Types of depression

Depression is one of the most common of the psychological disorders. Though it is common, but it needs a proper treatment. Many treatments ranging from natural to medical are prevalent. The first thing before going for a treatment is to know about the type of the depression.

Depression is divided into several types according to the symptoms and conditions of a patient and its duration. I’ve listed some major categories.
Clinical depression
This is also known as ‘major depression disorder’. Its duration is around 2 to 3 weeks. The symptoms could be some or all of these. Significant changes in weight and appetite change in the duration of sleep, hyper activity or fatigue, feeling worthless and being suicidal. The patient looses his interest in most of the every day activities.
Dysthymia
This type of depression can last for 2 to 3 years. Its symptoms are hopelessness, change in appetite and sleep habits, feeling low in energy and low self esteem. This type of depression lasts longer but its intensity is less than that of clinical depression.
In clinical depression and dysthymia both, the patient feels difficulty in making decisions.
Bipolar Depression Disorder
This is also known as manic depression. This kind of depression lasts for a weak or two. The person remains in elevated and irritable mood that necessarily is very extreme. The sufferer also talks a lot and does not sleep much. He /she normally tend to think too highly of him or herself and exhibits rapid mood swings. The suicide rate is the highest among the sufferers of bipolar depression.
Psychotic Disorder
This depression can last ranging from a month to years. The sufferer starts seeing or hearing imaginary things and sounds. Sometimes they be-friend imaginary characters but mostly they are frightened by what they see and hear in their imaginary world. Relative to other types, this type of depression takes the longest time to cure.
Situational and Reactive Depression
This happens in response to some event or situation that leads to stress, for example loss of a partner, job or relative etc. it can last from 3 to 6 months depending upon the severity of the incident. The sufferers find it difficult to restore interest in daily life activities.

The treatment depends upon the depression type, severity and symptoms that only a therapist can judge. Take the right treatment and live healthy.