Depression

Depression is a treatable medical illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. It’s not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. Just like you can’t “wish away” diabetes, heart disease, or any other physical illness, you can’t make depression go away by trying to “snap out of it.”

Episodes of depression often follow stressful events like marital problems or the death of a loved one. People who have recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes said to have "unipolar depression" (or what used to be called “clinical depression”), because they only experience periods of low, or depressed mood (unlike someone with bipolar disorder who goes through periods of both low and high mood). 

While depression sometimes runs in families, many people with the illness have no family history of depression. The exact causes of depression still are not clear. What we do know is that both genetics and a stressful environment, or life situation, contribute to its cause. Usually, it’s not one or the other, but a combination of both. 
 

Symptoms Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety Pessimism, indifference Loss of energy, persistent lethargy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal Unexplained aches and pains Recurring thoughts of death or suicide Take a free & confidential screener for depression.

If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, call toll-free (800) 273-TALK (800-273-8255) or 9-1-1 immediately. Or contact a medical professional, clergy member, loved one, friend, or hospital emergency room.

Different Kinds of Depression

There are many names for the different kinds of depression. People with recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes said to have unipolar depression (or what used to be called “clinical depression”), because they only experience periods of low, or depressed mood. Those living with chronic, low-grade depression have what is called dysthymia. When people experience both dysthymia and major depression, they are sometimes said to have double depression.

Mood disorder symptoms also can arise after a woman gives birth (postpartum depression). And they can sometimes be accompanied by psychosis (psychotic depression) or can occur during the winter season (seasonal affective disorder, SAD).

However, what most mood disorders have in common are major depressive episodes. This is also true of bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder. People diagnosed with this illness have mood swings involving both lows (bipolar depression) and highs (called mania if severe or hypomania if mild). When people go through the lows of bipolar disorder (bipolar depression), their symptoms are very similar to those that someone with unipolar depression might have.  Read more in our brochure, Mood Disorders and Different Kinds of Depression.

Two Common Types of Depression
Major depressive disorder and dysthymia are two of the most common types of depression that people experience.

Treatments
Treatment of depression may include support groups, medication, talk therapy, or other strategies that you and your health care provider may want to try. The right treatment is the one that works best for you.

Further Reading

Below are links to some of DBSA's brochures which address the topic of depression. View a complete list of all of DBSA's brochures, available online as free downloads.

Introduction to Depression and Bipolar Disorder (PDF)

Myths and Facts about Depression and Bipolar Disorder

You've Just Been Diagnosed...What Now?

Next Steps: Getting the Treatment You Need to Reach Recovery

page created: May 3, 2006

page updated: February 5, 2009