Depression is a common and debilitating mental health disorder affecting more and more people around the world, with women nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed. An estimated 350 million people of all ages experience symptoms of depression and about 13 percent of Americans take antidepressants—a figure that jumps to 25 percent for women in their 40’s and 50’s. Mental health services are woefully lacking in America, with new efforts to educate the public about depression and its diagnosis.
While everyone experiences ups and downs in their life, depression is more than just feeling down or going through a rough patch. It causes severe feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. And left untreated, it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home. It can be triggered by a stressful life event, but research indicates that depression is also associated with a variety of genetic and biochemical factors
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The word depression is actually just an umbrella term for a number of different forms, from postpartum to bipolar disorder. If you or a loved one frequently feels “down in the dumps” consider whether the condition may actually be something more serious.
Everyone needs to know all they can about these 5 common types of depression. Chances are you or someone you love suffers from one of them.
