excessive eating and sleeping.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a type of mental illness that involves a disorder of affect or mood. The person’s mood usually swings between overly “high” or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, with periods of normal mood in between.

Symptoms include:

• Extreme irritability and distractibility
• Excessive “high” or euphoric feelings
• Increased energy, activity, restlessness
• Racing thoughts, rapid speech
• Decreased need for sleep
• Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs or alcohol
• Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, or erratic driving
• In severe cases, hallucinations and loss of reason

Mental health specialists refer to bipolar disorder by type: Type I bipolar disorder involves extreme upswings in mood (mania) coupled with downward spirals. In Type II, the upward swings are more mild (hypomania), but the frequency and intensity of the depressive phase is often severe. Since the elevated mood states of Type II are relatively mild, they are often missed and the bipolar nature of the illness goes undiagnosed.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more. In adults, the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, or career. In addition to chronic worry, GAD symptoms include trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, abdominal upsets, dizziness, and irritability.

Symptoms include:

• Excessive worry about everyday things that interferes with daily functioning
• Physical symptoms such as sweating, nausea, clammy hands
• Associated with higher risk for suicide

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is a complex health condition that can develop in response to a traumatic experience – a life-threatening or extremely distressing situation that causes a person to feel intense fear, horror or a sense of helplessness.

Symptoms include:

• Re-experiencing the event through intrusive thoughts or dreams
• Avoiding conversations or situations that remind the sufferer of the event
• A sense of detachment
• Irritability, anxiousness, hypervigilance
• Outbursts of anger