Are there different levels of depression? if yes how do u explain each one?!
Question: Are there different levels of depression!? if yes how do u explain each one!?
thanks *Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Ran across this the other day:
http://www!.content4reprint!.com/health/di!.!.!.
Depression - Types, Causes and Symptoms
Tags: depression, mental health, depressive disorder, counseling
Major Depressive Disorder - commonly referred as depression - is an
illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts!.
It is not to be confused with a passing blue mood - depression can
have severe repercussions in the person 's way of life!. It affects a
person 's appetite, sleep, and work!. It affects relationships and how
a person feels about himself!. Depression is not a sign of weakness, or
a condition that can be willed or wished away!. One cannot merely
change things in a snap - sans treatment, symptoms can last for days,
weeks, months, or even years!.
Types of Depression
Depressive Disorder comes in different forms!. Three of the most common
types of depressive disorders are major depression, dysthymia, and
bipolar disorder - it is instructive to note that within these types
are variations in the number of symptoms, persistence, and how severe
they are!.
Major Depression is evidenced by a combination of symptoms that
interfere with one 's ability to live a normal, productive life!. A
disabling episode of major depression may occur only once, but it more
commonly occurs several times in a person 's lifetime!.
Dysthymia is a less severe type, but nonetheless keeps one from
functioning well!. It involves chronic, long-term symptoms that do not
disable and leaves one feeling miserable!. People suffering dysthymia
also experience major depressive episodes some time in their lives!.
Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is not nearly
as prevalent as the other forms of depression!. It is characterized by
cyclical mood changes - severe highs (mania) and severe lows
(depression) !. Mood variations are sometimes rapid and dramatic, but
most often are gradual!. An individual in the depressed cycle can have
any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder, and when in the
manic cycle, the individual may be over-active and have a great deal
of energy!. Mania often affects judgment, social behavior, and thinking
- which lead to embarrassment and serious problems!. Left untreated,
mania may worsen into a psychotic state!.
Symptoms of Depression
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Constant feelings of emptiness, irritability, sadness, or tension
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Decreased energy
- Difficulty in remembering
- Fatigue
- Feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism, and
worthlessness
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities and hobbies that were
enjoyed before, including sex
- Oversleeping
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, like
chronic pain, digestive disorders, headaches
- Restlessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide, sometimes with suicide attempts
Causes of Depression
Depression has no singular cause - it is often a result of a
combination of factors!. Whatever the cause, depression is not a mere
state of mind - it is correlated to physical changes in the brain, and
connected to an imbalance of a particular chemical that transports
signals in your brain and nerves!. These are the neurotransmitters!.
Factors Involved in Depression
Family: Genetics play a crucial role in depression!. It can run in the
family for generations, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can
be inherited - often the case in bipolar disorder!. Major depression
seem to occur generation after generation in some families, but it can
also occur in people who have no family history of the illness!.
Inherited or not, major depressive disorders are often associated with
variations in brain function and brain structure!.
Pessimistic personality: People with low self-esteem, those who
consistently view themselves and the world with negative thoughts, or
those who are readily overwhelmed by stress are at a higher risk of
becoming depressed!. These traits may actually be caused by dysthymia!.
Physical conditions: Researches through the years have shown that
physical changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes as
well!. Serious medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, and HIV
can contribute to depression, in part because of the physical stress
and weakness they bring!. Depression can worsen medical conditions,
weakening the immune system and making pain more unbearable!. The
patient loses desire to care for himself, which leads to more
complication!. In some cases, depression is a side effect of
medications used to treat medical conditions!.
Stress and Trauma: Major changes in life - break-up from a
relationship, death of a loved one, financial problems - can bring
depression!. Even positive changes like graduating from school getting
married, or starting a new job can cause depression!.
**************************************!.!.!.
I really like this one on dysthymia (mild depression):
http://www!.mcmanweb!.com/dysthymia!.htm
Mental Water Torture - Dysthymia and "Mild" Depression
Don't let the terms mild or moderate fool you!.
by John McManamy
There is a silent killer amongst us!. With little fanfare it ruins lives and even ends them!. At any given time, some three percent of the population is under its spell, mostly women (by a ratio of two to three to one)!. The experts call it dysthymia!. We know it as mild to moderate chronic depression!.
If we think of major depression as a spectacular brain crash, milder depression can be compared to a form of mind-wearing water torture!. Day in and day out it grinds us down, robbing us of our will to succeed in life, to interact with others, and to enjoy the things that others take for granted!. The gloom that is generated in our tortured brains spills outward into the space that surrounds us and warns away all those who might otherwise be our friends and associates and loved ones!. All too frequently we find ourselves alone, shunned by the world around us and lacking the strength to make our presence felt!.
The symptoms are similar to major depression, with feelings of despair and hopelessness, and low self-esteem, often accompanied by chronic fatigue!. This can go on for years, day in, day out!.
Still, we are able to function, a sort of death-in-life existence that gets us out into the world and to work and the duties of staying alive then back to our homes and the blessed relief of flopping into our unmade beds!.
All too often, we are told to snap out of it!. That the invisible water torture we carry in our heads is our own fault!. And shamed into thinking something is wrong with our attitudes, we fail to seek help!. Or, if we do, it's our family physician who confuses a very real chemical imbalance in the brain with some imaginary defect in our personality!. And so we are sent away with a stupid happy pill such as a tranquilizer (whose depressive effect only adds to our quiet misery)!.
Some of us turn to the bottle or illegal drugs!. Others seek a more permanent solution!. Yes, even milder forms of depression can be lethal (experts estimate anywhere from 3 to 12 percent of people with dysthymia cure themselves by suicide)!.
And, sooner or later, it happens, the brain crash!. Major depression!. That's how most of us wind up, according to the experts, sometimes with a double depression, a depression on top of a depression that never had to be!. One that could have been stopped years before!.
And that, perhaps, is the saddest news of all: None of this ever had to happen!.
For starters, the same drugs that are used to treat major depression are equally as effective for mild to moderate depression!. In addition, the herbal remedy St John's wort has been found especially useful in treating mild to moderate depression, without most of the side effects found in other medications!.
Individuals with dysthymia also respond well to two types of talking therapy: interpersonal therapy which aims to boost one's battered self-esteem, and cognitive therapy which addresses erroneous thought patterns!. Both therapies are of short duration, typically from ten to twenty sessions!.
As I sit here writing this, the term mild to moderate depression mocks me!. I won't even begin to estimate how many years I've lost to a disorder predicated by the modifiers mild to moderate!. The least they could have done was assign the name of a Shakespeare character - Hamlet's disease, Lear's disease, anything, really!. Just so long as it doesn't imply I was cut down in the prime of my youth by some invisible stupid nerf bat pounding against the inside of my brain!.
For the rest of you: You can end it right now!. You don't have to endure the mental water torture any longer!.
And for friends and loved ones: Let them know - they can end it right now!. The mental water torture can be a thing of the past!. Starting today those you care for can win their lives back!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
http://www!.content4reprint!.com/health/di!.!.!.
Depression - Types, Causes and Symptoms
Tags: depression, mental health, depressive disorder, counseling
Major Depressive Disorder - commonly referred as depression - is an
illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts!.
It is not to be confused with a passing blue mood - depression can
have severe repercussions in the person 's way of life!. It affects a
person 's appetite, sleep, and work!. It affects relationships and how
a person feels about himself!. Depression is not a sign of weakness, or
a condition that can be willed or wished away!. One cannot merely
change things in a snap - sans treatment, symptoms can last for days,
weeks, months, or even years!.
Types of Depression
Depressive Disorder comes in different forms!. Three of the most common
types of depressive disorders are major depression, dysthymia, and
bipolar disorder - it is instructive to note that within these types
are variations in the number of symptoms, persistence, and how severe
they are!.
Major Depression is evidenced by a combination of symptoms that
interfere with one 's ability to live a normal, productive life!. A
disabling episode of major depression may occur only once, but it more
commonly occurs several times in a person 's lifetime!.
Dysthymia is a less severe type, but nonetheless keeps one from
functioning well!. It involves chronic, long-term symptoms that do not
disable and leaves one feeling miserable!. People suffering dysthymia
also experience major depressive episodes some time in their lives!.
Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is not nearly
as prevalent as the other forms of depression!. It is characterized by
cyclical mood changes - severe highs (mania) and severe lows
(depression) !. Mood variations are sometimes rapid and dramatic, but
most often are gradual!. An individual in the depressed cycle can have
any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder, and when in the
manic cycle, the individual may be over-active and have a great deal
of energy!. Mania often affects judgment, social behavior, and thinking
- which lead to embarrassment and serious problems!. Left untreated,
mania may worsen into a psychotic state!.
Symptoms of Depression
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Constant feelings of emptiness, irritability, sadness, or tension
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Decreased energy
- Difficulty in remembering
- Fatigue
- Feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism, and
worthlessness
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities and hobbies that were
enjoyed before, including sex
- Oversleeping
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, like
chronic pain, digestive disorders, headaches
- Restlessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide, sometimes with suicide attempts
Causes of Depression
Depression has no singular cause - it is often a result of a
combination of factors!. Whatever the cause, depression is not a mere
state of mind - it is correlated to physical changes in the brain, and
connected to an imbalance of a particular chemical that transports
signals in your brain and nerves!. These are the neurotransmitters!.
Factors Involved in Depression
Family: Genetics play a crucial role in depression!. It can run in the
family for generations, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can
be inherited - often the case in bipolar disorder!. Major depression
seem to occur generation after generation in some families, but it can
also occur in people who have no family history of the illness!.
Inherited or not, major depressive disorders are often associated with
variations in brain function and brain structure!.
Pessimistic personality: People with low self-esteem, those who
consistently view themselves and the world with negative thoughts, or
those who are readily overwhelmed by stress are at a higher risk of
becoming depressed!. These traits may actually be caused by dysthymia!.
Physical conditions: Researches through the years have shown that
physical changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes as
well!. Serious medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, and HIV
can contribute to depression, in part because of the physical stress
and weakness they bring!. Depression can worsen medical conditions,
weakening the immune system and making pain more unbearable!. The
patient loses desire to care for himself, which leads to more
complication!. In some cases, depression is a side effect of
medications used to treat medical conditions!.
Stress and Trauma: Major changes in life - break-up from a
relationship, death of a loved one, financial problems - can bring
depression!. Even positive changes like graduating from school getting
married, or starting a new job can cause depression!.
**************************************!.!.!.
I really like this one on dysthymia (mild depression):
http://www!.mcmanweb!.com/dysthymia!.htm
Mental Water Torture - Dysthymia and "Mild" Depression
Don't let the terms mild or moderate fool you!.
by John McManamy
There is a silent killer amongst us!. With little fanfare it ruins lives and even ends them!. At any given time, some three percent of the population is under its spell, mostly women (by a ratio of two to three to one)!. The experts call it dysthymia!. We know it as mild to moderate chronic depression!.
If we think of major depression as a spectacular brain crash, milder depression can be compared to a form of mind-wearing water torture!. Day in and day out it grinds us down, robbing us of our will to succeed in life, to interact with others, and to enjoy the things that others take for granted!. The gloom that is generated in our tortured brains spills outward into the space that surrounds us and warns away all those who might otherwise be our friends and associates and loved ones!. All too frequently we find ourselves alone, shunned by the world around us and lacking the strength to make our presence felt!.
The symptoms are similar to major depression, with feelings of despair and hopelessness, and low self-esteem, often accompanied by chronic fatigue!. This can go on for years, day in, day out!.
Still, we are able to function, a sort of death-in-life existence that gets us out into the world and to work and the duties of staying alive then back to our homes and the blessed relief of flopping into our unmade beds!.
All too often, we are told to snap out of it!. That the invisible water torture we carry in our heads is our own fault!. And shamed into thinking something is wrong with our attitudes, we fail to seek help!. Or, if we do, it's our family physician who confuses a very real chemical imbalance in the brain with some imaginary defect in our personality!. And so we are sent away with a stupid happy pill such as a tranquilizer (whose depressive effect only adds to our quiet misery)!.
Some of us turn to the bottle or illegal drugs!. Others seek a more permanent solution!. Yes, even milder forms of depression can be lethal (experts estimate anywhere from 3 to 12 percent of people with dysthymia cure themselves by suicide)!.
And, sooner or later, it happens, the brain crash!. Major depression!. That's how most of us wind up, according to the experts, sometimes with a double depression, a depression on top of a depression that never had to be!. One that could have been stopped years before!.
And that, perhaps, is the saddest news of all: None of this ever had to happen!.
For starters, the same drugs that are used to treat major depression are equally as effective for mild to moderate depression!. In addition, the herbal remedy St John's wort has been found especially useful in treating mild to moderate depression, without most of the side effects found in other medications!.
Individuals with dysthymia also respond well to two types of talking therapy: interpersonal therapy which aims to boost one's battered self-esteem, and cognitive therapy which addresses erroneous thought patterns!. Both therapies are of short duration, typically from ten to twenty sessions!.
As I sit here writing this, the term mild to moderate depression mocks me!. I won't even begin to estimate how many years I've lost to a disorder predicated by the modifiers mild to moderate!. The least they could have done was assign the name of a Shakespeare character - Hamlet's disease, Lear's disease, anything, really!. Just so long as it doesn't imply I was cut down in the prime of my youth by some invisible stupid nerf bat pounding against the inside of my brain!.
For the rest of you: You can end it right now!. You don't have to endure the mental water torture any longer!.
And for friends and loved ones: Let them know - they can end it right now!. The mental water torture can be a thing of the past!. Starting today those you care for can win their lives back!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes!.
They are:
mild - low level of depression that only effects social and occupational functioning in minor ways
moderate - mid range level of depression!. effects of social and occupational functioning will be marked and noticeable
severe - severe depression is debilitating and can include psychotic features!. suicidal ideation, gestures, and/or attempts may occur!.
~M~Www@Answer-Health@Com
They are:
mild - low level of depression that only effects social and occupational functioning in minor ways
moderate - mid range level of depression!. effects of social and occupational functioning will be marked and noticeable
severe - severe depression is debilitating and can include psychotic features!. suicidal ideation, gestures, and/or attempts may occur!.
~M~Www@Answer-Health@Com
yes in that area of expertise they have what they call mild, or heavy depression!.!.all of it is the same to me, because i just felt like crap!.!.but you can get over it, it takes time but all things are possible!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com