Concentrated anxiety can tip any of us into an Anxiety state which can lead to an Anxiety Disorder. Sustained stress can create persistent anxiety, depressed mood, changes in our thinking with hopelessness; and physical symptoms such as a reduction in appetite, insomnia, excessive sweating, palpitations and weight loss. If such symptoms persist for 14 days; it meets criteria for a ‘Depressive Episode’.
One doesn’t have to have experienced triggering ‘adverse life events’ either; such as a severe illness, financial or work pressure, loss of relationship or bereavement. When such triggers do occur, it is called a “Reactive Depression”. it is equally as likely, for there to be no adverse stressors in our external world, in which case the condition is referred to as an “Endogenous Depression” – it just happens. This kind of mood disorder can also run in families, so there is a genetic predisposition too. Depression which is not associated with mood elevation or increased activity is referred to as “Unipolar Depression’. Everything else, and notably when episodes of great hyperactivity or manic behaviours are present – is referred to as “Bipolar Depression” – wher there are discrete episodes of Depression and “Mania”.
Depression is much more common after puberty; and Bipolar Depression is usually only diagnosed in our 20’s.
One can experience psychotic symptoms of delusional beliefs, which are unalienable to reason; paranoid thoughts and irrational behaviour in the most severe form of Depression – a ‘Severe Depressive Episode with Psychosis’.
Other occasions and live events, when we are more susceptible to Depressive Disorder can occur, in particular circumstances. Women are 14 x more likely to have a depressive episode when they have just delivered a baby, than at any other times in their life. There is a specific branch of Psychiatry to support such Mums, “Perinatal Psychiatry”.
