Tips on Identifying the Different Types of Depression
July 28th, 2011Depression seems to be a fairly common problem in our modern society. The difficulty with depression is that there are many different types of depression and it can be hard to identify each one. They will all manifest themselves in different ways and will require a different approach when it comes to treatment. There are a few tips that you can follow which should aid you in identifying the different types of depression.
Prolonged sadness
This is one of the most common types of depression and almost everyone will experience it at some point. This type of depression is often caused by easily recognizable occurrences in someone’s life. People may suffer from periods of prolonged sadness due to the ending of a romantic relationship, the loss of a job or the death of a friend or relative.
Mild to Moderate Depression
These are two types of depression which will last longer and be harder to cure than prolonged sadness. While these may be relatively common they can often be hard to identify. These types of depression are usually caused by larger and more complex problems such as unhappiness with one’s position in life or unfulfilling relationships such as a bad marriage.
Severe Depression
Severe depression is the most serious of all types of depression. It can be caused by a number of different factors but has usually existed in some form for a long period of time. It is likely that severe depression can grow from other types of depression but it can also be caused by emotional pain or trauma that the person has yet to deal with. Severe depression can take over a person’s life and lead them to suicide so it is important to get it taken care of as soon as possible.

There are many different types of depression and the few outlined here are only scratching the surface. While the term “depression” may be used as if it were an absolute, the truth is that it can range in severity from extremely light to life threatening. There are a few ways that someone can help identify the types of depression they may be suffering from and this should help them figure out the best course of action.
