10 Common types of depression and how to recognize them

Knowing the symptoms of common depression will help you be more proactive in detecting and treating them. Because the incidence of this disease has been increasing in recent years. The disease seriously affects both health and quality of life.

Common types of depression

It is advisable to find out information about common types of depression to detect early when symptoms are suspected

10 common types of depression and how to recognize it

Depression is not simply feeling sad. Most sufferers feel low, depressed, sad and sometimes unmotivated. A depressive disorder is a mood disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves.

Signs and symptoms of depression can range from fatigue and despair to loss of interest in life, physical pain or even suicidal thoughts. The DSM-5 definition of depression states that, if a person has these symptoms for a period of 2 weeks, that person is experiencing a depressive episode.

Depression is divided into many different types. Some are caused by life events. Meanwhile, others are caused by chemical changes in the brain. Depression can be thought of as an umbrella term for a variety of disorders.

Experts say that a deeper understanding of the different types of depression is essential for early detection and appropriate intervention. You need to take the time to consider the root cause of your depression and its symptoms.

Here are 10 common types of depression and how to identify them:

1. Major depressive disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression. This is a common type of depression characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or disinterest in external stimuli.

You may have this type of depression if you have 5 or more of the symptoms below on most days for longer than 2 weeks. At least one of the symptoms must be a loss of interest in activities or a depressed mood.

Characteristic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) include:

  • Loss of pleasure or interest in activities
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Negative thinking, inability to see positive solutions
  • Feeling restless or agitated
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Irritated, hot-tempered
  • Avoiding loved ones
  • Sleep more
  • Lose or gain weight
  • Sick thoughts, suicidal thoughts

Major depressive disorder cannot be completely cured. However, with proper treatment, symptoms can be controlled and tend to lessen over time.

2. Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is a common type of depression that tends to last for many years. Moreover, it can also interfere with the patient’s daily life, work and relationships.

People with persistent depression often find it difficult to be happy, even in typical happy beats. They are often seen as gloomy, pessimistic, or complaining when they themselves are dealing with a chronic mental illness.

Symptoms of persistent depressive disorder may include:

  • Feeling sad
  • Loss of interest and pleasure
  • Angry and irritable
  • Low self-respect
  • Guilt
  • Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much
  • Feeling of despair
  • Change your appetite
  • Fatigue and lack of energy
  • Difficulty concentrating

Symptoms of persistent depressive disorder may appear and disappear over time. At the same time, the intensity of symptoms can also vary. However, symptoms usually do not go away for more than 2 months at a time.

3. Bipolar Disorder – Common Depression

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression. This is a mental health condition that causes extreme fluctuations in mood. With that comes changes in thinking, energy, behavior, and sleep.

With bipolar disorder, you don’t just feel “falling off a cliff.” Your depressed state can lead to suicidal thoughts or turn to feelings of euphoria and endless energy. These extreme mood swings tend to occur as often as weekly or may occur as little as twice a year.

Manic episode bipolar disorder symptoms:

  • High or expansive mood
  • Reduced need for sleep
  • Excessive talk
  • Easily distracted
  • Paranoid thoughts appear
  • Physical agitation and constant movement
  • Impulsive risky behaviors
  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Irritability or aggression
  • Illusion or hallucination
  • Increase sex drive

Symptoms of bipolar disorder depressive episode:

  • Prolonged sadness or crying for no reason
  • Feelings of guilt or despair
  • Loss of interest in activities that normally bring you joy
  • Extremely tired, can’t get out of bed
  • Loss of interest in health, nutrition and appearance
  • Difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
  • The urge to self-harm or thoughts of suicide

The risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder is approximately 15 times greater than in the general population. Psychiatric disorders (including hallucinations and delusions) are also more likely to occur in more severe cases.

4. Premenstrual Depressive Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a cyclical mood disorder. This condition appears to be hormone-based and is often considered a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

While up to 85% of women experience PMS, only about 5% of women will be diagnosed with PMDD. The core symptoms of PMDD are related to depressed mood and anxiety. In addition, some behavioral and physical symptoms will also be present.

To be diagnosed with PMDD, a woman must experience symptoms for most of the year’s menstrual cycle. At the same time, these symptoms must have a negative effect on work or social functioning.

Symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may include:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Feeling sad, desperate, or self-critical
  • Feelings of severe anxiety or stress
  • Mood swings, frequent crying
  • Irritability
  • Cravings or binge eating
  • Inability to concentrate

Symptoms of PMDD often recur each month before and during menstruation. They tend to start 7-10 days before your period. Also reduce the intensity for a few days from the start of your period. Symptoms should disappear completely by the next premenstrual period.

5. Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Pregnancy and childbirth can cause dramatic hormonal changes and often affect a woman’s mood. Depression can start during pregnancy or after giving birth. This is one of the most common types of depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is more than just the “baby blues”. Mood swings, anxiety, irritability and other symptoms are not uncommon after delivery and usually last up to 2 weeks. However, PPD symptoms are more severe and will also last longer.

Symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) may include:

  • Feeling sad, low mood
  • Severe mood swings
  • Having trouble bonding with the baby
  • Social distancing
  • Change your appetite
  • Feeling hopeless and helpless
  • Losing interest in things you used to love
  • Feeling worthless
  • Worry and panic
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby
  • Thoughts of suicide

PPD can range from persistent sadness that requires medical treatment to postpartum psychosis. This is a condition where mood symptoms are accompanied by confusion, hallucinations, or delusions.

6. Atypical depression

Although it is called atypical depressive disorder, it is possibly the most common and prominent type of depression. Atypical depression differs from the persistent sadness or hopelessness of major depression.

Atypical depression is considered a sub-“character” of major depression that describes a type of depressive symptomatology. One of the main signs of this depression is its ability to improve a person’s mood after a positive event.

Atypical depressive symptoms often include:

  • Overeating or gaining weight
  • Sleeping too much
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Feeling of heaviness in hands and feet
  • Strong reactive mood
  • Intense sensitivity to rejection

Atypical depression tends to begin in adolescence (earlier than other common depression). There may also be a long-term (chronic) episode.

7. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – Common Depression

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a common type of depression associated with the change of seasons. People with SAD often notice that symptoms begin and end around the same time of year.

Most people have symptoms that begin in the fall and last into the winter months. However, SAD can also occur in spring or summer but is rarer.

The cause of seasonal affective disorder is thought to be a disturbance of the body’s normal circadian rhythms. Light passing through the eye affects this rhythm. Also, any seasonal change in the night/day pattern can be disruptive and lead to depression.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Symptoms that occur in the fall – winter:

  • Anxious, depressed and sad most of the day
  • Decreased or complete loss of interest in life’s problems
  • Constantly crying for no reason
  • Unstable and difficult to control mood
  • Slow thinking, difficult to concentrate
  • Difficulty maintaining school/work performance
  • Reduced energy, excessive fatigue
  • Excessive sleepiness and sleeping a lot but sleep is not quality
  • Tendency to withdraw and separate from others
  • Think of yourself as weak, useless, lacking in self-confidence
  • Sometimes there is a feeling of guilt
  • Formation of thoughts and attempts to commit suicide
  • Loss of appetite or overeating

In spring – summer, symptoms tend to decrease slightly:

  • Worried
  • Sad
  • Anorexia
  • Difficulty sleeping, insomnia
  • Tired body
  • Weight loss
  • Sometimes shows anger and agitation

In addition, some patients develop manic symptoms during the spring and summer months. Mania is an elevated mood state that has the exact opposite symptoms of depression.

8. Situational depression

Situational depression is also known as reactive depression or adjustment disorder. This is a type of short-term stress-related depression. This type of depression is relatively common, and can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event or a series of changes in your daily life.

Examples of changes or events that can trigger situational depression include divorce, loss of friends, retirement, illness, or relationship problems. This form of depression often stems from a person’s struggle to cope with the changes that occur.

Symptoms of situational depression are essentially the same as those of major depressive disorder (MDD). People with situational depression begin to have symptoms within 90 days of the onset of traumatic events.

The good news for sufferers is that situational depression is not permanent. Usually, it tends to have an onset within 3 months of the onset of discomfort. Symptoms usually begin to gradually subside and disappear within 6 months.

9. Smiley depression

Laughing depression is a rather unique and common depressive disorder. This term is used to describe a situation in which a person uses their optimism and cheerfulness to hide their depression.

People with smiling depression are still able to resume normal daily activities. However, they have to face it alone and grapple with the emotional tug-of-war inside.

Laughing depression is a common type of depression

People with smiling depression often use optimism and joy to hide their true feelings

Internal symptoms of laughing depression:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, depression, guilt, and despair
  • Loss of interest, even in activities that were once enjoyed
  • Changes in appetite, possibly overeating or loss of appetite
  • Change sleep, some people want to sleep anytime, anywhere, but there are also many people who have insomnia, …
  • Always have thoughts about death and find ways to realize suicide

The outward appearance of a smiling depressed patient:

  • Always smiling, having an optimistic and cheerful attitude
  • Complete the job well, get a lot of success, favorable promotion
  • Always active and enthusiastic
  • Actively participate in collective activities
  • Stay optimistic and calm in the face of unexpected situations

People with smiling depression tend to live alone. This lifestyle makes it easy for them to hide their emotions. However, it makes it impossible for relatives and friends to detect their disease and give timely advice.

10. Hidden Depression – Common Depression

Hidden depression is a rather special form of emotional disorder. The symptoms of this type of depression are not exactly the same as those of common depression found in clinical manuals such as the ICD-10 or the DSM-5. Therefore, hidden depression is often difficult to detect and not diagnosed in time.

People with hidden depression tend to hide their illness for a variety of reasons. For example, they do not want to be a burden to others, are afraid of the eyes of others, do not accept themselves as sick, feel guilty or simply because they are too perfectionists.

Common hidden depressive symptoms include:

  • Easy to change emotions
  • Or talk about philosophy
  • Having pessimistic thoughts and behavior
  • Abnormal activities
  • Always be happy
  • Avoid and hide illness

In addition to the mental symptoms, the person may also experience physical symptoms. For example, stomach pain, unexplained body aches, heart problems, bone and joint problems, etc.

Healthy lifestyle for people with depression

When you find yourself showing signs of common depression, you should actively seek medical attention. A counselor or psychiatrist can be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment guidance.

In addition to medical treatment, patients should pay attention to adjusting a scientific and healthy lifestyle to support the disease control process. Let’s do some of the following:

  • Learn to open your heart and share and discuss the problems you face with those around you. Especially with friends, relatives or anyone you feel confident in.
  • Absolutely do not overwork, should know the balance between work and rest. It is best to pay attention to sleep care, go to bed before 23 o’clock and make sure to sleep for 7-8 hours a day.
  • Equip and practice stress management skills. Simple solutions such as listening to music, reading books, meditation, warm baths, aromatherapy, etc. can be applied when the mood is not good.
  • Set aside 30-45 minutes a day for physical activity. Studies have shown that exercise can help the body produce more endorphins. From there, it brings peace of mind, optimism and combats the symptoms of depression.
  • When you have time, it is advisable to participate in social activities. This helps you have more relationships, understand your self-worth, and have a better sense of life purpose.

The article has provided information on 10 common types of depression today. You absolutely must not be subjective with depression, so proactively visit when there are suspicious symptoms. In addition to medical treatment, attention should be paid to lifestyle adjustments to support better disease control.

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