Four Types of Depression: Do You Have One?

There are so many ways to say that you just don’t feel up to facing the day: sad, lonely, upset, down-and-out, no energy, lethargic, bummed out, etc. However, the one word that many people are afraid to say out loud about their condition, especially those that feel this way almost every day for a continuous amount of time is depressed. While millions of Americans are plagued by this mental illness, it is still a stigma to admit that you may need help. To help our readers figure out if they may be depressed, we will explain four of the nine recognized types of depression in this article.

Four Types of Depression

1. Major Depression – This type of depression requires at least fourteen straight days of feeling sad, like you have no energy, poor concentration skills, problems falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much, eating too much or too little, but differently from your normal eating habits, feeling guilty, being in pain physically, and thinking about committing suicide. Everyday Health reports that around 7% of American adults experience major depression at least once in their lifetimes.
2. Dysthmia – Most people have likely never heard of this term, yet our source at Everyday Health states that around 2% of Americans suffer from dysthymia. This type of depression mimics the symptoms of major depression with two caveats; while major depression can eradicate itself in a matter of weeks, dysthymia usually lasts for a year or more; and another difference, albeit a good one, is that the symptoms of dysthymia are not as strong and debilitating as those of major depression. 
3. Postpartum Depression – While most women likely dream of becoming mothers, and how amazing it would be to hold their own baby, 16% of new moms may find themselves surprised that that may not be the case. Postpartum depression refers to the period that can span weeks or even months after the birth of a child, where a mother feels very sad, exceptionally tired, alone, and may experience thoughts of hurting herself, her baby, or both.
4. Atypical Depression – Although it’s called atypical, this form of depression is actually quiet common. Atypical depression is often diagnosed by its physical rather than mental or emotional symptoms. Interestingly enough, when patients report feeling a certain kind of heaviness in their legs and arms, almost like being paralyzed, that is often a symptom of this depression. Although, some sources are identifying the condition based on people who overeat or oversleep, and who are irate, have recently gained weight and have had issues in their personal relationships.

Can Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Help Depression?

Unfortunately, with a plethora of medications available to treat these types of depression, many people are not able to find the help they need. Treatment-resistant depression is a problem for many people, but a new non-invasive treatment has recently been approved by the FDA to fight just that. Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) is a new procedure developed by Brainsway that only involves a patient to wear a helmet while sitting at a doctor’s office. This helmet, which is connected to coils, sends messages deep into a person’s head, and has been found to relieve symptoms of depression. For more information about dTMS services for depression in Los Angeles, contact Westside Neurotherapeutics by phone at 310.946.0008 or online at www.westsideneurotherapeutics.com.