Depression is a serious mood disorder that can disrupt normal thinking patterns and affect sleep, appetite, and energy levels. Everyone’s experience of depression will be slightly different; it is a complex mental health condition and there are also several medically recognised categories of depression.
Depression may be just a brief life stage that someone is going through, and it will naturally resolve itself in the course of time. Most people feel low from time to time, and this is a perfectly normal emotion. However, symptoms of depression that have persisted for at least two weeks may require professional help such as therapy or counselling.
Depression can affect all kinds of people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. However, some people may have difficulty in recognising the signs that they are depressed, particularly if they have not been conditioned to be emotionally literate by their background or society.
Understanding the different types of depression may help individuals recognise the signs in themselves or others, and to seek the most appropriate course of treatment. Here is an overview of some of the different types of depression, and how to identify them.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)
SAD is a form of depression that is linked to seasonal weather changes. It most often affects people during the winter, although some people experience SAD during the summer. It’s thought that it is linked to the disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm.
Signs of SAD include a persistent low mood that occurs during the same season each year; changes in appetite; feelings of lethargy; anxiety or agitation; poor concentration; disrupted sleep; and a loss of interest in usual activities.
DYSTHYMIA (PERSISTENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER)
Dysthymia is characterised by mild depressive symptoms that have occurred over a long period of time (at least two years). Symptoms may include fatigue, a feeling of hopelessness, low self-esteem, appetite changes, a feeling of emptiness, and disrupted sleep patterns. Some people may have bouts of more intense depression.
ALEXITHYMIA
Alexithymia is a subcategory of depression that involves difficulty identifying or expressing emotional states. The person may not recognize or be able to express feelings such as joy, excitement, anger, and so on. They may not understand what causes different emotional states and might display other signs of rigid thought patterns.
BIPOLAR DISORDER
Bipolar disorder is a type of depression that is characterised by extreme mood swings. The person may have times when they feel high or manic, followed by a depressive episode with extreme low mood and possible suicidal thoughts. Sometimes the extreme moods can be accompanied by psychotic episodes such as delusions or hallucinations.
Depression and related mental health conditions unfortunately still carry a sigma, but they are not a sign of weakness and they can be successfully treated. If you think that you or someone close to you might be depressed, it’s important to reach out and seek treatment.