Depression (major depressive disorder) negatively affects how one feels, the way one thinks and how one behaves. It triggers feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. It can lead to a variety of negative symptoms and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
There are 4 different types of depression that one of our therapists can work with you to help identify and create an appropriate treatment plan:
- Type 1: Situational Depression – It is completely normal to feel sadness, even for extended periods, in response to negative events and isolating situations. Situational Depression is universal within the human condition.
- Type 2: Biological Depression – Imbalance of Neurotransmitters or hormones that affect our mood and physiology.
- Type 3: Psychological Depression – A result of losing perspective, unrealistic expectations and negative self-talk.
- Type 4: Existential Depression – The opposite of situational depression, usually triggered by a positive event. When someone realizes something they have been looking forward to. What sometimes happens is someone will spend all their time pursuing a single goal and when they realize it doesn’t bring them the joy and meaning they expected it to, they have an ‘existential’ crisis.
Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Working with a therapist will help identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors with the goal of arriving at a suitable and effective course of action.
