DEPRESSION

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness,

loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. It’s also fairly common.
Though depression and grief share some features, depression is different from grief felt
after losing a loved one or sadness felt after a traumatic life event.

Depression usually involves self-loathing or a loss of self-esteem, while grief typically

does not. In grief, positive emotions and happy memories of the deceased typically
accompany feelings of emotional pain. In major depressive disorder, the feelings of
sadness are constant.

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work,
resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some
chronic health conditions.

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper
treatment. Depression often persists in spite of a change of circumstances and causes
feelings that are intense, chronic, and not proportional to a person’s circumstances. It is
an ongoing problem, not a passing one.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness,

and loss of joy. It is different from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience
as a part of life.

Major life events, such as bereavement or the loss of a job, can trigger depression. But
depression is distinct from the negative feelings a person may temporarily have in
response to a difficult life event.Depression often persists in spite of a change of
circumstances and causes feelings that are intense, chronic, and not proportional to a
person’s circumstances.
It is an ongoing problem, not a passing one.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION:

1.Major depressive disorder

The classic depression type, major depression is a state where a dark mood is
all-consuming and one loses interest in activities, even ones that are usually
pleasurable. It is usually treated with psychotherapy and medication. For some people
with severe depression that isn't alleviated with psychotherapy or antidepressant
medications, electroconvulsive therapy may be effective.

Adults with MDD experience major depressive episodes with a gap of at least 2 months
between them. Untreated depressive episodes in major depressive disorder can last
from 6 to 12 months. About two-thirds of the individuals with MDD contemplate suicide,
and about 10 to 15 percent commit suicide.

2.Persistent depressive disorder

Formerly called "dysthymia,"

This type of depression refers to a low mood that has lasted for at least two years but
may not reach the intensity of major depression. Many people with this type of
depression are able to function day to day, but feel low or joyless much of the time.

A person living with this disorder may have milder symptoms that do not meet the
criteria for major depressive disorder. While the symptoms are not as severe as major
depressive disorder, they are pervasive and long-lasting.
3.Major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern

Previously known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this type of depression

emerges as days get shorter in the fall and winter. The mood change may result from
alterations in the body's natural daily rhythms, in the eyes' sensitivity to light, or in how
chemical messengers like serotonin and melatonin function.

The leading treatment is light therapy, which involves daily sessions sitting close to an
especially intense light source. The usual treatments for depression, such as
psychotherapy and medication, may also be effective.

This condition seems to particularly affect people who live in countries with long or
severe winters.

Depression symptoms

Depression can be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.”

Symptoms may also be ongoing or come and go.

General signs and symptoms

Not everyone with depression will experience the same symptoms. Symptoms can vary
in severity, how often they happen, and how long they last.

● feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”

● feeling hopeless, worthless, and pessimistic
● crying a lot
● feeling bothered, annoyed, or angry
● loss of interest in hobbies and interests you once enjoyed
 ● decreased energy or fatigue
● difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
● moving or talking more slowly
● difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
● appetite or weight changes
● chronic physical pain with no clear cause that does not get better with treatment
(headaches, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
● thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm, or suicide attempts

The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among males and females.

Males may experience symptoms related to their:

● mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, or restlessness

● emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, or hopeless
● behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities,
feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs
● sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire or lack of sexual performance
● cognitive abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, or
delayed responses during conversations
● sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, or not
sleeping through the night
● physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, or digestive problems

Females may experience symptoms related to their:

● mood, such as irritability

● emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious, or hopeless
● behavior, such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social
engagements, or thoughts of suicide
● cognitive abilities, such as thinking or talking more slowly
 ● sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping through the night, waking early, or
sleeping too much
● physical well-being, such as decreased energy, greater fatigue, changes in
appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, or increased cramps

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a

lifelong mood disorder and mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood,
energy levels, thinking patterns and behavior. These shifts can last for hours, days,
weeks or months and interrupt your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

There are a few types of bipolar disorder, which involve experiencing significant
fluctuations in mood referred to as hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes.
However, people with bipolar disorder aren’t always in a hypomanic/manic or
depressive state. They also experience periods of normal mood, known as euthymia.

Mania and hypomania

An episode of mania often involves an emotional high. You might feel excited, impulsive,
euphoric, and full of energy. You might also feel jumpy or notice your thoughts seem to
race. Some people also experience hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis.

Manic episodes can involve behavior that’s more impulsive than usual, often because
you feel invincible or untouchable. Commonly cited examples of this kind of behavior
include:

● misusing alcohol and drugs

● going on spending sprees
But impulsiveness can also show up in plenty of other ways. Maybe you:

● quit your job abruptly

● take off on a road trip by yourself without telling anyone
● make a big investment on a whim
● drive much faster than usual, well above the speed limit
● participate in extreme sports you wouldn’t ordinarily consider

While there are many reasons why a person might engage in these behaviors, the key
to mania is that these are not things you would choose to engage in periods of stable
mood.

Hypomania, generally associated with bipolar II disorder, involves many of the same
symptoms, though they’re less severe. Unlike mania, hypomania often doesn’t lead to
consequences at work, school, or in your relationships. Episodes of hypomania don’t
involve psychosis. They typically won’t last as long as episodes of mania or require
inpatient care.

With hypomania, you might feel very productive and energized, but you may not notice
other changes in your mood. People who don’t know you well may not, either. Those
closest to you, however, will usually pick up on your shifting mood and energy levels.

Types of bipolar disorder

These three main symptoms — mania, hypomania, and depression — are the main
features of bipolar disorder. Different types of bipolar disorder involve different
combinations of these symptoms.

There are four types of bipolar disorder, including:

● Bipolar I disorder: Bipolar I is defined by the appearance of at least one manic

episode. Most people with bipolar I will have episodes of both mania and
 depression, but an episode of depression isn’t necessary for a diagnosis. If you
experience Mania, it is bipolar 1 by default.

● Bipolar II disorder:

People with bipolar II experience depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes.

However, the depressive episodes are severe. While hypomania is less impairing than
mania, bipolar II disorder is often more debilitating than bipolar I disorder due to chronic
depression being more common in bipolar II.

● Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia):

People with cyclothymic disorder have a chronically unstable mood state. They
experience hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. People with
cyclothymia may have brief periods of normal mood (euthymia), but these periods last
fewer than eight weeks.

● Other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders:

If a person doesn’t meet the diagnostic criteria for bipolar I, II or cyclothymia but has still
experienced periods of clinically significant abnormal mood elevation, it’s considered
other specified or unspecified bipolar disorder.

SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER:

Signs and symptoms of a manic episode include:

● Excessive happiness, hopefulness and excitement.

● Sudden and severe changes in mood, such as going from being joyful to being
angry and hostile.
● Restlessness.
● Rapid speech and racing thoughts.
● Increased energy and less need for sleep.
● Increased impulsivity and poor judgment, such as suddenly quitting your job.
● Making grand and unattainable plans.
● Reckless and risk-taking behavior, such as drug and alcohol misuse and having
unsafe or unprotected sex.
● Feeling like you’re unusually important, talented or powerful.
 ● Psychosis — experiencing hallucinations and delusions (in the most severe
manic episodes).

Most of the time, people experiencing a manic episode are unaware of the negative
consequences of their actions. With bipolar disorder, suicide is an ever-present danger
— some people become suicidal in manic episodes, not just depressive episodes.

If a person is having an intense manic episode, especially if they’re experiencing

hallucinations and delusions, they may need to be hospitalized to protect themselves
and others from possible harm.

Signs and symptoms of hypomania

Some people with bipolar disorder have milder manic-like symptoms. This is called
hypomania. With hypomania, you may feel very good and find that you can get a lot
done. People with hypomania can often function well in social situations or at work.

You may not feel like anything is wrong during a hypomanic episode. After hypomania,
you might experience severe depression.

Signs and symptoms of depressive episodes

The symptoms of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are the same as those of
major depression. They include:

● Overwhelming sadness.
● Low energy and fatigue.
● Lack of motivation.
● Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness.
● Loss of enjoyment of things that were once pleasurable for you.
● Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
● Uncontrollable crying.
● Irritability.
● Increased need for sleep.
● Insomnia or excessive sleep.
● A change in appetite, causing weight loss or gain.
● Thoughts of death or suicide (suicidal ideation).