Depression
Depression has a variety of symptoms, but the most common are a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Other symptoms include:
- Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Restlessness or irritability
- Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
(from American Psychiatric Association)
To read the Depression fact sheet from American Psychiatric Association,
click here
To take a Depression screening test from Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance,
click here
Postpartum Depression
About one in 10 new mothers experience some degree of postpartum depression. These complications usually occur within just days after the delivery, and
can occur even a year later. These symptoms include:
- Sluggishness
- Fatigue
- Exhaustion
- Feelings of hopelessness or depression
- Disturbances with appetite and sleep
- Confusion
- Uncontrollable crying
- Lack of interest in the baby
- Fear of harming the baby or oneself
- Mood swings – highs and lows
(from American Psychiatric Association)
To read the Postpartum Depression fact sheet from American Psychiatric Association,
click here
To take the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screening test courtesy of the UCSF, Fresno website,
click here
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can cause dramatic mood swings—from high and feeling on top of the world, or uncomfortably irritable and “revved up”,
to sad and hopeless, often with periods of normal moods in between. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
Manic Phase
- Feeling on top of the world. A sensation of sheer and utter happiness that nothing—not even bad news or a horrifying event or tragedy—can change.
- Sudden or extreme irritability or rage. While mania is often portrayed as a pleasurable experience, that is not the case for many people with bipolar disorder.
- Grandiose delusions. Individuals imagine that they have special connections with God, celebrities, or political leaders.
- Invincibility or unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities. The person feels that nothing can prevent him or her from accomplishing any task.
- Hyperactivity. Scheduling more events in a day than can be accomplished; inability to relax or sit still.
- Excessively risky behavior. Reckless driving, outlandish spending sprees, foolish business investments, or out-of character sexual behavior.
- Uncontrollable racing thoughts/rapid speech. Ideas that abruptly change from topic to topic expressed in loud, rapid speech that becomes increasingly incoherent.
- Less need for sleep.
Depressed Phase
- Intense sadness or despair. The person feels helpless, hopeless, and worthless.
- No interest in activities they once enjoyed.
- Loss of energy, fatigue.
- Sleep difficulties. Either sleeping too much or not at all.
- Changes in appetite. Either a noticeable increase in appetite or a substantial weight loss unrelated to dieting.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
(from American Psychiatric Association)
There are other forms of Bipolar Disorder, for example, a milder form of the manic phase called hypomania, antidepressant-induced hypomania,
and people with highly recurrent mood episodes.
To read the Bipolar Disorder fact sheet from American Psychiatric Association,
click here
To take a mania screening test from Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance,
click here
