10 types of depression: check if you have one of them!

"I'm depressed!" - People often say when they are in a bad mood. This medical term is not always used correctly. To say this is to acknowledge your serious mental illness.

What is depression?

Disease, this some specialists, by virtue of its prevalence, equates to an epidemic. Worldwide, more than 350 million people suffer from a depressive disorder, but this is the cumulative population of several large European countries. How to recognize this disease? It is not difficult. Yes, these are the symptoms of depression:

- Lack of hope for better life;

- loss of interest in what was previously a pleasure;

- prostration;

- a sharp weight loss;

- Sleep disturbance (both decrease and increase in its duration);

- increased irritability;

- a sense of own uselessness or guilt for no apparent reason;

- difficulties with memorization;

- thoughts of death or suicide;

- headache or muscle pain, not associated with another disease, inhibited by social, professional or interpersonal relationships.

5 types of depression

The word "depression" means only the general concept of the disease, but does not determine its intensity and character. Nevertheless, like every fang, it is subject to classification. In total, there are 10 types of physicians:

1. The Great Depression

Five such symptoms (of the above) that last for a two-week period, including a depressed mood or loss of interest (pleasure), are sufficient to make such a diagnosis.

2. Dysregulation of mood

Mood disturbance is characterized by severe and recurring outbursts of temperament, inadequate situations. Uncontrolled rage can cause any little thing, such as broken glass or a friend's unsuccessful remark. Attacks occur on average three (or more) times a week for a year.

3. Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

A sign of this form of depression is considered a bad mood on most days for at least two years.

4. Premenstrual disorder (PDD)

Most women are familiar with mood swings associated with natural biological processes, but PDR is a heavier form. Symptoms (irritability, tension, stress) are corrected with the menstrual cycle.

5. Drug-induced depression

Abuse of psychoactive substances and certain medications (such as corticosteroids and interferon-alpha, for example) can provoke a disease in a person prone to depression.

Five more species

6. Depressive disorder due to another disease

Some pathologies may themselves cause a syndrome, for example chronic pain or cancer.

7. Combined depressive disorder

Sometimes the symptoms contradict the "classical" picture. For example, some of them indicate a major depression, but there are only three, and they appear every two weeks. In the event that the symptoms do not fully meet the criteria for a clear diagnosis of disorders, you should elaborate on your condition to the doctor.

8. Uncertain depressive disorder

If there are some symptoms, but they are not quite suitable for any of the standard types, the doctor can still diagnose depression. The psychiatrist in some cases may not indicate why the criteria are not fully manifested. In other words, the diagnosis is made at the doctor's discretion. What to do, the psyche is a delicate thing.

9. Bipolar Depression of the 1st degree

Characterized by a painful alternation of mood swings. The cycle of mental state passes from heavy maxima (mania) to heavy minima (depressions). Most often, the frequency of these waves ranges from a week to two. The patient most often needs hospitalization.

10. Bipolar Depression of the 2nd degree

The symptomatology is similar to the previous description, with the difference that instead of heavy manias, soft maxima (hypomania) are observed.

What to do?

It is characteristic that such a question does not arise if the arm is broken or the tooth hurts. There is no reason to believe that mental health is of secondary importance. You should not fight depression with "folk remedies", most often understood as drinking alcoholic beverages, this will only exacerbate the situation. You just need to go to the doctor and do not start the disease.