What Is Depresssion ?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.

Type Of Depression

There are different types of depression, some of which develop due to specific circumstances.

Major Depression

includes symptoms of depressed mood or loss of interest, most of the time for at least 2 weeks, that interfere with daily sctivities.

Perinatal Depression

is depression that occurs during or after pregnancy. Depression that begins during pregnancy is prenatal depression and depression taht begins after the baby is born is postpartum depression.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

(also called dysthymoa or dysthymic disorder) consists of less severe symptoms of depression that last much longer, usually for at least 2 years.

Depression With Symptoms Of Psychosis

is a severe form of depression in which a person experiences pyschosis symptoms, such as delusions (disturbing, flase fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things otehrs do not hear or see).

Seasonal Affective Disorder

is depression that comes and goes with the seasons, with symptoms typically starting in the late fall and early winter and going aways during the spring and summer.