Depression, Depressive Mood Disorder - Anxiety Like Medical Condition
Depression, Depressive Mood Disorder
Depression: Seventeen million Americans each year are affected by depression. Depression is classified as a mood disorder affecting people’s ability to function with everyday life due to feelings of anger, frustration, loss, or sadness. Individuals may experience mild, moderate or severe depression and it may manifest as a single episode, recurring episodes, or chronic depression lasting more than two years.
The primary types of depression include:
- Major depression
- five or more symptoms must be present
- an episode must last at least 2 weeks, but tends to continue for 20 weeks
- Dysthymia
- a chronic, generally milder form of depression
- symptoms are similar to major depression but more mild in degree
- Atypical depression
- depression accompanied by unusual symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and physical rigidity
Other common forms of depression include:
- Postpartum depression
- experienced by 8% to 20% of women
- occurs following the delivery
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD)
- experienced by 3% to 8% of women
- depressive symptoms occur 1 week prior to menstruation and disappear following menstruation
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- experienced by 5% of adults
- the majority of those affected are women
- occurs during the fall-winter season and disappears during the spring-summer season
Depression may also occur with bipolar disorder. Moods cycle between mania and depression in this disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
Most people feel depressed on occasion. However, a person experiencing major depression feels substantially depressed for an extended period of time, experiences difficulty enjoying activities that were once pleasurable, and experiences at least five of the following symptoms for 2 weeks or more:
- Either agitation, restlessness, and irritability or inactivity and withdrawal
- Extreme difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
- Significant change in appetite (often resulting in either weight loss or weight gain)
- Sleep disturbances—at least 90% of people with depression have either insomnia (sleeplessness) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
- Sudden bursts of anger and a lack of sex drive may also be associated with depression.
Causes
The causes of depression are thought to be multifaceted and involve a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors. Abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals exist in individuals experiencing depression. Included are serotonin, acetylcholine, and catecholamines such as dopamine. Factors that may alter the levels of these brain chemicals and contribute to the development of depression are:
- Amount of exposure to light
- Certain medications, including those for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or irregular heartbeat
- Chronic stress such as experienced from loss, abuse, or deprivation in early childhood
- Heredity (We believe the connection is more environmental - how behaviors are passed from generation to generation - than genes.)
- Nutritional deficiencies (especially folate [vitamin B9] and omega-3 fatty acids)
- Serious medical conditions, such as heart attack or cancer
- Sleep disturbances
- Social isolation
For a more detailed explanation about all anxiety symptoms, why symptoms can persist long after the stress response has ended, common barriers to recovery and symptom elimination, and more recovery strategies and tips, we have many chapters that address this information in the Recovery Support area of our website.
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Common Anxiety Symptoms
The combination of good self-help information and working with an experienced anxiety disorder therapist is the most effective way to address anxiety disorder and its many symptoms. Until the core causes of anxiety are addressed - the underlying factors that motivate apprehensive behavior - a struggle with anxiety disorder can return again and again. Identifying and successfully addressing anxiety's underlying factors is the best way to overcome problematic anxiety.
Additional Resources:
- For a comprehensive list of Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Signs, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
- Anxiety and panic attacks symptoms can be powerful experiences. Find out what they are and how to stop them.
- How to stop an anxiety attack and panic.
- Free online anxiety tests to screen for anxiety. Two minute tests with instant results. Such as:
- Anxiety 101 is a summarized description of anxiety, anxiety disorder, and how to overcome it.
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anxietycentre.com: Information, support, and professional therapy for anxiety disorder and its symptoms, including: Depression.