Rachael Kane

Dysthymia is a less severe but usually more long-lasting type of depression compared to major depression. It involves long-term (chronic) symptoms that do not disable but yet prevent the affected person from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Sometimes, people with dysthymia also experience episodes of major depression. This combination of the two types of depression is referred to as double-depression

Mood disorders are medical illnesses that affect our moods and how we feel. Although there is debate about the classification of the different types of bipolar disorder there are two main sub-categories; Bipolar I and Bipolar II. The term Bipolar Spectrum describes different sub-types of both sub-categories, these can include; mania or a manic episode, hypomania, depression and a mixed episode.

All mood disorders are associated with changes in brain chemistry. They are not the fault of the person suffering from them. Mood disorders are treatable medical illnesses for which there are specific interventions that help. People with bipolar disorder can experience normal moods between their swings. Bipolar I & II may be distinguished by a number of key characteristics. 

Bipolar II is often less severe with no psychotic experiences, and with episodes tending to last only hours to a few days. Symptoms can often not be as obvious as those for Bipolar I and the highs or hypomania can often be characterised by periods of intense productivity. Although the highs in Bipolar Disorder II may be less severe than those associated with Bipolar Disorder I, the depressive episodes are equally distressing and debilitating.

Mania symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

• Inappropriate elation
• Inappropriate irritability or anger
• severe insomnia or decreased need to sleep
• grandiose notions, like having special powers or importance
• increased talking speed and/or volume
• disconnected thoughts or speech
• racing thoughts
• severely increased sexual desire and/or activity
• markedly increased energy
• poor judgement 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive illness that has a seasonal pattern. It's characterised by mood disturbances that begin in winter and subside when the season ends. It's usually diagnosed after the person has had the same symptoms during winter for a couple of years.

With SAD, the depression symptoms are more about 'slowing down'. People sleep more, eat more and usually crave carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain. They'll have a lot less energy and won't want to spend time with others. SAD has a cluster of symptoms that makes the person look like they are going into 'hibernation

All too often women experience depressive moods, anxiety and helplessness during a period which is expected according to society to be the happiest of their lives. Paradoxically, these expectations also contribute to women’s sense of guilt and shame over their feelings, which propel them to further silence their pain and sense of inner chaos. The mechanism is then set in place for a depressive vicious cycle to escalate.

If new motherhood is compounded with depression the results are debilitating for the entire family, with serious short and long term cognitive, emotional and social ramifications for the child.

Depression associated with childbirth is not a different condition from other depressive moods or syndromes (although it is often characterised with both depressive and anxious experiences). However, in the context of motherhood women tend to hide their depression in the hope that it will ‘ride itself out’ - a tendency that all too often results in an under-treated, escalating and potentially serious condition.

The following increase a woman’s risk of developing postnatal depression: depression or anxiety during pregnancy, a moderate depressive mood known as ‘maternity blues’, lack of adequate social support, life events and stressors, past history of depression or anxiety, being a single mother, unsatisfactory marital relationship; socioeconomic status, unplanned pregnancy, miscarriages and abortions, complications during pregnancy or labour.

Women who experience postnatal depression often describe themselves as having few or all of the following:

• Feeling anxious, confused and fearful
• Caught up in uncontrollable worries about the baby, others or the future
• Questioning their readiness and competence at mothering
• Worry that they will not love their baby or feel they already do not
• Feeling estranged from their pregnancy, baby and family
• See themselves as hopeless and helpless
• Feeling isolated from their partner, family and friends
• Lacking concentration, motivation and energy
• Having sleeping difficulties that are not associated with baby’s sleep cycle
• Feeling overwhelmed by day to day activities and demands
• Afraid that they are ‘losing their mind’ and are helpless to shake it away
• Blaming themselves for being depressed and attributing their situation to personal defectiveness

Identifying such experiences and seeking help can make a great difference for the mother and the future of her baby. Depression associated with childbirth has a good chance of recovery once acknowledged and treated. If it goes untreated, even the more benign (and highly prevalent) “Maternity blues” has the potential to develop into postnatal disorder at any time during the first years post partum. Interventions should be initiated as early as possible in the hope of preventing a further downward spiral.