Depression

Depression is a serious illness that affects a person's mood.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health there are five different types of depression. One of the types of depression is persistent depressive disorder. Persistent Depressive disorder "is a depressed mood that lasts for at least two years. A person diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder may have episodes of major depression along with periods of less severe symptoms, but symptoms must last for two years to be considered persistent depressive disorder." Episodes can range from a very short period to an extremely long period, such as two years. Another form of depression is perinatal depression. "Perinatal depression is much more serious than the "baby blues" (relatively mild depression and anxiety symptoms that typically clear within two weeks after delivery) that many women experience after giving birth. Women with perinatal depression experience full-blown major depression during pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum depression). The feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that accompany perinatal depression may make it difficult for these new mothers to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or for their babies." This type of depression only occurs to women and it doesn't always happy. Psychotic depression is another form of depression. "Psychotic depression occurs when a person has severe depression plus some form of psychosis, such as having disturbing false fixed beliefs (delusions) or hearing or seeing upsetting things that others can not hear or see (hallucinations). The psychotic symptoms typically have a depressive "theme," such as delusions of guilt, poverty, or illness." There is another type of depression that only occurs during the winter months. "Seasonal affective disorder is character by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This depression generally lifts during springs and summer. Winter depression, typically accompanied by social withdrawal, increased sleep, and weight gain, predictably returns every year in seasonal affective disorder." Bipolar disorder is also included in this list. "Bipolar disorder is different from depression, but it is included in this list is because someone with bipolar disorder experiences extremely low moods that meet the criteria for major depression (called "bipolar depression"). But a person with bipolar disorder also experiences extreme high - euphoric or irritable - moods called "mania" or a less severe form called "hypomania." There is a wide range of depressions to offer people a diagnosis.
Just like every other disorder or disease there are symptoms. WebMD wrote an article going over the main symptoms someone would likely have if they had depression. The symptoms are "difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions, fatigue and decreased energy, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and or helplessness, feelings of hopelessness and or pessimism, insomnia, early-morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex, overeating or appetite loss, persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems, that do not ease even with treatment, persistent, sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings, and or thoughts of suicide , suicide attempts." Some people don't even realize they have depression. They think that they are either just super tired or sick.
Almost every disorder has a treatment that can either cure the whole disorder or just their symptoms. A main type of treatment for depression is medication subscribed to patients by doctors and or therapist. The four main prescriptions that are given to people suffering from depression are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, antidepressant, anxiolytic, and an anti-psychotic. A selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor eases symptoms of depressed mood or anxiety which allows the person affected to take back their life and do things that they used to do. An antidepressant alleviates a person's mood. Also an anxiolytic relieves anxiety and can promote sleep. Finally, an anti-psychotic reduces the symptoms of certain psychiatric conditions.
Depression can be a very serious illness if it is not taken care of properly. Almost all suicides have been of people that have been depressed for a little while in their lives. There are a lot of people in the United States that have depression and that are on medications to reduce their symptoms. One of my best friends from high school was and still is on anti-depressants to help relieve her mood so she can go to school and be involved with what high school students are supposed to be involved in. Don't feel like you are alone if you do have depression because everyone probably has or will be depressed at least once in their lives. They might not be diagnosed with it but they could have gone though a short period of depression.

Bipolar Disorder

Are you finding it hard to control your emotions? Do your emotions abruptly change? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you may have bipolar disorder. Don't be scared. This is a serious disorder, but withe the right treatment it can be reduced. 

Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disorder marked by alternating periods of euphoria and depression. The National Institute of Mental Health explains what the two types of episodes a person with bipolar disorder can have. A manic episode is when they feel very happy and "up," and are much more energetic and active than usual. A depressive episode is when the person that suffers from bipolar disorder feels very sad and "down," have low energy, and are much less active. "The mood swings are more extreme than that and are accompanied by changes in sleep, energy level, and the ability to think clearly." NIMH is comparing normal mood swings and bipolar mood swings to help explain the severity. 

"Bipolar symptoms are so strong that they can damage relationships and make it hard to go to school or keep a job." This is said to be true because people with bipolar disorder often try to hurt themselves and or attempt suicide. According to WebMD, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are uncharacteristic periods of anger and aggression, grandiosity and overconfidence, easy tear-fullness or frequent sadness, needing little sleep to feel rested, uncharacteristic impulsive disorder, moodiness and confusion and inattention. 

Mayo Clinic wrote an article on The DSM-5, published by the American Psychiatric Association, where they go into detail on the different types of bipolar disorders. For bipolar 1 disorder, "you've had at least one manic episode. The manic episode may be preceded by or followed by hypo-manic or major depressive episodes. Mania symptoms cause significant impairment in your life and may require hospitalization or trigger a break from reality." Bipolar 2 disorder is when "you've had at least one major depressive episode lasting at least two weeks and at least one hypo-manic episode lasting at least four days, but you've never had a manic episode. Major depressive episodes or the unpredictable changes in mood and behavior can cause distress or difficulty in areas of your life." Cyclothymic disorder is when "you've had at least two years-or one year in children and teenagers- of numerous periods of hypo-mania symptoms (less severe than a hypo-manic episode) and periods of depressive symptoms (less severe than a major depressive episode). During that time, symptoms occur at least half the time and never go away for more than two months. Symptoms cause significant distress in important areas of your life." All three of these diagnosis' are different. "Bipolar 2 is not a milder form of bipolar 1, but a separate diagnosis. While the manic episodes of bipolar 1 disorder can be severe and dangerous, individuals with bipolar 2 disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause significant impairment." All of the different diagnosis have specific characteristics that help doctors and therapists diagnose their patients that suffer from bipolar disorder. 

There is treatment for bipolar disorder, but it can't cure the disorder. The treatment reduces the symptoms and allows for the person affected with bipolar disorder to carry on living their life like some that doesn't suffer from this disorder. There are many therapy session someone suffering from bipolar disorder can go to. Support groups are people that suffer from the same thing allowing other people to learn from their mistakes. Cognitive behavior therapy is focused on negative thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses. Psychotherapy is the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders through talk therapy. There is also medications that can help reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Anti-psychotics reduce or improves the symptoms of certain conditions. There is also selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) which eases symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety. 

There is always help out there, whether you want it or not. Someone in a community close to yours could be going through the same thing and the people affected might never know until they find help. Help is not a bad thing. Asking for help shows that you are strong and that you are ready to take back your life. If you know someone or you think you might have bipolar disorder please either help them find help or talk to someone that can find either you or them the help needed. There are therapists all over the world that can properly diagnose the disorder, so you aren't left in the dark thinking you have something you don't.