Life can be challenging for anyone due to money problems, family squabbles, or career trouble. Some people might even feel sad due to their lack of confidence or knowledge of a skill. However, the feeling of sadness may surround some people more than others. In fact, depression is a common disorder that is caused by a variety of biological, psychological, and social issues. Depression, therefore, is more likely to occur in teenagers and young adults due to their changing hormone levels and rapidly developing lifestyle. Although, it’s more likely that women will experience a depressive episode rather than men. But how do you know if someone is depressed rather than just sad? Here are warning signs and types of depression:

What is depression?

Before the warning signs are discussed, it’s important to understand what depression entails. Depression is not a condition that should be taken lightly. In fact, depression negatively influences the way you think, act, and feel. Since depression promotes the emotion of sadness, it can lead to mental, physical, and social problems. While depression is treatable with medicines or therapies, these remedies may not treat all the issues that depression creates. For example, due to depression your relationships with family and friends might be strained or weakened. Therefore, it’s crucial for the burden of depression to be recognized and managed. Depression is a serious illness if not controlled and treated.

Some warning signs include loss of interest in activities you once loved, dramatic changes in weight, and sleeping too much. These signs display a withdrawal from society and a person’s true self. A person will experience withdrawal from society and other people because they are sad or feel like they don’t belong. Since depression negatively influences a person’s actions, it makes sense that a person would choose unhealthy and destructive choices.

Depression affects the state of mind of an individual by tricking the afflicted person that the harmful decisions they’re making are good for the body and thus will be helpful in the future. However, by withdrawing from society and furthermore not talking about your problems you can hurt yourself even more by believing you and everything you do is “damaged.” Other warning signs include lack of energy, feeling of worthlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide. It’s vital if you envision yourself hurting others or yourself that you seek help immediately. You can talk to a therapist, a doctor, or a counselor about your thoughts. They are there to help you all you have to do is ask.

Types of depression:  

Major depression  

While major depression is less typical than mild depression, it’s still distinguished by acute and constant symptoms. Such symptoms can influence the way a person thinks, acts, and feels. In fact, major depression will change a person’s mind as well as physical well-being. Most people who have major depression will have it up to six months, however since major depression is recurring some people have multiple battles of depression due to the type of depression. Therefore, it’s important for major depression to be treated and controlled correctly.

Atypical depression    

Atypical depression is an established subcategory of major depression; however atypical depression has distinct symptoms. People are known to experience a boost in their mood due to favorable situations, social experiences, and good news when they have atypical depression. Therefore, people with atypical depression don’t always express feelings of sadness and lack of self-worth. Sometimes people with a depressive disorder are happy. Other symptoms of atypical depression involve an increase in weight, sensitivity to exclusion, and oversleeping.

Dysthymia (mild depression)

Dysthymia is the most pleasant form of depression. While symptoms are usually not as powerful as major depression, however, they last a lot longer. Mild depression is known to last up to two years. Some people experience a condition called “double depression” or have a major depressive episode in addition to dysthymia. Due to the time period, you’re more likely to experience adverse changes in your social and personal life. Therefore, while the symptoms may not be as severe as other conditions the time frame you experience them can hinder your lifestyle choices.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Unlike other conditions that can occur year-round SAD is known to make a person feel depressed during the fall and winter months. During these months you’re likely to experience emotions ranging from tense to worthlessness. However, during the spring and summer months, a person diagnosed with SAD is expected to return to their hopeful and traditional self. The difference between the summer and winter months are the shorter days. In fact, environmental factors like shorter days, temperature, and the amount of rain can contribute to SAD. Therefore, it’s important to choose where you live wisely. Such environmental factors like the amount of sunlight, harsh smells, and loud noises can disrupt your lifestyle can cause SAD.

Treatment options  

While everyone might not agree with every treatment suggested it’s likely that most people diagnosed with depression will try at least two of them. Medication is commonly used to treat and manage depressive thoughts. There are many types of medications that can be used to treat specific types of depression. Although, some people might want a natural alternative to potentially harmful medicine and aromatherapy has your back. In fact, aromatherapy been proven to treat and control depression. In addition, psychotherapy or talk therapy is one of the best ways to manage depressive urges.

Talking through your feelings can make you focus on one problem instead of analyzing and stressing about a thousand issues at once. Therefore you more likely to understand yourself as you work through one problem after another through talk therapy. However, for some people, medication and talk therapy are not enough to suppress their depressive thoughts. For some electroconvulsive therapy may be needed although it’s best to consult with a doctor before deciding on any treatment plans.

Being depressed is a burden no matter what form or type of depression you have. But don’t worry there are many doctors, therapists, and even organizations willing to help. Be the best you, you can be today!