Shades of Blue: How Different Types of Depression Affect Us

Everybody feels down sometimes. And as it becomes more and more common to discuss mental health issues, it’s becoming clear that many of us experience depression.  

Several kinds of depression develop for a variety of reasons. But do they all affect us in the same way?  

Before we explore the different types of depression and how they affect us, it's important to note that this is not an official diagnostic tool, and the OPA does not necessarily recommend self-diagnosis. This article is designed to help you identify what depression may look or feel like so you can get an official diagnosis and the professional help you need to live with depression.  

What Exactly Is Depression?  

Depression is a mood disorder that causes the individual to feel deep sadness or emptiness. Someone suffering from depression will often lose interest in the things they usually love, like hobbies or seeing friends and family. 

Everyone feels sad sometimes, but with depressive disorders, the sufferer usually feels that sadness every day or almost every day for two weeks or more. Depression also typically comes with other symptoms aside from sadness.  

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION OFTEN INCLUDE: 

• Irritability
• Sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness 
• Sleeping too much or struggling to sleep enough 
• Lack of energy 
• Weight loss due to lack of appetite 
• Weight gain due to increased food cravings 
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed thinking or movement 
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide 
• Physical pain for unknown reasons 

Common Depression Types  

Clinical or Major Depression  

Clinical depression, which is also known as major depressive disorder, is usually what we think of when we talk about depression. It is a particularly severe form of depression and one of the most common depressive disorders.  

When someone is diagnosed with major depressive disorder, it means they have felt symptoms of depression almost every day for at least two weeks. 

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) 

Persistent depressive disorder, which used to be known as dysthymia, is when depression lasts for at least two years at a mild to moderate level. Generally, the symptoms of PDD are not as severe as major depressive disorder. Even so, PDD is difficult to live with.  

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 

Seasonal affective disorder is a depressive disorder that comes and goes with specific seasons. In most cases, people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder get symptoms during the winter months when there is limited sunlight and they spend most of their time indoors. 

Although it is uncommon, there are cases where people experience symptoms during summertime.  

Perinatal & Post-Partum Depression  

People often use the term “baby blues” to describe depression during pregnancy and after giving birth. This term, unfortunately, trivializes the severity of the struggle that can come with perinatal and postpartum depression.  

Most of us are familiar with postpartum depression: a depressive disorder that occurs in parents after giving birth. Approximately 12% of parents who have recently given birth experience postpartum depression within the first three months of their child's life. 

For some parents, postpartum depression can persist for months or even years without the appropriate support. 

Perinatal depression is different from postpartum depression because it occurs during pregnancy. Many people feel content, almost euphoric, during pregnancy. Sufferers of perinatal depression may feel defective or inadequate for not experiencing that same kind of happiness. 

Bipolar Disorder  

Bipolar disorder, which was previously known as manic depression, is a chronic mood disorder that involves episodes of mania or hypomania and depression. 

When someone living with bipolar disorder has a manic episode, they will experience severe changes in energy, emotions, thought processes, and activity. They may engage in risky behaviour Like gambling, erratic spending, or reckless driving. In severe cases, someone may have delusions and even hallucinations during manic episodes.  

Hypomania is a less intense and severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, someone may exhibit more energy and activity than average, but it does not necessarily impact their ability to function. 

Finally, depressive episodes are characterized by typical symptoms of depression, including a lack of interest in almost everything, changes in appetite, and feelings of emptiness or hopelessness. 

It’s worth noting that bipolar disorder is not the same thing as BPD (borderline personality disorder). The acronym used for bipolar disorder is BD. 

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder  

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a physical and emotional condition that causes extreme mood shifts the week before someone starts menstruating. It is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS. 

People suffering from PMDD will experience severe psychological symptoms the week before their period. These symptoms can include emotional dysregulation, irritability, anger, depression, brain fog, and others. The exact cause of PMDD is unclear; however, one theory is that hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle cause a serotonin deficiency in the brain.  

What to Do About Depression  

While there is no one cure for depression, virtually every type of depression does have treatments that can make it much easier to live with. The best thing you can do for yourself is to work with your doctor and start seeing a registered psychologist. As a team, you can develop strategies and tools to manage depression. 

Get in touch with a psychologist to help you navigate your depressive episodes.