There are many different types of depression. The symptoms, conditions and treatmetns of all these depression types are different from each other. The most common types of depression are chronic depressino and clinical depression. The other less common types of depression include bipolar depression and post partum depression etc. Every type of depression has unique signs and symptoms that differntiates it from the other types.
There come periods of feeling sad and lonely in the life of every normal person. But sometimes these feelings become permanent part of one's life and disturbs the normal living of the individual. These are the major symptoms of clinical depression. The other common symptoms are lack of interest in any activity, depression of mood and avoiding the company. These symptoms may affect the patient for many days like two weeks or more. Other symptoms may include lack of concentration, sleeping problems, feeling fatigued or slow in motion, hopelessness, and thoughts of death and suicide.
Dysthymia disorder is like major depression and has the same characteristics and symptoms or signs as it, but unlike major depression, chronic depression is less severe and it typically doesn't disable a person's capability to do things. During the Chronic depression the mood depression may last for many two or more years at the maximum. So, the time span of this depression is very large.
Bipolar Depression is witnessed by alternating episodes of mania or depression. These symptoms include a depressed mood and loss of interest in daily life for about a two week period. The mood must also make a negative impact on the day to day living of the person experiencing it
People commonly suffer from depressed mood when they encounter disappointments in life or struggle with loss and grief. Bipolar depression can be treated effectively-with medications, lifestyle changes, and therapy.
The seasonal depression has the direct link with some specific season of the year. It is also called seasonal affective disorder. The symptoms of this depression usually start appearing in the early summer or at the end of winter season. The symptoms of depression are same as in other types but these only occur in the specific period of the year.
Knowing the differences between the different types of depression, can enable the patient to understand them to some extent when seeking treatment for the depression problem.