Postpartum of course is something that affects women during pregnancy and after childbirth.  It is usually caused by the rush of hormones that a woman experiences, as well as things such as grief over perceived losses (loss of her figure, loss of her girlhood, loss of her freedom, and so on), a feeling of disappointment if the child has not “magically” solved problems she expected it to (i.e., giving her increased self-esteem, pulling her and her partner closer), and things such as these.  Postpartum is one of the few types of depression that may go away after the woman’s physical system returns to normal and she adjusts to her new circumstances.

Seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder are types of depression that affect persons that are sensitive to outdoor weather and a lack of sunlight.  They get very depressed and sad in winter times or when they are forced to stay indoors.  Bright lights, being outside as much as possible, and physical exercise are good treatment options.

Major depressive disorder and bipolar are the two most serious types of depression there are.  Major depressive disorder is a very extreme form of depression that may be accompanies by thoughts of suicide or self-mutilation; bipolar is marked by severe mood swings where a person can feel almost euphoric one moment and then extremely depressed the next.  These types of depression usually need medical intervention including regular medication.

Dysthymia includes other types of depression that may not be properly classified.  It is not extreme enough to be considered major depressive disorder but is serious enough that it shouldn’t be confused with “the blues” or other types of everyday sadness.  There have been many more diagnoses of dysthymia in the past years because those who suffer from it did not belong in any other category or did not suffer from these other types of depression but still needed attention from medical personnel.

It’s important that you speak to your doctor and make sure you are addressing your condition regardless of which of these types of depression you may suffer from.  Depression is not a character flaw or sign of weakness but it cannot be wished or willed away either.

It’s important for a therapist to pinpoint whether or not depression is a physical condition or if it’s been brought on by a traumatic experience or other situation.  Some who have survived childhood abuse, a crime, or a natural disaster are prone to depression.  Treatment for depression may include having the patient open up about their experiences in a safe and calm environment.  They can then face the feelings that these things have brought on.  This might seem frightening but when the feelings are faced they can be dealt with and they often lessen under these circumstances.  The fear, anger, guilt, lack of self-esteem, and other problems can be effectively dealt with only if the patient undergoes this type of treatment for depression.  Bear in mind that when done under the supervision of a good therapist this type of therapy can be very effective and isn’t as frightening as it sounds.

Additionally getting therapy as a part of treatment for depression can help the patient to replace their negative thinking with more positive ones.  While depression may be caused by physical problems, it results in negative and unhealthy thinking.  A depressed person often thinks “what’s the point?” for virtually anything including spending time with friends and family and for their own career, and when they think “what’s the point?” they may then think that there is no point to their family and their work.  Good treatment for depression will teach them that these thoughts are just part of their disease and they can replace those thoughts with healthier, more positive ones.  With therapy as part of a treatment for depression a doctor can also remind the patient that it’s not good to wait until he or she “feels like” doing something to actually do it; depression often robs a person of their motivation for anything.  If a depressed person gives in to this and waits for motivation before they take action, they may wind up isolating themselves and spending days in bed.  Effective therapy as treatment for depression can help them get past this thinking and realize they need to take action even if they’re just going through the motions.

A person may scoff at therapy as treatment for depression and some think that it means they have some type of character weakness, but in truth therapy is a very effective form of treatment.  Anyone suffering from depression should talk to their doctor about their options.

The first thing you want to remember is that it does no good to jump to any conclusions.  As said, teens are often moody, withdrawn, angry, sad, and overly emotional in many ways.  This is partly due to the influx of hormones they experience while going through puberty and not necessarily a signal of actual teen depression.  It would be a mistake to assume that your angry teenager or the one that gives into crying jags is actually clinically depressed.  While these ranges of emotions are normal for teenagers, actual clinical teen depression is much more serious than this.  If you suspect that your teenager’s emotions are to the extent that he or she actually has clinical teen depression, it’s important to get that diagnosis from a doctor rather than making an assumption on your own.

If you have gotten a diagnosis, then it’s time to learn how to deal with teen depression.  The first is to make sure that it doesn’t swallow up your entire life or your child’s life either.  Help your child to understand that staying home or keeping to themselves is not going to help the condition no matter how tempted they are to do just that.  In some cases teen depression can be a lot like having a weight problem - it’s tempting to just give in and eat yourself sick, but this just makes things worse.  As with any other disease or condition, it’s usually best to take a proactive approach and be determined to fight it as much as possible.

Balance is needed in this regard as well.  Forcing your child to participate in activities or expecting too much from him or her is no way to battle teen depression.  Remember that this condition is not something you can just “will” away or force to be cured if you force your child to “act” happy.  You also won’t do any good to act as if your child is somehow defective, weak, or has let you down somehow.  Teen depression is a condition that they have little control over, acting disappointed in them is no more effective than getting angry at the child that doesn’t have much athletic ability or that struggles to understand certain subjects in school.

Be supportive of your child that is suffering from teen depression.  Keep your own positive attitude and reassume him or her that they simply have a condition and that they can learn coping skills.  Talk to your doctor as he or she will always have treatment options for teen depression.

First, the symptoms of depression are similar to the symptoms of other forms of emotional distress, but other emotional problems may be traced back to one particular problem.  For example, someone grieving over someone else’s death may feel sad, upset, angry, and just plain depressed for a long time.  These feelings aren’t necessarily symptoms of depression unless they persist after a full year and are serious enough to interfere with a person’s everyday routine after that year or so.  There is no time limit on grief and of course some people can feel sadness over the loss of someone else for the rest of their own life, but when this grief is so overwhelming that it interferes with their own life after a good period of time, this may signal something more serious.

The extent of one’s sadness and the consistency of it are also symptoms of depression.  While anyone can have a very bad day and get a severe case of the blues for no apparent reason, usually this type of thing clears up after a good night’s rest or some time spent with friends or family.  Some are even affected by the weather, so once the rainy day is over or the snowstorm clears, they feel better.  However, true symptoms of depression last much longer than a day or two and are more severe than just feeling “blue.”  Someone with true clinical depression sees no point or purpose in anything, even hobbies and activities they once enjoyed, and find it difficult even spending time with family and friends.  They may not necessarily be suicidal but often suffer from a sever lack of self-esteem.  Everyone’s symptoms of depression are different in how they manifest themselves and the degree of those symptoms, but they are usually severe enough to interfere with their everyday life.  While most people don’t look forward to going to work on Monday, those with clinical depression never want to get out of bed, ever.

If your symptoms of depression are severe enough that they are interfering in your own life, or if you notice that you are no longer caring for the responsibilities of your family, career, and your friends, it’s time to talk to a doctor.  If left untreated, the condition and the symptoms of depression can get worse and worse over time.  A person may easily get swallowed up in their condition and wait until things are much worse than they need to be before he or she seeks medical intervention.  Talk to a doctor about your symptoms of depression the moment you notice them and get the help you deserve.

Gender Stigma

Even in our modern, enlightened times men are still sometimes expected to be a particular way when it comes to emotions. They are often told to “buck up” and that it’s just not very masculine to worry about your emotions and feelings. This means that many men ignore the signs of depression because they’re afraid of what other men might think. If they are having a hard time coping with feelings of sadness, guilt, low self-esteem, a lack of confidence, and fear, they are usually prone to just swallow these feelings and ignore them. Unfortunately these signs of depression can become very severe and interfere with a man’s performance at work, his relationships at home, and with every other part of his life.

Social Stigma

Men and women may assume that if they admit to any signs of depression then they will face social stigma from those around them. This stigma might include anyone at work that comes into contact with their insurance information or friends and family that may hear about their treatment. They may mistakenly assume that depression is a form of weakness or a character flaw, and if they think this way they often reason that others will think this way as well. They may have been raised in a home where signs of depression in others were mocked and ridiculed, or were told that psychiatrists were all “quacks” and that anyone that was depressed simply needed to snap out of it.

Afraid of Treatment

Some also ignore the signs of depression for the same reason they ignore the signs of other healthy problems - they’re afraid of what the doctor will tell them. If they ignore the problem, then the problem just doesn’t exist, or so they tell themselves. They may also be afraid of how they need to treat the signs of depression, assuming that they’ll need to sit in a group therapy session and share embarrassing stories of their childhood.

Whatever the reasons, it’s never a good idea to ignore the signs of depression. If left unchecked depression can lead to even more serious problems with one’s physical health and personal relationships. Some have even lost their jobs because of the unchecked symptoms. So if you think you have any signs of depression then it’s important to talk to your doctor right away.

What Causes Seasonal Depression

Humans react to light just as much as plants do; we may not wither in the shade, but we still need sunlight. Someone who isn’t exposed to natural light on a regular basis can suffer from rickets and other diseases, so to say that a lack of light affecting your mood is all in one’s head just isn’t logical. If it affects you physically of course it can affect you emotionally. A lack of light during wintertime can cause seasonal depression in those that are more sensitive to this condition. It’s also true that some people just don’t like outdoor sports during the winter such as skiing or snowboarding, so they are getting much less natural light than those that are on the slopes regularly. Some too may be more sensitive to the cold, such as ones with poorer circulation. Of course they would want to stay indoors more often, contributing to their seasonal depression.

So-called cabin fever can also contribute to seasonal depression. When you are cooped up in the house all the time and roads are covered in snow and ice, it’s easy to feel frustrated, irritated, bored, and trapped. These can easily lead to cases of depression.

Treating Seasonal Depression

We can’t magically wish winter away or take off for several months at a time to go sit on a beach and make ourselves feel better. But there are some things that one can do when winter rolls around to treat seasonal depression. For one thing, being outside as much as possible is important. Even if you go outside to clear the walk or just stand on the porch for a few minutes, this can help. If you’re not one much for winter sports, remember you can play in the snow with your children or just walk up and down the sidewalk to be outside. Changing your light bulbs to the type that mimic natural light is also effective for seasonal depression. Keep your environment as bright as possible for as long as possible; avoid turning down your lamps until it’s nighttime. Regular exercise is also important as exercise always helps to alleviate one’s mood. It’s important to plan activities during the winter months as well; staying at home and just watching television will only contribute to your boredom and depression. Keep all these thoughts in mind and you’ll be better able to cope with your seasonal depression.

The first thing to remember about any case of depression is that there are new facts being learned about it every single day.  The more scientists are able to understand about how the body and the brain work together, the more accurate they are in medical diagnoses.  Many doctors agree that postpartum depression does exist and is the result of a wide combination of factors.  A new mother is facing a surge of female hormones that often trigger emotional episodes, including depression.  Many of her body’s systems are also maladjusted, and this includes some of the chemicals in the brain that regulate mood.  On top of all of these things, postpartum depression may also be caused or aggravated by her lack of sleep from having to get up and take care of the baby several times during the night.  This combination of factors of course affects a mother’s health and emotional state!

It’s thought that some cases of postpartum depression are more likely to strike women who are already prone to depression or who have had this condition even before becoming pregnant.  This seems like a logical conclusion; if a woman has a tendency to be overweight before becoming pregnant it’s likely that she will have a more difficult time taking off the weight after pregnancy.  Having a condition before pregnancy would logically make one more prone to having it after pregnancy, and postpartum depression is no different.

There are also some who believe that many cases of postpartum depression are brought on by several emotional factors, not just physical ones.  Some women have built themselves up to expect that motherhood will be this euphoric time of constant happiness, but then the reality of taking care of a crying child sets in.  This disappointment can reach the point of depression.  Or some who experience postpartum depression have expected the child to solve problems in their life, such as bringing them closer to their spouse, or making up for a lack of self-esteem, and so on.  When these things don’t happen just automatically with the arrival of the baby, the mother feels angry, guilty, let down, and so on.  This too can progress to the point of postpartum depression.

Doctors today are becoming more responsive to the condition and are more aware and alert to what it means and what may legitimately cause it.  There are medications available to get a woman through as well as support groups for those with postpartum depression that may help, so talk to your doctor about your condition today.

Many use the term bipolar disorder when speaking of manic depression and the two are the same condition.  As the word bipolar would suggest, there are two extremes in emotions and feelings when a person suffer from this condition.  Again, depression takes many forms and affects people differently.  With manic depression a sufferer experiences feelings of mania which is an energetic, almost euphoric state.  This isn’t just regular energy that one would get after a good night’s sleep or when you’re in a good mood but is unbalanced and at times almost dangerous.  A person experiencing a manic state might talk endlessly or do things that aren’t logical, such as paint their living room a bright bold color based on a sudden whim.  They may wake their children in the middle of the night to play or get a sudden urge to clean all their closets and cupboards.  While these things may not seem dangerous, extreme forms of manic depression may make the person feel invincible and cause them to do something dangerous, such as crawl on their roof or drive at high speeds.  The mania may also make them more angry than dangerous, and these bursts of anger can be taken out on their children or other family members.

The other side of manic depression is the depressive state that affects a patient more than other depressive states.  Their depression is extreme and may cause them to stay in bed for days at a time, to neglect their own children and even their own hygiene and personal care.  Their depression may reach a state where they are even suicidal, wondering “what’s the point?” no matter what they’re doing or experiencing.  This depression may be difficult for the person with manic depression since they may have just been in a manic state only the day before, or even a few hours before.  They may assume they’ve just worn themselves out with the activities during the manic state.

Manic depression is not a disease to be ignored.  Anyone experiencing these wild mood swings would do well to pay attention to their own actions and if they are out of balance, they need to speak to a doctor immediately.  This disease can be treated with medication and sometimes even having an accurate diagnosis is a big help as well, but a person with manic depression should speak to a doctor rather than simply trying to treat or cope with it on their own.

Major depression is a condition caused when the brain does not properly regulate the production of certain chemicals that are necessary for a good or healthy mood.  Outside factors can influence how the brain releases and regulates these chemicals, but in major depression these chemicals are very rarely released and are not released in adequate amounts.

Symptoms of Major Depression

There are many different types of depression, from postpartum depression which of course occurs after a woman has had a baby, as well as bipolar disorder which is marked by wild mood swings of euphoria to near suicidal thoughts, and many other types in between.  Major depression is one of the most severe forms of depression as it is marked by extreme low moods.  A person with this condition may not necessarily be suicidal but struggles every day just with getting out of bed, and not just on the worst of Mondays but also when they even have something fun and enjoyable planned.  Patients with major depression often see no point to any activity, even hobbies they once enjoyed.  They may also have no feelings towards those around them; they often feel numbness rather than closeness when it comes to their spouse and even their own children.  Very often things they would have once taken care of now are ignored, and this might include their own personal care and hygiene.

Coping With Major Depression

It can be very difficult to deal with depression in any form, and the condition often brings with it other emotional distresses such as guilt, panic and anxiety.  Others in the family may also be less than supportive, thinking that the patient should just snap out of it and pull themselves together.  These things don’t make coping with major depression any easier.  It’s important to recognize the condition as a disease and not something the patient has chosen or enjoys.  On the other hands, it’s important for the patient to remember that he or she shouldn’t hide behind the disease and still needs to take care of responsibilities around the house and in the office whether or not he or she “feels like it.”

Some form of medication is also recommended when it comes to major depression.  While many shy away from taking medication, remember that it’s important to treat this condition as the disease it is.  There are also many new options on the market today that are less harsh than choices in the past and that have far fewer side effects than before.

For one thing it’s important to remember that you don’t want to give in to the disease no matter how tempting it may be.  Most with clinical depression lose interest in all aspects of their life and often feel as if they just don’t want to get out of bed at all, ever.  While these thoughts can be very overwhelming at times, it’s a mistake to give in to them.  Staying in bed or isolating oneself is only going to make the condition much worse and probably affect those around you.  Clinical depression is much like other conditions or diseases wherein the patient needs to do all they can to work around it rather than give in to it.  A person with a broken leg may be tempted to just sit in a chair and never go out anymore, but this won’t help them heal and can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.  The same with your condition - staying in and isolating oneself only makes it worse.  It’s also noted that activities like regular exercise, volunteer work, and connecting with friends and family do not actually cure depression but they can help to make you feel better about yourself overall.  It’s very difficult to force yourself to go out and exercise when you feel as you just want to sleep, or to connect with your family when you feel awful about yourself, but sometimes the things we need to force ourselves to do are often the best things for us.

Another reason it’s important to face your depression head-on is because this condition often affects friends, family, and your own career.  If you stay in bed all day how will this affect your children or your spouse?  If you allow yourself to get overwhelmed at work, how will this affect your job performance?  It’s been said that you don’t need to wait until you feel motivated to actually follow through with something, and of course clinical depression often takes away a patient’s motivation for anything.  But rather than waiting until you “feel like” going to work or you “want” to give your kids attention, it’s best to do those things anyway with or without motivation.

If you’ve been prescribed medication for your depression it’s best to follow your doctor’s directions carefully.  Never go off your medication without his or her permission as this can have dire consequences.