Depression differs from the normal emotional reactions
people experience during difficulties. The person who can't get
over these feelings within a few weeks may be suffering from major
depression.
Bipolar Disorder is an illness
in which the mood swings from the low of depression to the high
of mania.
Other illnesses that are considered mood
disorders include depression after the birth of a child (postpartum
depression); winter depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD);
and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).
When four or more symptoms persist
for more than 2 weeks, seek professional help.
Click the catagories to the right to view symptoms.
MORE ABOUT MOOD DISORDERS
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| Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt. |
| Feelings of total indifference. |
| Prolonged sadness and crying spells. |
| Withdrawal from social activities. |
| Loss of appetite or noticeable increase in appetite. |
| Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts. |
| Fatigue, lethargy and insomnia, or increased need for
sleep. |
| Inability to concentrate; indecisiveness |
Aches and pains, constipation or other physical ailments
that can't be
explained. |
| An excessively good, euphoric, or expansive mood. |
| Irritability and anger that is not consistent with the
situation |
| Extreme cheerfulness or optimism. |
| Grandiose ideas. |
| Lack of judgment particularly concerning spending money
or sexual promiscuity. |
| Flight of ideas or racing thoughts; talking in a rush
and changing from topic to topic; disorganized thoughts. |
| Decreased need for sleep (need for little sleep without
feeling tired). |
| Sudden rage, irritability, or paranoia. |
| These symptoms generally alternating with periods of
depression sometimes with periods of mood stability intermixed. |
| Psychotic symptoms (delusions or hallucinations) and
thought of suicide may appear in the acute stages of either mania or depressions. |
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