6 Types of Depression: Do You Have One of Them?

Depression is complicated; it can be present in someone’s life for months or even years, gradually getting worse before anyone figures out what’s wrong. According to studies, millions of people will suffer from a depressive disorder this year.

What’s unfortunate is that out of all these suffers, fewer than a third of them will seek help. Often they may not even know they need help. And in the Christian community, stigmas surrounding mental illness may cause sufferers to be especially reluctant to admit there’s something wrong.

Types of Depression

Depressions fall into several categories and can be affected by a number of different factors, such as life events, stress levels, environment, and genetics. Depressive disorders tend to run in families.

Depending on the type of depression, it may get worse over a period of years. Other types of depression appear suddenly after a life event or a physical change.

The fоllоwіng are the соmmоn tуреѕ оf dерrеѕѕіоn thаt affect mіllіоnѕ оf реорlе еvеrу уеаr:

Clinical or Major Depression

This type of depression can be attributed to a variety of factors. These can include specific risk factors such as hormones, biological changes, and genetics, but there are other possible causes as well.

Clinical depression tends to disrupt one’s sleep and ability to concentrate and cope with life. The sufferer may not be able to enjoy things that they once did. They may also get angry more frequently or experience feelings of intense sadness.

Some people with clinical depression may also suffer memory loss and a lack of sex drive. For them, day-to-day life can seem to take overwhelming effort. The sufferer may lose interest in virtually everything.

This kind of depression can go on for years and be debilitating.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

This type of depression is milder and, though it occurs for at least two years. Its distinguishing factor is its likelihood of recurrence.

PDD sufferers often feel that their depression has lasted forever because the symptoms – though low-level – are almost constantly present. This is in contrast to major depression, in which the symptoms tend to be more episodic.

Atypical Depression (Subtype of Major Depression or PDD)

Atypical depression is a subtype of either major depression or PDD. This type of depression is characterized by specific symptoms that can include oversensitivity to rejection, unusual weakness and fatigue, changes in appetite, reactive mood changes, and excessive sleepiness. The symptoms are usually preliminary to either major depression or PDD being diagnosed.

Postpartum Depression

Most new moms experience “the baby blues” at some point after giving birth. Often this is inevitable because of fluctuating hormone levels, sleep deprivation, and the overwhelming of responsibility as a new parent.

However, postpartum depression goes beyond the baby blues. It’s characterized by a feeling of overall despair, and it can occur anytime from within a few months of giving birth up to two to three years afterward. In severe cases, it can lead to a desire to harm the child or prevent maternal bonding from taking place.

Manic Depression

Otherwise known as Bipolar Disorder, this type of depression is serious and characterized by periods of major depression and sadness, interspersed with periods of mania. The level of mania and hyperactivity will be different based on whether this type of depression is Type 1 or 2.

These cycles of depression and mania can go on for weeks or months. Treating manic depression requires the help of a professional.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

People who experience depression during the fall and winter months are suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This disorder crops up during the cold months when there’s less sunlight and the weather is intemperate.

Those who are sensitive to these changes tend to fall into a depression, where they don’t function as well and their symptoms resemble major depression. The difference is that once the seasons change, their depression eases and they’re able to function normally again.

Practical Steps to Find the Depression Help You Need

Here are some ways you can get help for your depression:

Therapy

Talk therapy involves meeting with a trained therapist in order to discuss your problems and feelings. Your therapist will help you identify elements of your thinking and behavior that are contributing factors to your depression.

Your therapist may give you assignments to carry out, such as tracking your moods, journaling, making a self-care plan, or identifying your cognitive distortions and then reframing them. This will give you the tools to carry out treatment outside of therapy appointments.

In therapy, you may also learn exercises that can reduce your stress and anxiety and give you a greater understanding of your illness. Together with your therapist, you can work through strategies that will help you avoid the triggers that make your depression worse and develop coping mechanisms for handling unavoidable triggers.

Medication

Both therapy and medication are a normal part of treating depressive disorders. Some use medication as a short-term solution, while others use it over the long-term. Some of the medications that are often used to treat depression include:

• Sеlесtіvе ѕеrоtоnіn reuptake іnhіbіtоrѕ, оr SSRI’ѕ
• Sеrоtоnіn-nоrеріnерhrіnе reuptake inhibitors, or SNRI’s
• Trісусlіс antidepressants
• Benzodiazepines

Self-саrе

When you’re depressed, one of the first signs can be losing the energy to take care of yourself. But if you get actively involved in your own treatment and begin to take steps to cope with your experiences, this can make a huge difference in your feelings.

Taking time for mental, physical, and spiritual self-care on a daily basis can bring about a great improvement in depressive symptoms. The options for self-care are endless, but here are a few things you can try:

• deep breathing (mental self-care)
• getting adequate exercise (physical self-care)
• spending time in prayer (spiritual self-care)
• journaling
• spending time with family and friends
• getting enough sleep

Using self-care strategies can make a noticeable difference in your moods when you’re depressed. When you meet with a therapist, be sure to discuss possible strategies for managing your symptoms, and what you can do if you’re struggling in the area of self-care.

Depression isn’t hopeless; it’s treatable and you shouldn’t have to deal with it by yourself. Though your own cognitive distortions caused by the depression itself may make you feel like your situation is hopeless, know that seeking help for depression doesn’t make you a weak or inferior person.

Christians struggling with depression need to be reassured that their feelings are not sinful or shameful. They need to be able to connect to resources and support within the Christian community. Please don’t be afraid to seek professional help; there are so many tools and options at your disposal to prevent your illness from getting worse.