Moderate Depression Vs Severe Depression

Treatment And Care For People Who Are Referred To A Specialist Mental Health Service Or Hospital

People with severe depression who are worried about harming themselves or are at risk of doing so, have hallucinations or delusions, and/or need care from a team of professionals may be referred to a specialist mental health service.

Here your symptoms should be assessed and a member of your care team should discuss in detail with you any previous treatments you have had. They may also talk with you about different treatments you could try, or they may suggest a treatment that you have already tried if there is a reason that could explain why it did not work before.

Your specialist team should develop a ‘care plan’ with you so that you can receive the treatment and support that is most appropriate for you. It should identify the professionals who are responsible for different aspects of your treatment and care. You and your GP should be given a copy of the plan. The plan should include what should happen in a crisis .

If you have severe depression and you and your healthcare professional feel that you are likely to harm yourself or you are finding it difficult to look after yourself, you may be advised to have treatment in hospital. If you need to stay in hospital for treatment, you should be offered the full range of psychological treatments . Your healthcare professional should make sure that you can continue with the treatment once you leave hospital.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Severe Depression With Psychotic Symptoms

Severe depression with psychotic symptoms, also sometimes referred to as psychotic depression, is a type of depression that causes all the symptoms of severe depression as well as psychotic episodes.

Psychotic depression can be an extremely difficult and frightening condition to deal with. Not only does it result in the intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness that come with severe depression, but it can also cause you to experience delusions and hallucinations . This can affect your reality and negatively influence how you see the world.

Read more about severe depression with psychotic symptoms.

Daily Struggles When Living With Depression

While many think depression is something that will just go away on its own over time, it is quite the opposite for most people. Depression is a constant feeling that affects day-to-day functioning for the person living with it, and it does not simply go away on its own. Depression can impact every area of life eating and sleeping habits, work and school performance, romantic relationships, and health. Individuals with depression also commonly struggle with substance abuse and addiction.

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Mild Vs Moderate Depression Whats The Difference

If youve been anywhere near social media for the past several years, youve probably noticed a big shift in the conversation surrounding mental illness. More and more people, including well-known celebrities, have started speaking out about their own mental health battles in an effort to destigmatize these issues and encourage others to seek care for themselves. Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Trevor Noah, Kerry Washington, and J.K. Rowling have all been honest and open about their struggles, according to Everyday Health.

As mental health issues step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, you may be wondering if you yourself are dealing with something that might be clinically diagnosable, or that might require medication. Everyone feels sad and down sometimes, so it can be quite difficult to know if what youre feeling is just a normal reaction to some particular trigger or a more serious condition that could require help through therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

How Is Depression Syndrome Treated

Depression can be serious, but its also treatable. Treatment for depression includes:

• Self-help: Regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and spending time with people you care about can improve depression symptoms.
• Counseling: Counseling or psychotherapy is talking with a mental health professional. Your counselor helps you address your problems and develop coping skills. Sometimes brief therapy is all you need. Other people continue therapy longer.
• Alternative medicine: People with mild depression or ongoing symptoms can improve their well-being with complementary therapy. Therapy may include massage, acupuncture, hypnosis and biofeedback.
• Medication: Prescription medicine called antidepressants can help change brain chemistry that causes depression. Antidepressants can take a few weeks to have an effect. Some antidepressants have side effects, which often improve with time. If they dont, talk to your provider. A different medications may work better for you.
• Brain stimulation therapy: Brain stimulation therapy can help people who have severe depression or depression with psychosis. Types of brain stimulation therapy include electroconvulsive therapy , transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation .

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The Effects Of Depression And Anxiety On Pain Tolerance

Studies show that people who suffer from even moderate depression and anxiety have a decreased pain threshold. Anxiety and depression themselves can also be the source of physical pain. This is especially important for people whose primary impairment results in significant pain. Some examples of these impairments are:

• certain neurological disorders, and
• somatoform disorders .

If constant or recurring pain hampers your ability to concentrate on tasks, remember facts and instructions, and get along with others, Social Security must consider this in determining whether there is work you can do. A disability attorney can help prove that, because of your combined impairments — your painful physical impairment together with depression or anxiety — you experience more pain and are more limited than someone with the physical impairment alone.

Ongoing Mood Cognitive Changes May Require Professional Help

Depression is not only hard to endure, it is also a risk factor for heart disease and dementia. “Depressive symptoms can occur in adults for many reasons. If you are experiencing mood or cognitive changes that last for more than a few weeks, it’s a good idea to bring this up with your doctor or consult a mental health specialist to help sort out possible causes,” says Dr. Nancy Donovan, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.The four most common types of depression are major depression, persistent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.

Major depression. The classic depression type, major depression is a state where a dark mood is all-consuming and one loses interest in activities, even ones that are usually pleasurable. Symptoms of this type of depression include trouble sleeping, changes in appetite or weight, loss of energy, and feeling worthless. Thoughts of death or suicide may occur. It is usually treated with psychotherapy and medication. For some people with severe depression that isn’t alleviated with psychotherapy or antidepressant medications, electroconvulsive therapy may be effective.

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Treatment For People With Seasonal Depression

If you have depression that usually occurs in winter and gets better in the lighter months, your healthcare professional should offer you the same treatments as for other forms of depression. If you wish to try light therapy instead of the recommended treatments, your healthcare professional should advise you that it is unclear whether light therapy is helpful for people with depression.

Anxiety And Depression Can Cause Non

If you apply for disability for a physical condition that limits your strength or ability to walk, the SSA will decide what level of work you can do, as in heavy, medium, light, or sedentary work. If you have a moderate physical disability that limits your ability to lift heavy items, you might be restricted to medium or light work, but that’s no guarantee of disabilty benefits.

But when considering whether you are actually able to work, the SSA must also evaluate any non-exertional impairments you have. Non-exertional impairments are those that relate to non-strength related work activities such as the ability to focus, concentrate, get along with others, and be reliable. Many people with moderate anxiety and depression experience these kinds of non-exertional impairments. For more information, see our article on how non-exertional impairments can help you win your claim.

Just because your mental health issues aren’t considered severe doesn’t mean that they can’t affect your ability to do a wide range of jobs. Having non-severe mental health issues other than anxiety or depression can also increase the chances of winning a disability claim, when added to a physical impairment. For more information, see our article on when combining severe and non-severe impairments leads to disability benefits.

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Telling Social Security About Your Anxiety And Depression

First, you need to tell the Social Security Administration if you are receiving treatment for any mental illness, including anxiety and depression, even if your symptoms are moderate. This is because the SSA has to consider how your psychological symptoms affect your ability to work when combined with your physical impairment. If you are not receiving treatment but feel as though you may be anxious or depressed, seek help from a mental health professional as soon as you can.

It is also important that you provide the SSA with a complete list of the medications you take for your depression or anxiety. You must also tell the SSA who prescribed the medication, the dosages, and whether or not you experience any side effects. Keep in mind that it is more helpful to your claim if you are treated for your anxiety or depression by a mental health professional than by your family doctor. If you see a therapist, social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist, their names and contact information to the SSA as well.

If you didn’t include any of this information regarding your depression or anxiety in your original application and questionnaire — and you were denied benefits — be sure to submit new reports and medical records documenting your symptoms to the hearing office before your hearing.

Are There Different Types Of Depression

If you are given a diagnosis of depression, you might be told that you have mild, moderate or severe depression. This describes what sort of impact your symptoms are having on you currently, and what sort of treatment you’re likely to be offered. You might move between mild, moderate and severe depression during one episode of depression or across different episodes.

There are also some specific types of depression:

• Seasonal affective disorder depression that occurs at a particular time of year, or during a particular season. See our page on SAD for more information.
• Dysthymia continuous mild depression that lasts for two years or more. Also called persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression.
• Prenatal depression depression that occurs during pregnancy. This is sometimes also called antenatal depression.
• Postnatal depression depression that occurs in the first year after giving birth.

See our page on postnatal depression and perinatal mental health for more information. The PANDAS Foundation also has information and support for anyone experiencing prenatal or postnatal depression.

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a type of depression?

PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome . Many women experience PMS, but for some women their symptoms are severe enough to seriously impact their daily life. This is when you might receive a diagnosis of PMDD.

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How Is Persistent Depressive Disorder Treated

The most effective treatment for PDD combines medications and talk therapy, or counseling.

Antidepressants are prescription drugs that can relieve depression. There are many different kinds of medications for the treatment of depression. The most commonly used fall into two broad categories:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors .
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors .

You may need to take medication for a month or longer before you feel a difference. Make sure to continue taking the medication exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed. Even if you have side effects or feel much better, dont stop without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Counseling can also help manage PDD. One type of therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy , is often helpful for depression. A therapist or psychologist will help you examine your thoughts and emotions and how they affect your actions. CBT can help you unlearn negative thoughts and develop more positive thinking.

Whats The Difference Between Depression And Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder is a type of depression. Its less severe than major depressive disorder another type but its ongoing. Its defined as lasting at least two years in adults and at least one year in children and teens. During this time, symptoms can’t be absent for more than two consecutive months to meet the criteria for PDD.

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How Is Dysthymia Treated

Treatment may include one or a combination of the following:

• Medicine. Many different medicines are available to treat depression. It often takes 4 to 6 weeks for anti-depressants to have a full effect. Its important to keep taking the medicine, even if it doesnt seem to be working at first. Its also important to talk to your healthcare provider before stopping. Some people have to switch medicines or add medicines to get results.
• Therapy. This is most often cognitive behavioral or interpersonal therapy. It focuses on changing distorted views of yourself and your environment. It also works to improve relationship skills, and identify and manage stressors.

Because this condition usually last for longer than 5 years, long-term treatment may be needed.

If you have depression, there are things you can do to help yourself. Depression can make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings may make you feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and may not reflect reality. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. Meanwhile, consider the following:

How To Tell If You Have Depression

Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

They range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.

There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains.

The symptoms of depression range from mild to severe. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, while severe depression can make you feel suicidal, that life is no longer worth living.

Most people experience feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood during difficult times. A low mood may improve after a short period of time, rather than being a sign of depression.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Depression

Depression can affect your emotions, mind and body. Depression symptoms include:

• Feeling very sad, hopeless or worried.
• Not enjoying things that used to give you joy.
• Being easily irritated or frustrated.
• Eating too much or too little.
• Changes in how much you sleep.
• Having a difficult time concentrating or remembering things.
• Experiencing physical problems like headache, stomachache or sexual dysfunction.
• Thinking about hurting or killing yourself.

If you or someone you know has thoughts of hurting themselves, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. This national network of local crisis centers provides free, private emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Appendix: Assessing Depression And Its Severity

In this guideline, the assessment of depression is based on the criteria in DSM-IV. Assessment should include the number and severity of symptoms, duration of the current episode, and course of illness.

Key symptoms:

• persistent sadness or low mood and/or

At least one of these, most days, most of the time for at least 2 weeks.

If any of above present, ask about associated symptoms:

• disturbed sleep

• fatigue or loss of energy

• agitation or slowing of movements

• poor concentration or indecisiveness

• feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt

• suicidal thoughts or acts.

Then ask about duration and associated disability, past and family history of mood disorders, and availability of social support

1. Factors that favour general advice and active monitoring:

• four or fewer of the above symptoms with little associated disability

• symptoms intermittent, or less than 2 weeks’ duration

• recent onset with identified stressor

• no past or family history of depression

• social support available

2. Factors that favour more active treatment in primary care:

• five or more symptoms with associated disability

• persistent or long-standing symptoms

• personal or family history of depression

• low social support

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Mental Health: A Look At Mild Moderate And Severe Depression

What is depression? Everyone has days that are not so great. We all have those cloudy days. We might say we are having the blues, but a depressive disorder is actually something different..

There are many types of depression, including: major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, psychotic depression, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, endogenous depression and catatonic depression.

Mild depression could be a short period of low spirits. Depression that lasts for many days is considered more severe, and in its most severe forms, can make people feel suicidal.

So lets take a look at mild, moderate and severe depression.

What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline

SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

Also visit the online treatment locator.

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