Question:
It occurs to me that there are several types of depression, and that most people are only familiar with the one that affects them (or someone near them). I think compiling a list of the variations we're aware of would be interesting, and useful to many others.
I only truly understand two types of depression: dysthymia, and clinical depression. Dysthymia is a moderate, but permanent depression. Clinical depression is a severe depression, but limited to depressive episodes (of weeks, months, years). It can occur at any time, and can only reliably be cured with treatment. IE, a depressive episode will settle, and then it may lift without any intervention, but it will most likely recur if it is not treated eventually.
I know there's a mild sort of depressive episode when bad stuff happens in life, and I don't know how that is categorizd, ie, for treatment, or if it is at all. I also don't know what you would call that... maybe it's just a depressive episode.
Anyway. Anyone with bigger, better, or different depression science, I'd appreciate it if you would add to my collection.


Answer:
My experience, tho don't know how to label it. After going through: Death of a spouse, Being a single parent, Bankruptcy, Losing a house, Dealing with a drinking problem, Retiring from military and being without a new career/job for awhile, and finally, Moving to a different state, all with a 3 year time frame, I was very depressed! But, I didn't take any ADs during this period.
After re-marrying a wonderful woman, getting back on my feet financially, moving into a nicer home than I had before, got off the drinking, and finding a job, after all that - Then I became depressed. Actually it was a feeling of just a nothingness. Wasn't worried about anything, but not excited either. It was just a big deep hole I was in.
Right now I under a GP's care and being treated with Serzone, after not responding to some other AD's. Things today are better, but not what they use to be. Considering where I came from, I'll take what I have now and be thankful. Sorry for the rambling and didn't mean to sound like the "Look how bad I've had it" type of post.


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