What Can I Do If I Have Depression
If you have symptoms of depression, see your healthcare provider. They can give you an accurate diagnosis, refer you to a specialist or suggest treatment options.
If you or someone you know is thinking of hurting themselves or taking their own life:
- Go to the emergency department of your hospital.
- Contact a healthcare provider.
- Speak to a trusted friend, family member or spiritual leader.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Depression is a common condition that affects millions of Americans every year. Anyone can experience depression even if there doesnt seem to be a reason for it. Causes of depression include difficulties in life, brain chemistry abnormalities, some medications and physical conditions. The good news is that depression is treatable. If you have symptoms of depression, talk to your healthcare provider. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can feel better
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/31/2020.
References
How To Get Over Postpartum Depression
Baby blues will go away after 2 weeks postpartum. Rarely some women may continue to suffer 1 month postpartum from sadness.
Medications for PPD include:
- Antidepressants
- Suppressants or mood stabilizers
During postpartum psychosis, the doctors use antipsychotic drugs. For severe cases, the patient undergoes shock therapy. Doctors carry out the procedure utilizing electrodes to pass current through the brain.
Natural remedies for postpartum depression include massage therapy and consumption of omega 3 fatty acids. Low levels of omega fatty acids contribute to lack of hormones. Protective factors of postpartum depression are counseling and social support. The natural ways to prevent PPD include these protective measures.
Treatment: Medication For Depression Symptoms
Since depression disorders are caused in part by chemical imbalances in the brain, the use of psychiatric treatments is sometimes the only way patients can get back on their feet, improve sleep, and decrease stress. Depression is treatable with the right care, and a therapist can support you to get the help you need and start feeling more like yourself and less like your depression symptoms.
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Situational Depression/ Adjustment Disorder
Situational depression is not a clinical diagnosis, but a person may be diagnosed with adjustment disorder with depression symptoms and this may sometimes be referred to as situational depression. Adjustment disorder occurs when psychiatric symptoms set in within three months of a significant life event that causes significant stress. This may be a loss of a loved one, a divorce or other relationship problem, a physical assault, a move, or anything else that is personally stressful, even if it doesnt seem like a big deal to someone else
Adjustment disorder causes a range of symptoms, many of which overlap with depression:
- Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Excessive crying
- A feeling of being overwhelmed
- Inability to concentrate
- Difficulty functioning and doing normal activities
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Unlike most types of depression, there is a known cause or trigger for adjustment disorder. In many cases a person is able to cope with a stressful event, but when coping is not possible the symptoms may persist and a diagnosis and treatment may be necessary.
Severe Depression With Psychotic Symptoms
Severe depression with psychotic symptoms, also sometimes referred to as psychotic depression, is a type of depression that causes all the symptoms of severe depression as well as psychotic episodes.
Psychotic depression can be an extremely difficult and frightening condition to deal with. Not only does it result in the intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness that come with severe depression, but it can also cause you to experience delusions and hallucinations . This can affect your reality and negatively influence how you see the world.
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Depression That Depends On The Situation
Stress happens. You get depressed. In some cases, symptoms of depression start with a stressful life event like a death, move, or family change.
When you dont recover from stress in the expected way, you may have situational depression, also known as adjustment disorder. Symptoms are the same as other depression types, but start within 3 months of a stressful event and tend to resolve within 6 months.
What Are The Symptoms Of Depression
Depression can affect your emotions, mind and body. Depression symptoms include:
- Feeling very sad, hopeless or worried.
- Not enjoying things that used to give you joy.
- Being easily irritated or frustrated.
- Eating too much or too little.
- Changes in how much you sleep.
- Having a difficult time concentrating or remembering things.
- Experiencing physical problems like headache, stomachache or sexual dysfunction.
- Thinking about hurting or killing yourself.
If you or someone you know has thoughts of hurting themselves, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. This national network of local crisis centers provides free, private emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Deeper Glance To Depression
Depression is a state of feeling very unhappy or despondent. It can affect anyone, and its symptoms vary. It is a serious problem that needs treatment as soon as possible.
There are many different types of depression. Some of the most common types include major depressive disorder , dysthymia, postpartum depression , and seasonal affective disorder . However, there are other kinds of depression such as psychotic depression or bipolar-related depressions. People with these illnesses normally need special treatment like antidepressants and mood stabilizers for treating their conditions properly.
This article will talk about different types of depression in detail so people know how they feel better when dealing with it by themselves or seeing a doctor if necessary. Depression affects daily lives greatly too because without proper medication one cannot do anything properly. Depression should be taken seriously because it can affect lives in a very negative way, so if you know someone who is suffering from depression then encourage them to see a doctor as soon as possible!
Postpartum Depression: Sadness After Having A Baby
A whopping 85 percent of new moms feel some sadness after their baby is born but for up to 16 percent of women, that sadness is serious enough to be diagnosable as a type of depression.
Postpartum depression is characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, fatigue, loneliness, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, fears about hurting the baby, and feelings of disconnect from the child. This depression type can occur anywhere from weeks to months after childbirth, and Halaris says that it almost always develops within a year after a woman has given birth.
“It needs prompt and experienced medical care,” he says and that may include a combination of talk and drug therapy.
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Atypical Depression: A Misunderstood Type Of Depression
Despite its name, atypical depression is not unusual. In fact, it may be one of the most common types of depression and some doctors even believe it is underdiagnosed.
“This type of depression is less well understood than major depression,” says Halaris. Unlike major depression, a common sign of atypical depression is a sense of heaviness in the arms and legs like a form of paralysis. However, a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that oversleeping and overeating are the two most important symptoms for diagnosing atypical depression.
People with this depression type may also gain weight, be irritable, and have relationship problems. Other features of atypical depression include low mood reactivity and a long-standing pattern of being extra sensitive to interpersonal rejection.
Some studies show that talk therapy works well to treat this type of depression.
Psychotic Depression: Losing Touch With Reality
Psychosis a mental state characterized by disorganized thinking or behavior false beliefs, known as delusions or false sights or sounds, known as hallucinations doesn’t typically get associated with depression. But according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 20 percent of people with depression have episodes so severe that they develop psychotic symptoms.
“People with this psychotic depression may become catatonic, not speak, or not leave their bed,” Halaris says. Treatment may require a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. A review of 10 studies concluded that it may be best to start with an antidepressant drug alone and then add an antipsychotic drug if needed. Another review, however, published in April 2012 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, found that the combination of medications was more effective than either drug alone in treating this serious type of depression.
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Perinatal Depression/ Postpartum Depression
It is not at all unusual for a woman to feel a little down during or after pregnancy. These feelings are generally mild and dont persist for more than a couple of weeks. Some women, however, will develop serious depression either during pregnancy , after giving birth , or both during and after pregnancy. One out of every seven women who have given birth will experience this kind of depression with symptoms that are similar to those of major depression.
Some symptoms that are specific to perinatal or postpartum depression include:
- Being unable to bond with the baby
- Severe mood swings
- Thoughts of harming oneself and the baby
- Feelings of being an inadequate mother
Rarely, postpartum depression can lead to postpartum psychosis, a condition that causes hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, disorientation, obsessive thoughts, and self-harm and harm to the baby. This condition is very serious and can be life-threatening for the mother and child. It requires emergency intervention and treatment.
The Importance Of Diagnosis And Treatment
Regardless of type, every case of depression should be diagnosed by a mental health professional and treated. While some types of depression are temporary or cyclic, depression is generally chronic and wont improve without intervention. Anyone who experiences the signs of any of these types of depression should reach out for help. Recognizing the signs in a loved one is also a reason to reach out, to offer help. Depression is treatable and the prognosis is positive if the patient is consistent with treatment, communicates with doctors about effectiveness of treatment, and relies on the support of others.
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Types Of Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is an oft-neglected disorder which strikes many women after the delivery. There are mainly six types of postpartum depression and its necessary to identify them so that proper treatment is given.
After giving birth, most women feel guilty doing things they never thought they would while pregnant. She may feel guilt, regret, irritability, dread, exhausted, nauseous, angry, disconnected from the baby . Sounds like what you are going through?
About 80% of women suffer from different types of postpartum depression after delivery. The depression can manifest itself in any form such as guilt, or irritability. When the realization that the new being is here forever dawns upon you, outcomes can be opposite of what you thought. Now more than bliss it feels like a responsibility when things get real after delivery.
Baby blues and postpartum depression PPD, used interchangeably are very different. Postpartum mood disorders are of 7 different types. The forms of postpartum mood disorders include postpartum psychosis, postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, and postpartum anxiety disorder.
Irritability And Angry Outbursts
Typically, symptoms must last at least two weeks for depression to be diagnosed, so take this into consideration throughout the depression quiz then ask for an assessment from a mental health professional for further information and treatment, Furthermore, medical conditions such as vitamin deficiency can be mistaken for symptoms of depression so it is important to fully consider all possible causes as you take any depression quiz or inventory. Mental health can impact your energy levels, how tired you are, your stress, sleeping habits, mood, thoughts, and so much more. Keep reading to find out more about what treatment might be right for you.
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Major Depression: A Common Type Of Depression
The most common type of depression? Major depression. About 7 percent of the adult U.S. population has this debilitating mental health condition at any given time, according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
If you’re experiencing major depression, you may feel and see symptoms of extreme sadness, hopelessness, anhedonia or loss of interest in pleasurable activities, lack of energy, irritability, trouble concentrating, changes in sleep or eating habits, feelings of guilt, physical pain, and thoughts of death or suicide and for an official diagnosis, your symptoms must last for more than two weeks. In some instances, a person might only experience one episode of major depression, but this type of depression tends to recur throughout a person’s life.
The best treatment is usually antidepressant medications, explains Dr. Halaris, but talk therapy may also be used to treat depression. And there’s good news: An estimated 80 to 90 percent of people with major depression respond well to treatment.
Who Is At Risk For Depression
Depression can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender or circumstances. About 16 million Americans experience depression each year.
Women may experience depression more often than men. And your genetics or other health conditions can increase the likelihood that youll have at least one depressive episode in your lifetime.
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Why Does Postpartum Depression Occur
Antepartum depression & depression during pregnancy are because of the rise of hormones. The depression after pregnancy is the antithesis. During pregnancy estrogen and progesterone rise multiple folds throughout months. Once the placenta is outside the body, there is a sudden drop in the production of the hormones. The rise of hormones which was gradual now goes an anticlimax within few days.
Key Points About Mood Disorders
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A mood disorder is a mental health class that health professionals use to broadly describe all types of depression and bipolar disorders.
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The most common types of mood disorders are major depression, dysthymia , bipolar disorder, mood disorder due to a general medical condition, and substance-induced mood disorder.
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There is no clear cause of mood disorders. Healthcare providers think they are a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. Some types of mood disorders seem to run in families, but no genes have yet been linked to them.
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In general, nearly everyone with a mood disorder has ongoing feelings of sadness, and may feel helpless, hopeless, and irritable. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years, and can impact quality of life.
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Depression is most often treated with medicine, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, or a combination of medicine and therapy. In some cases, other therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial stimulation may be used.
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Major Depression/clinical Depression/major Depressive Disorder
When describing a diagnosis of depression, the term generally refers to the mental illness that is officially called major depressive disorder, but it can also be called clinical depression or major depression. This is a condition called a mood disorder that causes a persistent depressed mood, intense sadness, hopelessness, and other negative emotions. To be diagnosed with major depression, an individual must experience at least five of the nine characteristic symptoms for a period of two weeks or more:
As with any type of depression, clinical depression can be treated effectively. With a proper diagnosis, a treatment plan that usually includes medication and therapy, support from family or friends, commitment to treatment, and thoughtful self-care, an individual with depression can recover and manage symptoms.
Its Like A Roller Coaster But Not Fun
To be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, a manic episode is all thats required. For people with bipolar disorder II disorder, depression alternates with periods of high energy and risky behavior known as mania.
Mania and depression are like opposite sides of a coin, and treatment focuses on stabilizing moods. Episodes may also be mixed, with elements of both mania and depression.
Differences in brain structure and family history are believed to be associated with increased risk of bipolar disorder. Treatment usually requires a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Sometimes people are treated with electroconvulsive therapy.
Unipolar depression is like bipolar disorder without mania. The term may be used to refer to major depressive disorder or clinical depression.
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Are There Different Types Of Depression
If you are given a diagnosis of depression, you might be told that you have mild, moderate or severe depression. This describes what sort of impact your symptoms are having on you currently, and what sort of treatment you’re likely to be offered. You might move between mild, moderate and severe depression during one episode of depression or across different episodes.
There are also some specific types of depression:
- Seasonal affective disorder depression that occurs at a particular time of year, or during a particular season. See our page on SAD for more information.
- Dysthymia continuous mild depression that lasts for two years or more. Also called persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression.
- Prenatal depression depression that occurs during pregnancy. This is sometimes also called antenatal depression.
- Postnatal depression depression that occurs in the first year after giving birth.
See our page on postnatal depression and perinatal mental health for more information. The PANDAS Foundation also has information and support for anyone experiencing prenatal or postnatal depression.
Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a type of depression?
PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome . Many women experience PMS, but for some women their symptoms are severe enough to seriously impact their daily life. This is when you might receive a diagnosis of PMDD.