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or hormones can result in low moods. A doctor can examine and rule whether this can be the reason. If advised you may need to be further evaluated by a mental health professional. This is nothing to be ashamed of and is necessary as a step forward to helping you cope with your depression.

Types of depressive illness:

Major Depression.

Probably the most common form is that described as Major Depression, otherwise known as Clinical depression. This is when the symptoms of low mood become persistent. Feelings of despair and unhappiness last longer than two weeks. Although a person may get better in the short term a repeated episode is likely to occur. The person may not necessarily notice the initial episode of depression as the symptoms are gradual and may be mild until it affects daily living.

Dysthimic Disorder

A more constant period of depression, but with less severity of the symptoms of Major Depression. The sufferer will have had periods of depression for over two years with conflicting episodes of stable and low moods. Those who suffer from this may continue to live through their lives, but with the feeling of themselves being of no importance, anxious and that nothing good happens.

Bipolar Disorder

Also called Manic Depression this form combines both periods of mania and depression. Mood changes alternate between the two, sometimes rapidly. The sufferer will experience times when they are overly happy and enthusiastic, willing to take abnormal risks, with unrealistic ideas and very energetic and will also have periods of despair and suicidal thoughts due to hopelessness and anxiety.

Atypical depression

A person may experience an increase in their mood due to certain happy events that occur in their lives and may feel their mood is controlled by events out of their control. They can feel elated when lucky or feel low when things go wrong for themselves. They can feel continually tired and may overeat and sleep.

Psychotic depression

A term given to people who experience hallucinations. When they begin to see or hear things that are more commonly associated with schizophrenia. Images and sounds that make them feel frightened and will make them feel worse about themselves.

Other depressive illnesses:

There are other classes of depressive illness, like SAD, which is Seasonal Affective Disorder. Associated with people who experience low moods at a particular time of year, for example, during the winter months.

After having a baby a mother can experience the 'baby blues'

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