More about Depression

Types of Depression
Signs and Symptoms
Treatment

Types of Depression

Depression can look different for everyone. It can range from mild to severe. Knowing the different types of depression can help you seek the most effective treatment. The following are only a few possible types, and therefore it’s important to seek professional help to get the correct diagnoses.

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Major depression - major depression is the persistent feeling of low mood, and disinterest in daily activities and life. It can be a combination of having severe depressive episodes and consistent mild depressive periods. Symptoms of major depression usually last for more than two weeks, and interfere with multiple aspects of a person’s life.
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Atypical depression - atypical depression is a type of major depression that seems to respond better to some therapeutic and medical treatments than other types of depression. It’s when depressive moods can improve in response to positive life events. However, depressive episodes can still cripple a person’s day-to-day functioning and cause mental health problems.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs in correlation with the changing of the seasons. People with SAD experience depressive periods more often during autumn and winter when the days get shorter and darker. A person can feel completely different during spring and summer seasons.
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Psychotic depression - psychotic depression is having depression symptoms in combination with psychosis. A person with psychotic depression may experience hallucinations, paranoia, and/or the false belief that everything is against them.
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Antenatal and postnatal depression - antenatal depression is when women experience depression before or during pregnancy, and postnatal depression is when they experience depression after giving birth. This depression can affect the mother and their relationship with their newborn and family.

Signs and Symptoms

Each person may experience some of these symptoms from time to time, however it may not exactly be an indication of having depression. Similarly, a person experiencing depression may not show all these symptoms. If these symptoms are persistent for more than two weeks, it’s recommended to seek professional help. The following are commons signs and symptoms of depression:

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Withdrawal - not willing to go out with family and friends, or do enjoyable activities.
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Feeling helpless or hopeless - having the perspective that nothing is going to improve, or having thoughts such as “things would be better without me”, “I’m a failure”, “nothing good ever happens”.
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Loss of energy - feeling physically tired all the time, sick or run down. Doing simple tasks take a long time or seem too hard. Feeling heavy or sluggish. Finding it hard to sleep.
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Recklessness - being reliant on substance abuse or alcohol addiction. Engaging in dangerous activities without regard for safety or life.
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Low tolerance - getting easily angered or irritated. Breaking out in violence and being annoyed by everything.
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Lack of concentration - struggling to focus on things, work, or studies. Finding it hard to make decisions and remember simple things.
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Appetite and weight changes - having significant weight gain or loss. Struggling to eat properly.

Treatment

Treatment for depression is different for everyone. There is not one perfectly proven way to treat depression effectively for everyone. The benefit of having multiple different treatments available is that if one treatment is not working for you, you can always try another. It’s important, however, to seek professional help and advice, especially for medical treatments.

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Therapy - talking to someone or multiple people can help you change your perspective and adjust your thinking to improve your depressive mood. Therapy can be one-on-one with a professional or it can be with a group of likeminded people that can help and support you.
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Medication - antidepressants are a type of medication that doctors can prescribe to you in combination with a recommendation for a psychologist. They are often prescribed when psychological treatment alone is not effective because of the severity of depression.

Further Resources

1

“Depression”. Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/depression

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“Signs of Depression”. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/recognizing-symptoms

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“Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs”. HelpGuide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-symptoms-and-warning-signs.htm

4

“Depression”. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

5

“Types of Depression”. Beyond Blue. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/types-of-depression

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“Depression - Signs and Symptoms”. Beyond Blue. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/signs-and-symptoms

7

“Atypical depression”. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atypical-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20369747