How do you know what TYPE of depression you have?

Ophelia1920 · 09-21-2005, 01:23 PM

I think I've suffered from bouts of depression since the age of 12 or 13. My understanding is that there are different types of depression: situational, clinical, chemical inbalance, and seasonal (which would also be a chemical imbalance?). Is that right?

How would I know which one I have, or some, or all?

I definitely have situational, it doesn't take much to get me depressed. Clinical is when it goes on for more than a certain period of time, but in my situation a year or two is understandable.

I also wonder if I have SAD. It does tend to get worse in the fall when the daylight hours get shorter. I don't feel good sometimes for no reason, and I really don't like that it gets dark so early.

I tried two different medications in the last 4 years: Wellbutrin and Lexapro. I was only on the Wellbutrin for 2 months, and went off it on my own because I was starting to feel better and did not want to take it (my first time ever taking a "mind altering" drug and it kind of scared me even though I didnt really notice much difference). The Lexapro sort of helped, but not a lot, and when we upped the dosage to see if it would help more, it made me extremely tired so I quit that too. Last year I got a persription for a SAD light. However by the time I got it, it was Jan/Feb and may have been too late in the season, it was really hard to tell if it helped or not. I suppose I should try it again this year, since I already have it, but not sure when to start.

Thoughts? What have been your experiences?

Leany · 09-21-2005, 10:17 PM

I am diagnosed as clinically depressed. I can't cope without medication, and this has been going on for years. It gets worse in winter because I don't get as much sun which wont increase my seratonum levels

Ophelia1920 · 09-22-2005, 12:14 PM

Thanks for the reply! I think it's getting worse again. I'm pretty upset this morning as apparently my husband is not speaking to me. I try not to let it upset me, but I just feel sick to my stomach. I had made a counseling appt for Sept. 17th but then cancelled it (it's hard to go someplace new and I thought I/things were getting better).

Does a person usually get diagnosed through a medical doctor, or a psychologist? When I went on Wellbutrin, the dr. gave me a quick depression multiple choice test (only because I started bawling my head off in the exam room), and he said I was borderline (but I don't know what type or it was never determined). I've taken online tests before, but the outcome seems to be determined just by how I'm feeling at the time (and sometimes I'm fine).

I'm wondering how they can find out what type of depression a person has?

Leany, have you ever went off the medication thinking you didn't need it? Off topic, but what Christian rock bands do you listen to?

lisadukk · 09-22-2005, 03:18 PM

i have quit several of my depression meds cold turkey...
on more than one occasion this was not the right thing to do.....but. on several of those occasions i was so sick of the side effects of the drugs or i felt like i was doing better, so i quit. there are several depression meds that can be bad to just stop taking.
i went to a new dr the other day, actually a consult for electric shock therapy, and on the list of drugs to circle of what i had tried, i circled over 30 and that did not include everything

that is one of the reasons ect is an option we are looking into.
i go in waves, almost want to be bipolar, but apparently the 'highs' aren't really high enough, and i don't really get sucidal, so who knows??? i have also been dx with adhd....

i have done the route of going through a shrink, but also through a gp for meds. the doc i am seeing now is a head dr and at least seems to listen, and had only really upset me once...if it happens again, my endro has some suggestions.
good idea is if you like your gyn or your endro or anyone else you might see, get a suggestion on who to see. the surgeon who did my gallbladder in feb gave me this one's name and number because that is who his daughters both see.

hopefully this made a little bit of sense.....let me know if i can help at all....

good luck.................Lisa

Coz · 09-22-2005, 03:45 PM

I'd say that it's difficult to diagnose exactly what type of depression a person has. As you said, the way you're feeling on a particular day can affect how you score on a depression scale, one day you can score pretty low, another really high.

SAD can be difficult to diagnose, particularly if stressful or distressing events happen during thr winter months, is it situational or is it SAD. A psychologist may be more able to give you a definative diagnosis as they have more experience than a GP will have, so it might be worth seeing if you can get an appointment with one, if you haven't seen one already.

I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.

pink76mom · 09-22-2005, 05:18 PM

My understanding of depression is that there are situational things that cause depression. Then when the situation is resolved so is the depression. A chemical imbalance causing a depression hangs around despite improved situations or positive things around us. If you look in the DSM (diagnostic manuel for mental health diagnosis), there is not a clinical depression or chemical depression or situation depression actual diagnosis. There are many different criteria for different depression diagnosis. (Major depression, depressive disorder noc, dysthymis, SAD, etc.)
Meds, in my experience will not help a situational depression, as the meds target chemicals that are off balance in the brain and if no chemicals are out of whack then fine. A chemical imbalance can cause all kinds of situations to seem much worse than what they may be if not depressed. Chemical imbalances tend to exaccerbate situational depressions and situation problems tend to exaccerbate chemical imbalances... it that makes any sense. Situations and chemical imbalances really play off of each other. Maybe the reason that you are so easily depressed by situations is because you are already dealing with a chemical imbalance?? I really would not worry about the why, let a psychiatrist give you a diagnosis if you need one. GP's tend to not look at things are extensively, so a psychiatrist could probably offer a most accurate dx.

countrybug · 09-22-2005, 07:28 PM

I saw a phychiatrist (sp) who diagnosed me with severe (major) depression, and decided rather than social anxiety I have generalized anxiety but it is also severe. Have you consulted with a physchologist or psychiatrist ? There are many types of depression and you really need to get a professional to diagnose you properly.
I have a family history of depression, and have been dealing with it since I was quite young as well. The anxiety too

I am wondering if I have SAD as well, will talk with dr next time I am there. I used to think it was just cabin fever, but the despair I feel during the winter..I just dont think its cabin fever anymore.

I'm one of those people who hates the meds they give me. I tried Paxil which was a nightmare, it made things worse

Zoloft is what I am supposed to take now, but its n the same family of meds. And the Ativan they gave me for when I am having a panic attack makes me like a zombie with just .5 miligrams. So meds and I dont agree

Good luck on your quest to feel better. *hugs*

Katrina