Defeating Depression

The subtitle of the book is “the do-or-die ordeal”. The first part of the subtitle, “do-or-die”, should be taken quite literally. In using this phrase, I intend to impart the importance of taking prompt care of any Depression. Although the minor Depressions are not in any way lethal, the patient-to-be should take depressive symptoms seriously because: (1) the patient does not have the skills to determine the exact diagnosis, i.e. whether he might have a minor or Major Depression; and, (2) some untreated minor Depressions will fester and become a Major Depression or some other psychiatric disorder. It is axiomatic that about one-third of minor Depressions will resolve without psychiatric treatment, that about one-third will stay the same, and about one-third will actually worsen and progress into a possibly more malignant psychiatric disorder. The second part of the subtitle is “ordeal”. What is the ordeal of Depression? The ordeal actually consists of four components.... ►The first part of the book features stories about people who are already depressed or who become depressed. ►In the middle of the book, the reader will find psychiatric commentary about Depression. ►The last part of the book concerns all the various treatments of Depression. Section IV discusses theTypes of Depression: How nice it would be to write the “Kinds of Depression”. Unfortunately, Depression is not kind. Most people think of Depression and imagine depression (sadness). This is not always the case since there are many types of Depression. One of the key points of practical diagnosis is that there be a significant change in baseline behavior.... This is a partial list: Adjustment Disorder with Depression (Situational Depression) Agitated Depression Alcoholic Depression Anxious Depression (Neurotic Depression) Atypical Depression Bipolar Depression Borderline Depression Characterological Depression Cyclothymia Depression NOS Depression due to Drug Abuse—withdrawal depression from Stimulants Depression due to Drug Abuse—active addiction to “downers” (Valium, for example) Depressive Personality Double Depression Dual Diagnosis Dysphoria (Chronic) Dysthymia (primary and secondary dysthymias) Grief (Prolonged Grief, Pathologic Grief) Hysteroid Dysphoria Involutional Melancholia (severe Melancholy) Major Depression Manic Depression Mild Major Depression Minor Depression Mood Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) Neurotic Depression (Anxious Depression) post-psychotic Depression Post-partum Depression Psychotic Depression Reactive Depression Recurrent Unipolar Depression Depression with “Psychomotor" Slowing Schizoaffective Depression Secondary Depression caused by a Medical Diagnosis Secondary Depression caused by a medication / chemical treatment Secondary Depression caused by a Neurological Disorder or by another Psychiatric Disorder Situational Depression (see Adjustment Disorder) “Smiling” Depression Suicidal Depression (see Borderline Depression) Terminal Depression Typical Depression Winter Depression