Depression is a complex condition involving low mood, changes in sleeping and eating habits, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. However, there are several factors that can influence the way someone experiences depression. For instance, some people go through shorter, intense depressive episodes, while others experience symptoms only in the winter. No matter what type of depression you or a loved one may be dealing with, getting more information and understanding common symptoms can be a good place to start.
Common Types of Depression
There are several common types of depression, and understanding more about your unique symptoms and presentation can help you better pinpoint a healthy path forward. However, you don’t have to know which type of depression you might be dealing with before you seek support. A mental health professional such as a therapist or psychiatric prescriber will ask you questions about your symptoms and history, then provide a potential diagnosis based on the information you give them. This will help them develop a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is what most people refer to when they mention “depression.” It’s marked by persistent feelings of low mood or sadness, feelings of hopeless or worthlessness, loss of interest in life, and often changes to eating or sleeping habits. These low episodes last for at least two weeks at a time and can come and go throughout a person’s life.
To be diagnosed with MDD, people must experience at least five of these symptoms:
- A persistent feeling of sadness or numbness
- No longer finding meaning or pleasure in most activities
- Fatigue or general lack of energy
- Changes to sleep, either insomnia or sleeping too much
- Eating more or less than usual
- Feeling guilty or worthless, often without reasonable cause
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Either slowed down movements or feeling restless
- Repeated thoughts of death, dying, or suicide
If you are feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for immediate support by contacting your local emergency services, visiting your local emergency room, or calling/texting the National Crisis Hotline at 988.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), previously referred to as dysthymia, can involve fewer, less intense symptoms compared to MDD, but these are chronic, lasting at least two years. Some people with PDD may not even realize they have the condition, as symptoms can come on slowly and feel as if they’ve always been there.
PDD differs from MDD in that:
- The symptoms are somewhat less severe, and many people with PDD are generally able to complete daily tasks
- While major depressive episodes can come and go, PDD symptoms are consistent, sticking around for at least two years for someone to get this diagnosis
- People with PDD might only have a few symptoms, while those with MDD have at least five
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Some people have typical energy and mood levels during spring and summer, then experience a regular dip every fall and winter. While having slightly less energy when there are fewer daylight hours is a normal human response, experiencing sadness, numbness, or excessive withdrawal is a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Research has tied SAD to decreased exposure to sunlight, disrupting the body’s natural circadian rhythm and lowering serotonin and vitamin D levels.
Common symptoms and presentations of SAD include:
- Sleeping more than usual but still feeling fatigued
- A general feeling of sadness, numbness, or low mood
- Craving carbohydrates and eating more
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Though less common, some people may experience SAD symptoms in the summertime instead, often marked by sleeping less, restlessness, and decreased appetite.
More Types of Depression
Other types of depression include:
- Perinatal depression: The hormones present in pregnancy and after childbirth can lead to some people developing depression during this time.
- Atypical depression: While not “abnormal,” atypical depression involves a slightly different symptom set, including increased reactivity as well as sleeping and eating more than usual.
- Situational depression: Caused by a difficult life circumstance, such as the death of a loved one, losing a job, a disruptive move, or another challenging event, especially when experienced without enough social support.
- PMDD: Hormones that peak before menstruation can cause some people to have severe mood swings and other symptoms that then dissipate after their period has started.
- Difficult-to-treat depression: Can be added to a diagnosis for people who don’t respond well to at least two antidepressant medications. In these cases, alternative treatments like TMS or Spravato® could be the next step.
- Bipolar depression: Bipolar disorder involves intense mood swings, going from mania to deep depression.
How the Type of Depression Can Influence Treatment
Every person and every type of depression requires individualized treatment. This is our passion at Harmony, developing tailored depression treatment plans for each client depending on their unique symptoms and goals.
Here are just some of the ways that treatment could vary depending on which type of depression you have:
Type of Therapy Used
Therapists are highly trained to use a multitude of techniques depending on their clients’ needs. Certain modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are often used for people with depression (and often in combination), each helping people better understand the connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, learning to better accept themselves as they are, and better utilize their full scope of support.
One of the most important factors when it comes to making progress in therapy is how well you trust and get along with your therapist. For this reason, if you don’t feel like you could tell your therapist everything, or you don’t see yourself making progress with them, it might be time to find someone else to work with. We make this process easy at Harmony, and our wide range of providers means you’re likely to find someone who feels like a great fit.
Medication & Alternative Treatments
Medication is often part of a comprehensive depression treatment plan, especially for those with more severe or chronic symptoms that don’t lift with therapy alone. Our psychiatric prescribers at Harmony do a full evaluation of each client’s symptoms and history before making recommendations.
People who have tried at least two medications without finding proper relief are said to have “difficult-to-treat depression.” In these cases, alternative treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or Spravato® have a high success rate even for hard-to-treat symptoms, and come with few side effects. Our clinicians are well versed in hard-to-treat depression and can help determine which combination of treatments makes the most sense for your needs and goals.
Considering Lifestyle Factors
Your care team will also ask you about your current lifestyle, including factors such as how much activity you get in a day, your nutrition status, and more.
Your providers might help you think through:
- Ways to get regular exercise, helping to improve your energy and mood
- Your current sleeping patterns and bedtime routines, helping you get higher quality sleep
- How to add more nutrient dense foods to your diet
- Light therapy if your mood is influenced by the changing seasons
- Implementing mindfulness and stress management techniques to help with long-term stability
Get the Depression Treatment You Deserve at Harmony
If you or a loved one is dealing with depression in West Virginia, please reach out. Our clinicians can help people recover from all types of depression, regardless of symptoms or severity, We pride ourselves on making mental health care as accessible as possible, which is why we are in-network with most major insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid for most services, and also offer telehealth for those who aren’t near one of our conveniently located clinics.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can call 304.410.0082 to talk to one of our dedicated intake professionals, or schedule your first appointment now.
