Depression : It Is Not Just

Major depressive disorder is the most common form of depression. It is also known as clinical depression. In order to be diagnosed, symptoms must be present for two weeks, and occurs twice as often in women as

*Major Depression: persistent depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Depression is characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in weight or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating, or recurrent thoughts of death. A diagnosis of major depressive disorder requires the presence of five or more symptoms during the same two-week period and

There are two main types of depression one being major depression that has the capability to mentally cripple the individual. Then we have mild depression or dysthymia that can be caused by situations also referred to as situational depression. Major depression is a very serious form of depression which handicaps the individual and makes them incapable of doing what we would consider everyday activities.

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. Manic-depressive illness is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the inability to carry out day-to-day tasks (Bipolar Disorder). Bipolar disorder is categorized with depression. When a depression episode ends, a happy, energetic, stated called mania follows (Myers 391). But not long after that do the depressed feelings return. There is not necessarily a cause for bipolar disorder, more like things are linked together to cause the illness. Research has also been done and discovered that bipolar disorder is sometimes passed through genetics (Bipolar Disorder). “Some imaging studies show how the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy people or people with other mental disorders (Bipolar Disorder).” A MRI study found that the brain's prefrontal cortex in adults with bipolar disorder tends to be smaller, function less well compared to adults who don't have bipolar disorder (Bipolar Disorder). The symptoms found in bipolar disorder are sometimes mood disorders, which links back to depression. Feelings that are associated with bipolar disorder are always opposite of one another. Symptoms may also include change of habits. Doctors diagnose bipolar disorder using guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

Major depression is when a person is in a depressed state for most of the day, especially in the morning, and loses interest in relationships and normal activities. If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, major depression may be the cause.

Major depression is a combination of symptoms that make it difficult to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy pretty much anything. This type of depression can occur once but most likely 2-3 times in someone's lifetime.

According to WebMD, depression includes "feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless" these feelings "last for many days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally." Clinical depression is not something a person can just overcome, snap out of, or get over.

One of the most common mental illnesses that is found in teens and greatly impact their development and families is Major Depression.

Major depressive episode: It is an extremely depressed mood that lasts about 2 weeks. The individual will show signs of cognitive symptoms and strange physical movements where any activity usually requires a lot of effort. It associated with lack of attention.

Major Depressive Disorder (also known as Major Depression, Clinical Depression): A depressed mood which disrupts your ability to, or decrease your interest in, carrying on normal life activities (like working, sleeping, studying and eating). It often lasts all day, for nearly every day, for two weeks. It is accompanied by at least four (or more) additional symptoms:

Some types of depression are, “Major depression, Dysthymia, Bipolar disorder, and Seasonal Affective Disorder” (Mayo Clinic Health Center). Major depression is a mood disorder, this is the most common form of depression. The patient loss interest, loss appetite or have eating disorders, feels sad or worthless. This kind of depression can last for more than 6 months, sometimes up to years and if not treated can get severe. This type of depression is the most common cause of suicidal thoughts or lead to suicide.

Bipolar Disorder used to be known as “manic depression”, because the person experiences depression, normal mood and mania, which is basically the opposite of depression. Symptoms for Bipolar Disorder include feeling great, having a lot of energy, having racing thoughts, little need for sleep, taking fast, having difficulty focusing on tasks and

Depression has been a part of our lives for as long as humans have been on the earth. Everyone has had days when nothing was going right. But it all depends with an individual how to handled this adversity and how depressed that person becomes.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health there are several forms. There is major depression severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, and study, eat, and enjoy life. An episode can occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, a person has several episodes. There is persistent depressive disorder which is depressed mood that lasts for at least 2 years.