Reposted with permission.
Depression isn’t a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. From atypical depression to seasonal affective disorder, the condition has many faces.
Symptoms may include everything from hopelessness and fatigue to physical pain. And just as symptoms vary from person to person, so does the diagnosis.
We all feel sad at times. But depression is different. This serious mood disorder causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and manage your daily life, causing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. The word depression is actually just an umbrella term for a number of different types of depression, from major depression to atypical depression to dysthymia. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression that seems as if it will never end. The clinical depression definition includes the more severe type of depression known as major depression (MDD).
The good news is that even if depression symptoms are severe, there is treatment. Medications and counseling can help to improve depression symptoms and give you your life back again.
