Home

News & Events

Support Groups

What are Mood Disorders?

Depression

  Symptoms

Bipolar Disorder

  Symptoms

On-Line Confidential Self-Assessment

Recommended Reading & Resources

  Downloadable Brochures

How Family & Friends can Help

Major depression is also known as major depressive illness, clinical depression, major affective disorder, or unipolar disorder. 

What is dysthmia? 

Dysthmia is a milder form of affective disorder.  Persons experience chronic unhappiness. (NAMI)

Try the Confidential On-Line Self-Assessment Offered by DBSA:

This can help you communicate your symptoms to your health care professional.

For more information on Bipolar Disorder check out this excellent Pamphlet presented by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI),Titled, "Understanding Bipolar Disorder"

What is Hypomania?

Hypomania is a less severe mania

What is Rapid Cycling?

Regularly alternating between mania and depression in the course of a day.

How can I tell if I am just sad or if I am depressed?

• Depression is more intense than a simple bad mood.

• A bad mood is usually gone in a few days, but depression lasts for two weeks or longer.

• A bad mood does not keep you from going to work or school or spending time with friends.  Depression can keep you from doing these things and may even make it difficult to get out of bed.

• Clinical depression is a treatable illness marked by changes in mood, thought and behavior. That's why it's called a mood disorder. (DBSA)

What is Depression? 

According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Depression is a treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it." Although it can run in families, you can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse.

Can depression affect anyone? 

People of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and social classes have depression. Although it can occur at any age, the illness often develops between the ages of 25 and 44. The lifetime prevalence of depression is 24 percent for women; for men, it's 15 percent. 

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

• Pessimism, indifference

• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

• Low self-esteem

• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

• Unexplained aches and pains

• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

If you experience five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks or if any of these symptoms interfere with work or family activities, consult with your doctor for a thorough evaluation. This should include a complete physical exam (some other illnesses can cause these symptoms) open and honest about how you are feeling and and a review of your family’s history.

Back to the top

What is the Difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II?

Bipolar I is characterized by one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes (symptoms of both a mania and a depression occurring nearly every day for at least 1 week) and one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder is the most severe form of the illness marked by extreme manic episodes.

Bipolar II is characterized by one or more depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe, but must be clearly different from a person’s non-depressed mood.

Take a confidential screening for bipolar disorder Provided by DBSA.

What is Bipolar Disorder? 

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) is a treatable illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy and behavior. It is known as bipolar disorder because a person's mood can alternate between the "poles" of mania (high, elevated mood) and depression (low, depressed mood). This change in the mood or "mood swing" can last for hours, days, weeks or even months. These "highs" and "lows" are frequently seasonal. Many people who have bipolar disorder report feeling symptoms of depression more often in the winter and symptoms of mania more often in the spring.