Finding the best depression treatment for you

Depression treatment, however, is more persistent and it involves long-lasting and intense symptoms that can significantly impact your mood, thoughts, and daily activities. Everyone experiences moments of sadness or feeling down, but these emotions typically fade with time. 

Depression (also called major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, income, culture, or education. Research indicates that a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors contributes to the development of this condition.

Did you know that there are several different types of depression?

• Major depression is a low mood that lasts at least 2 weeks possibly affecting sleep, appetite, and ability to think clearly.
• Persistent depressive disorder is mild or moderate depression that lasts for at least two years.
• Seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression) is triggered by the change of seasons and most commonly begins in late fall. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping, and weight gain. Treatments include light therapy, talk therapy, and antidepressants.
• Depression with symptoms of psychosis is a severe form of depression in which a person experiences psychosis symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations.
• Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania (or hypomania). During manic episodes, a person may experience unusually high energy, an elevated mood, increased irritability, and heightened activity levels.

Women shouldn’t be dismissed and ignored – additional types of depression can happen to women:

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of PMS, that occurs in the weeks before menstruation. It’s a severe and chronic health condition that needs attention and treatment. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medicines can help manage symptoms.
• Perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy (prenatal depression) and in the weeks and months after childbirth (postpartum depression). Women can experience extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves or others. Women with postpartum depression generally will not feel better without treatment.
• Perimenopausal depression is caused by shifting levels of hormones, which can lead to mood swings, making it harder to handle everyday stress. These hormonal changes may also trigger depressive episodes and sleep problems, especially in those with a history of major depression.