Different Types of Depression

Most people are unaware of the fact there are a number of different types of depression. However according to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are several and many are discovered as the doctor begins treating anxiety issues for a patient. The reason for this is that in many cases, treating anxiety involves very similar therapies, medications or holistic treatments, to those used to treat depression.

Major Depression

One of the reasons why treating anxiety and treating major depression can be similar is that the symptoms of both are closely related. While depression does involve the person feeling sad, alone, or hopeless, these are only one part of the overall picture. Among the other common symptoms are issues such as fatigue, sleeping too much or not enough, loss of interest in family and friends, and excessive worry. All of these are symptoms can be seen when treating anxiety, and can often be treated using the same techniques.

Chronic Depression

Chronic depression or as it is clinically known, Dysthymia also has a number of similar symptoms such as those seen when treating anxiety. This particular form of depression is diagnosed as one which has been ongoing for a long time, often one to two years or more. Many of the symptoms associated with this form of depression are very similar to those seen in someone diagnosed with major depression. However, the patient does not exhibit enough of them to be diagnosed with the major form of this disorder. To a certain extent the patient can be helped using many of the techniques used in treating anxiety.

Atypical Depression

The symptoms of atypical depression are very much like those found with anxiety disorders. These can include overeating, sometimes referred to as "nervous eating", bouts of excessive fatigue, inability to sleep or sleep too much, and being overly sensitive to rejection by your peers. Exposure to any number of different events can trigger an episode in much the same way as those who suffer from an anxiety disorder. Doctors often find that treating an anxiety disorder and atypical depression take the same route and generally achieve the same basic results.

Typical or Regular Depression

This is one step past what most people would refer to as a case of the "blues". It is described as when a person seems to have an all pervading feeling of sadness they can't seem to shake off. Among the most common additional symptoms are avoiding others, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, and a loss of their appetite. These are very similar to the symptoms seen when treating an anxiety disorder. Patients tend to respond very well to the same methods of treatment, including natural herbs as well as mind and body exercises.

Manic Depression

Manic depression or as it is also referred to, bipolar disorder, may be one of the most complicated forms of depression. There are two forms, type I in which the person must have had at least one manic episode, and type II, in which they must have had at least one manic episode and one episode of major depression. Neither of these can be treated in quite the same way as treating anxiety if you are planning to use medication. In many instances however a person can gain some level of control and maintain a more even functional level with the use of mind and body practices.

Natural Methods of Treating Anxiety and Depression

For many years the only treatment offered for the different types of depression have been a laundry list of anti-depressants and when needed anti-psychotics. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies have long known about the potentially deadly side effects of many of these drugs. New techniques for the treatment of depression have been learned by observing the way mental health professionals had begun treating anxiety patients. This includes methods such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and the use of herbal treatments such as St. John's Wort, Kava, and Passionflower, all of which are used in treating anxiety.