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Depression

Main Categories Of Depression:

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  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

  • Bipolar depression

  • Postpartum Depression (PPD)

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

  • Atypical Depression​

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To learn more about each main category of depression, check out the rest of the page.

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is commonly known as clinical depression

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  • It affects sleep quality (eg. not being able to sleep or sleeping too long), difficulty for concentrating, feeling worthless and guilty over existing

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  • It can cause problems in school or work, and develop further into suicidal thoughts

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  • These depressive episodes are separated by around 2 months

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

  • An old name for it: Dysthymia

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  • The main difference compare to MDD is the duration of it

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  • It has a long lasting period, PDD lasts around 2 years (in adults)

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  • People with this depression can experience feelings of sadness, anger, irritability feelings of hopelessness, trouble concentrating

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  • Treatment for PDD involves medications and psychotherapy

Bipolar Depression

  • Symptoms of Bipolar Depression: insomnia, unexplained aches/pains, anxiety, and disorganization

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  • Usually characterized by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression)

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  • Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year

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  • Bipolar Depression can last for 2 years. The risk of suicide is 15 times higher than people without it

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

  • This kind of depression occurs in women who have recently given birth. It is based from hormonal changes in their body 

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  • Feelings such as anxiety, trouble bonding with baby, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of hurting oneself are all common symptoms of PPD

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  • It has a large range of effects, in the worst case it can go up to postpartum psychosis (will be confused and possibly hallucinate)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

  • This is a major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern

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  • Sometimes this disorder can be triggered by irregular circadian rhythm

Atypical Depression

  • This kind of depression has atypical such as your depressed mood can brighten in response to positive events

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  • Other key symptoms include:

    • Increased appetite

    • Sleeping too much

    • Feeling that your arms or legs are heavy

    • Feeling rejected

Where To Get Help 
Available 24/7/365​
  • Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 833-456-4566
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
  • Gerstein Centre (16 years+): 416-929-5200​
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  • Talk to your doctor
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  • Try to find a therapist either ‘talk therapy’ or psychotherapy

Schimelpfening, Nancy, “7 Common Types of Depression”, Updated on January 13, 2021

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Zambon, Veronica, Medically reviewed by Alex Klein, PsyD, “What are the differences between major and persistent depressive disorder?”, May 19, 2020

WORKS CITED

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