Depression and bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) are both highly treatable medical illnesses. Unfortunately many people do not get the help they need because of the misunderstanding surrounding the illnesses or the fear associated with stigma. The following are brief descriptions of depression and bipolar disorder. For more in-depth information be sure to see our pages on depression and bipolar disorder.
Depression: It’s Not Just In Your Head
Everyone, at various times in life, feels sad or blue. It’s normal to feel sad on occasion. Sometimes this sadness comes from things that happen in your life: you move to a different city and leave friends behind, you lose your job or a loved one dies. But what’s the difference between “normal” feelings of sadness and the feelings caused by clinical depression?
* How intense the mood is: depression is more intense than a simple bad mood.
* How long the mood lasts: a bad mood is usually gone in a few days, but depression lasts for two weeks or longer.
* How much it interferes with your life: a bad mood does not keep you from going to work or school or spending time with friends. Depression can keep you from doing these things and may even make it difficult to get out of bed.
While it’s normal for people to experience ups and downs during their lives, those who have depression experience specific symptoms daily for two weeks or more, making it difficult to function at work, at school or in relationships.
Depression is a treatable illness marked by changes in mood, thought and behavior. That’s why it’s called a mood disorder.
People of all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes have depression. Although it can occur at any age, the illness often develops between the ages of 25 and 44. The lifetime prevalence of depression is 24 percent for women and 15 percent for men.
Bipolar Disorder: More Than A Mood Swing
Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is known as bipolar disorder because a person’s mood can alternate between the “poles” of mania (high, elevated mood) and depression (low, depressed mood). This change in the mood or “mood swing” can last for hours, days, weeks or even months. These highs and lows are frequently seasonal. Many people who have bipolar disorder report feeling symptoms of depression more often in the winter and symptoms of mania more often in the spring.
Bipolar disorder affects more than two million adult Americans. Like depression and other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can also adversely affect spouses, family members, friends and people in the workplace. It usually begins in late adolescence (often appearing as depression during teen years), although it can start in early childhood or as late as the 40s and 50s. An equal number of men and women develop this illness and it is found among all races, ethnic groups and social classes. Bipolar disorder tends to run in families.
Mood Disorders Are Treatable
The majority of people with mood disorders are able to find treatments that work. Talk therapy, medication or a combination of both help the person feel better and change situations in their life that may be contributing to their illnesses (substance abuse, bad relationships, etc.).
Depression
Depression is a treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make yourself well by trying to “snap out of it.” Although it can run in families, you can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse.
Symptoms
- Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
- Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
- Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
- Pessimism, indifference
- Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
- Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
- Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
| If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a medical professional, clergy member, loved one, friend or hospital emergency room. Or call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or call 911 immediately to get helpTypes of Depression Research has identified two major types of depression: major depressive disorder and dysthymia.Types of Depression Major Depressive DisorderPeople who have major depressive disorder have had at least one major depressive episode five or more symptoms for at least a two-week period. For some people, this disorder is recurrent, which means they may experience episodes once a month, once a year or several times throughout their lives. Dysthymia Dysthymia is a low-level state of depressed mood that lasts a long time. The depressed state of dysthymia is not as severe as with major depression, but can be just as disabling. Symptoms of dysthymia: * Low self-esteem or self-confidence, or feelings of inadequacy Dysthymic disorder is diagnosed when these symptoms last for more than two years in adults (or one year in children) and a person has not been symptom-free for more than two months at a time. People with dysthymia may be unaware that they have an illness. They might be able to go to work and manage their lives to some degree. However, they may be irritable, stressed, or sleepless much of the time. Many people with dysthymia believe their symptoms are just part of their personality. It may be more difficult for them to seek treatment. About 3-6% of the population has dysthymic disorder. People with dysthymia often have their first symptoms earlier in life than those with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Some people have dysthymia along with periodic episodes of major depression. Martin B. Keller, M.D coined the term “double depression†to describe this. How is dysthymia different from depression? Two research studies suggest that the symptoms of depression and dysthymia do overlap but that symptoms such as weight change or sleep disturbance are less likely to be found in people with dysthymia. These symptoms are more prevalent in people with chronic major depression. Other symptoms which are more psychological in nature such as feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness are common to people with both dysthymia and chronic major depression. Looking at family history may help with diagnosis. Another recent report suggested that the family histories of people with dysthymia and chronic major depression were more similar to each other than to the family histories of people with an acute episode of major depression. Treatments and therapies that are effective for treating depression, such as medication, psychotherapy and peer support can also work for people with dysthymic disorder. As with depression, people with dysthymia may need to try more than one treatment or medication, and it may take several weeks for medication to work. During this time, it is important to seek support from friends, family, and a DBSA support group. People in DBSA support groups have “been there†and can offer support, understanding, inspiration and hope. Portions of this page were provided by David L. Dunner, M.D., Director of the Center for Anxiety and Depression and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle and a member of DBSA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Depression and other illnesses Research is showing, more and more, that mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder, also called manic depression) and other physical illnesses affect one another.  Treating mood disorders can help people manage other illnesses and improve their general health. Data from a recent DBSA Consensus Conference supported the finding that people with depression have a higher risk of developing heart disease. One reason for this may be that a lack of serotonin in the bloodstream may cause blood platelets to stick together more frequently and cause more blockages in the arteries. Depression is also prevalent among people with HIV who have a two-fold greater risk of developing a mood disorder than the general population. Ten to fifteen percent of people with diabetes experience one or more major depressive episodes and the risk of developing some cancers is 10-25% higher in people with depression than in people without a mood disorder. Depression also substantially increases the risk of developing conditions such as osteoporosis, obesity or chronic pain.
Depression across the lifespan Although depression is usually first noticed during the teen or early adult years, a person can have an episode of depression at any age. Without treatment, an episode can last six months or longer. Children and AdolescentsDepression may have a slightly different set of symptoms when a child or teen has it. Children and adolescents may be more likely to have symptoms like unexplained aches and pains, irritability and social withdrawal. On the other hand, symptoms more likely to affect adults include slowed speech and activity, sleeping too much and believing things that aren’t true (delusions). Depression in children may co-occur with anxiety, disruptive behavior disorders or attention deficit disorder. Children should be treated by a physician with knowledge and experience in treating children with mood disorders. Parents, teachers and health care professionals should be familiar with symptoms of mania, including:
Medication choices for people under 18 years old should be made and monitored carefully. Ask children who take antidepressants often how they are feeling and encourage them to be honest with someone about any major mood changes, especially thoughts of suicide. Educate children in age-appropriate ways about symptoms that mean trouble and need to be reported right away. Make sure they have several phone numbers of support people they can call if they have trouble with worsening symptoms. Parents should also know the signs of suicidal thoughts such as:
Health care providers, parents and their children must weigh the risks of treating depression compared to the risks and lifetime impact of untreated depression and suicidal ideation. They should discuss all treatment choices, not just the use of antidepressants. All adults who interact with the child should become familiar with all suicide warning signs, regardless of what treatment the child is receiving. In addition, parents should educate teachers about what behavior they must report. Older AdultsDepression is not a normal part of growing older. Older adults may be going through changes such as children moving away, illness, moving to assisted living facilities or the death of loved ones. All of these things can cause feelings of sadness or grief. But when feelings of sadness last for a significant length of time and keep older adults from enjoying life the way they used to, it may be a sign that they should seek treatment. Depression treatment is especially important for older adults because they may have a greater risk of suicide. Loved ones should watch for signs such as preoccupation with death, increased visits or calls, hopeless statements or refusal to follow doctors’ recommendations for medication or diet plans. Other illnesses may also be an issue for older adults with depression. Older adults should have complete physical examinations and their health care providers should be informed about all medications they take for all illnesses. Some medications for other illnesses may trigger symptoms of depression or have side effects that look and feel like depression. Article source: http://www.ndmda.org/ |