History Of Depression

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suffering from what is known as major depression. With this type of depression, a person experiences the characteristics of depression with a certain degree of intensity either in a single episode or with episodes that recur over time. They may have periods of overwhelming sadness, feel worthless, or lose interest in activities previously enjoyed. All of these are symptoms of a major depression if it lasts more than two weeks or recurs with regularity.

Another common type of depression is called dysthymia, which is chronic but has low-grade symptoms. People suffering from dysthymia generally are not disabled but they go through life feeling mildly depressed most of the time, which can greatly impair their ability to enjoy the positives in life. They may appear to others to be the “Gloomy Gus” type of person.

Bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder are two less common forms of depression. But they can still be just as disruptive to a person's overall ability to function. Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression. It is characterized by alternate periods of severe depression with periods of extremely elevated “highs” or irritable mood known as mania. Because this type of depression involves emotions at both extremes, it is called bipolar disorder. Many people have increased surges of creativity and productivity during the manic phase. The manic phase and depressive phase do not necessarily correspond equally. There can be several manic episodes before an extreme depressed state occurs or vice versa.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a popularized name given to describe depression that happens during particular seasons of the year. The actual diagnosis a person would receive who experiences depression during the fall or winter months would be major depressive disorder, recurrent, with seasonal pattern. To keep it simple, it is called seasonal affective disorder. This diagnosis has symptoms of depress...