However, just because someone slopes around and hates the world in general, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is suffering from depression, but if this kind of behaviour, that feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and absolute lack of hope for happiness goes on , then, that person is probably, 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 prolonged feeling of emptiness by a new mother where physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some of the possible reasons why some new mothers suffer from this.
Dysthimia is characterized by a slight similarity with depression, although this type has been proven to be a lot less severe, but of course as with any case, it needs to be treated immediately.
Cyclothemia is characterized by only a slight similarity with Manic or Bipolar depression wherein the sufferer of this mental disease has a problem with rapid changes in mood.
Seasonal Affective Disorder – characterized by depression only during specific seasons (i.e. Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn). However, studies show that most sufferers 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 as some might call it, ‘major depression’, is the actual medical term for depression. Actually, clinical depression is more of a disorder than an illness, since it refers only to those who are suffering from symptoms that cause depression.
However, despite it being a real disorder, clinical depression can be treated very successfully. Doctors are usually very optimistic that patients suffering from clinical depression will soon be well on their way to regaining good mental health if they are treated as soon as they have been diagnosed. Patients who have sought treatment for clinical depression have proven to be quite successful in their hopes, since 80 percent of those treated have found relief from their illness.
For those who may be seeking answers to questions related to clinical depression, the depression section of the health center is highly recommended, as well as books on psychiatry and the Internet – which can offer a lot of helpful information, although self medication is highly frowned upon. Clinical depression may not pose as much of a threat as the other types of mental illness, but it is best to leave it in the hands of professionals who can safely attend to and cure this disorder.
Clinical depression is often a very debilitating illness and is extremely distressing to suffer or observe. Learn more on our website: Treating Depression
