Major depression, (uni-polar), has already been set out on the previous page. It's a severe and acute episode of depression that lasts at least two weeks. This depression can be so disruptive that it can severely impare an individual to the point that they are unable to work... they may even not be able to go out at all. Loss of appetite is very common, and it's possible to lose a lot of weight during the worst period of this depression. Sleep will be disrupted either with the sufferer not being able to sleep or in some cases oversleeping. Waking in the early hours of the morning and not be able to get back to sleep is also very common. The main treatment for Major Depression is anti-depressant medication.
Manic Depression, (bi-polar). As you may have already guessed bi-polar involves two opposite states - mania and depression. These states cycle from one to the other and back again in anywhere as little a couple of days to over a couple of months. During a depressive period, sufferers will experience the symptoms listed under depression, and then their mood will change and they will experience a manic phase. There are two types of bi-polar disorder. Treatment varies. Many doctors prefer to avoid anti-depressant medication altogether as this can speed up the cyling rate of the disorder, by pushing a sufferer into a manic episode. In these cases, medication such as Lithium is the perfered method of treatment as this is purely a mood stabilising drug with no anti-depressant strength.
Dysthymia. This is a less severe form of uni-polar. Although it's a milder form, unlike uni-polar, it's a chronic form of depression which means it lasts a long time. When I say a long time I'm not talking months, I'm talking years upon years. It may be less severe than major depression, but it's not much more fun to cope with - a sufferer will have little enjoyment of life.
Cyclothymia is to bi-polar as dysthymia is to uni-polar. Basically, the cycling rate is more drawn out than bi-polar and the highs and lows are less severe. The cyclothymia cycling rate can be anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years.
As dysthymia and cyclothymia are less severe than uni- and bi-polar disprders, there's the risk that they aren't picked up on as easily as their more severe counterparts, even though these conditions require treatment also. Many people don't even know they have a problem.
All these categories of depression are difficult to cope with - dysthymia may be less severe than uni-polar, but it carries on for a much longer period of time... it's easy to forget that any of them can be fatal - they all need treatment, whether it be with medication, counselling or both.
IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER: This information is just that - information. This is not intended to be used instead of qualified medical advice. If you think you have moderate to serious depression you must seek medical advice from a qualified professional.
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