This site is for educational purposes only and is not to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.

     Depression can be broken down into two catergories; Major Depression (also known as Unipolar Depression) and Mild Depression (also known as Dysthymia).  Other common types of depression are; Bipolar Disorder, also known as Manic-Depressive Disorder and Post-Partum Depression.

     Like most other disorders, depression has tell tale symptoms.  The thing is, the signs are not always easy to recognize.  In fact, Dr David G. Fassler once said, "Sadness is a normal, healthy emotion; depression is a disease. The challenge lies in understanding and recognizing the difference."

 

    

     Mild depression usually lasts for shorter periods of time usually when things just don't seem to go as planned or the realities of life have become overwhelming and just too hard to deal with.

     Major depression or Clinical Depression is different  from 'the blues' and is described as a persistent combination of at least five of the following symtoms:

Intense feeling so guilt

 

Helplessness and hopelessness

 

Sadness

 

Loss of interest

 

Disturbance in apetite with weight gain or loss

 

Constant fatigue

 

Sleep disturbances

 

Low sex drive

 Hyperactivity

 

Feelings of worthlessness

 

Crying spells (usually for no valid reason)

 

Low self-esteem

 

Indecision

 

Inability to derive any pleasure from life

 

Pessimism

 

     Mild Depression has some symptoms very similar to major depression.  Therapists say a person has mild depression if they have at least three of the following symptoms for at least two years:

 

*     Low Self-Esteem     *     Fatigue or Lethargy     *    Feelings of Guilt     *    Irritibility or Excessive Anger

*     Pessimism    *      Lessened Productivity    *     Difficulty Concentrating or Making Decisions

*     Hopelessness or Despair     *     Lack of Confidence     *     Withdrawn from social activities

*     Lack of interest in ordinary pleasures and activities that once brought pleasure

 

 

     The main reason it's hard to recognize the signs is because most people get 'down in the dumbs' or have 'the blues' every now and then.  The difference between 'the blues' and depression has to do with two things; the intensity and the duration of the condition.  Intensity basically involves the degree to which negative feelings afflict the person.  Duration pertains to the length of the person's listless state.