Do you feel like you are carrying a stone in your chest or sailing through a dark, quiet sea? That’s because your internal state feels drained, and you remain in a sad and low mood most of the time. This can be a sign of Unipolar depression.
The term unipolar depression is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It’s a debilitating disorder in which people experience extreme sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and overwhelming suicidal thoughts. Most people confuse it with bipolar disorder, but it’s different from it, as individuals experience both manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.
Whereas people experiencing unipolar depression only have the symptoms of depression.
As per the survey in 2021, around 21.0 million, or 8.3% of adults in the US, had at least one major depressive episode in their lives. Understanding this condition is crucial as it resembles other conditions and makes the diagnosis difficult.
What exactly is Unipolar Depression?
The term “unipolar” comes from the roots “uni” (which means one) and “polar” (which means end). This clearly means that a person has the symptoms from only one end of the mood spectrum.
Unipolar depression is a complex psychiatric condition that causes people to remain sad and hopeless most of the time. This condition severely impacts an individual’s life and leads to severe consequences in managing work, relationships, and academics. Women are more vulnerable to developing this condition than men. It can also lead to several physical symptoms such as tiredness and fatigue, which ultimately affect day-to-day life.
People who are experiencing stress for a long period of time are more prone to develop this condition, or it may also occur without any specific reason.
“In mourning, it is the world which has become poor and empty; in melancholia, it is the ego itself.”
—Sigmund Freud
What does living with Unipolar Depression look like?
Unipolar depression causes severe challenges in managing everyday tasks such as pursuing careers, achieving goals, socializing, and enjoying gatherings. It is because it makes a person tired, irritated, low-energy, and fatigued. However, some individuals experience very mild symptoms, while others experience severe symptoms. It’s an alarming depressive condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated earlier.
A person experiencing this condition remains in depression and anxiety. People in this state also avoid getting treatment because they remain in denial or avoid it because of stigma. The main problem with this condition is that it makes one think negatively or experience suicidal thoughts. This is why early diagnosis is crucial, as it helps with earlier treatments and managing the condition before it gets too late.
Unipolar Depression Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition have severe impacts on a person’s life. If these symptoms last for more than two weeks, then it can be recognized as a unipolar disorder. Here are some of the common symptoms that can help you know if you are going through unipolar depression.
Emotional Symptoms
Individuals struggling with this state remain sad, hopeless, and empty. This condition makes one remain isolated, avoid social gatherings, and lack interest in the activities that they tend to enjoy. Moreover, some people in this state also complain about brain fog or being emotionally numb. Also, it may lead to severe mood swings, as they can be extremely angry and yell sometimes. This condition also makes one feel unworthy of being loved, regretful, or guilty of things for which they have no fault.
Cognitive Symptoms
This condition severely affects cognitive abilities as individuals in this state are unable to concentrate on work, have trouble making the right decisions, have slow speech, and have their ability to think better. However, people who have severe symptoms can also experience self-harming thoughts, which are also very common in other types of depression.
Physical Symptoms
Unipolar depression can lead to physical symptoms like unexplained aches, stomach aches, digestion issues, headaches, and backaches without any clear reason. It causes a lack of energy, which ultimately affects every important thing around. Also, people complain about sleeping, as it causes them to experience insomnia.
Note: This condition has a wide range of symptoms, and it’s not necessary to have all the symptoms in one person. As per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-TR (DSM-5-TR), individuals may have at least five or more symptoms for more than two weeks. Individuals may experience the symptoms of at least one being depressed or loss of interest.
The Difference: Unipolar Depression Vs Bipolar Depression
As we have already discussed, the term unipolar disorder is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression. It is entirely different from bipolar disorder, as bipolar people experience manic and hypomanic episodes, whereas unipolar individuals experience only the symptoms of depression. Both conditions have differences in symptoms and require separate treatments as well.
While depression is also a symptom of bipolar disorder, which causes confusion in diagnosis. This condition can only be recognized by a mental health professional after looking at the severity and the symptoms. Here is a brief comparison of both conditions:
| Unipolar depression | Bipolar Depression |
| People experience only depressive episodes. | It causes manic and depressive episodes |
| Extreme sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness are the main symptoms | People in this experience intense periods of euphoria, energy, and also risky behavior during manic episodes. |
| It may affect the sleeping cycle, digestive issues, concentration, and lead to lack of interest in activities a person used to enjoy | Both conditions have the same depressive episodes |
| It can be treated by psychotherapy and medications, which can be done as per the severity of the condition | Mental health professionals recommend medications that help in managing mood and also recommend several therapy sessions. |
Depressive Disorders Within the Unipolar Spectrum
As we have already discussed, this term, unipolar, can be known as classical depression of Major depressive disorder. There are some other types of depression that can also fall under this umbrella. Other types include:
1.Persistent Depressive Disorder
It’s a type of depression that lasts for a longer period of time, at least two or more years. Even after getting treatment, people still experience some symptoms of it. People in this state remain sad, hopeless, and have low self-esteem. These symptoms interfere with everyday life activities and impact personal and professional life.
2.Seasonal Pattern
It’s a subtype of depression that usually occurs in winter or a specific season. Means people experience extreme sadness and hopelessness at a specific period of the season. It usually disappears when the season changes and the hot months arrive.
3.Postpartum Depression
Most of the women, after giving birth to a child, can experience postpartum depression, which is a debilitating condition that severely impacts them. They are least bothered about their child, cry, and remain hopeless most of the time. It makes one experience fear and anxiety
4.Situational Depression
This condition usually occurs after experiencing a traumatic life event. It usually shows up within 3 months of a stressful event. It’s treatable and can be managed by getting professional support.
5.MDD with Psychotic Features
Depression can also occur with the signs of psychosis. People in this state experience hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions while being sad, which severely affects their mood and energy.
If a person has depression with features of psychosis, they’ll only experience psychosis during a mood episode. Moreover, if the symptoms of psychosis happen when you don’t have depression, it could be schizophrenia.
The Root Causes of Unipolar Depression
The exact cause of this condition is still unknown, but there are several factors that make a person more vulnerable to developing this condition.
Some of the most common factors include:
1.Family History
This condition runs in families. If anyone in your close family has been through this condition in their life, there is a high chance that you may also develop it. As per the research, there is depression. As per the recent research, the heritability of depression in families is probably 40-50%, and might be higher for severe depression.
2.Traumas
People who have been through stressful life situations, traumatic childhood experiences, or abuse are prone to develop this condition. It can be physical abuse or mental abuse, which can ultimately affect the brain and lead to depression. Also, individuals who have been through divorce, separation, or widowhood can develop depression.
3.Brain Chemistry
People who have changes in the brain structure, such as the frontal lobe, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, or other parts of the brain, can also experience depression.
4.A History of Substance Abuse
People who take substances excessively just to take a break from stressful life situations are more likely to develop this condition. These substances can be marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc.
5.Medical Conditions
Individuals who have been through chronic medical conditions in which they feel like they might not recover also stress the brain. This stress ultimately leads one to develop depression and other subtypes. People in old age are more prone to develop this condition.
Professional Diagnosis of Unipolar Depressive Disorder
The diagnosis of unipolar depression can only be performed by a professional mental health expert. They look at the signs, check the history, and do one-to-one sessions with the family members and the patient in order to know the exact condition. Most of the time, other medical conditions are confused with this condition, which can be thyroid or hormonal disorders, so it’s important to rule those out. The psychiatrists use the DSM-5-TR criteria in order to diagnose unipolar depression (major depressive disorder). The patient must have had symptoms of a depressive episode for two weeks.
How Do I Treat My Unipolar Depression?
Unipolar disorder is a highly manageable condition that can be better managed through psychotherapy and medications. The mental health professional looks at the symptoms and severity and recommends treatments according to them; sometimes they combine both methods in order to get the desired outcomes.
Psychotherapy
It’s also known as talk therapy, in which mental health professionals sit in a safe setting and treat patients by talking and listening to their thoughts. Some of the common therapies that can be helpful in managing unipolar disorder include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
It’s an evidence-based approach that helps people by changing their thoughts. Means it changes those unhelpful, stressful thoughts which may lead towards depressive symptoms. A mental health professional listens calmly to all the distressing thoughts and then intervenes in the thoughts and changes them into helpful ones.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
DBT is really helpful in managing emotional distress. It’s a subtype of CBT that has proven effective for managing unipolar depression. It is really helpful for people who are who exhibit suicidal and self-harming behaviors, as it helps in changing those behaviors. DBT relies on two opposing views, which are balance and acceptance of the facts. This therapy has been tested and implemented as a treatment for this condition.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Interpersonal psychotherapy is an effective short-term treatment for managing unipolar disorder. In IPT, a mental health professional helps manage the relationship between interpersonal problems and depressive symptoms, which are both an onset and a maintaining factor of depressive disorders. People in this therapy break the link between depressive symptoms and their interpersonal difficulties.
Psychodynamic Therapy
It is often recommended as the best treatment option for managing this condition. It helps explore how unconscious feelings, past experiences, and relationship patterns influence the current mood. This therapy aims to uncover the underlying psychological conflicts that contribute to depressive disorders. This helps in managing the unconscious childhood experiences that shape adulthood. It helps in managing unresolved emotional conflicts as the defense mechanisms that shape adult life.
Psychiatric Medications
Medications are also considered to be really effective for managing this condition. Mental health professionals recommend medication along with therapies in order to get the desired outcomes.
Please note that medication can only be prescribed by a certified mental health professional after closely looking at your symptoms and history or the condition. Also, if you are looking for virtual medication management, you can get expert medication management by just sitting in the comfort of your home through Renewed Mental Health Group’s expert Telepsychiatric Services.
Your Journey to Wellness at Renewed Mental Health Group
Understanding what unipolar depression is and addressing it in a timely manner can make a life-changing difference for those affected. If you feel like you or any of your loved ones are going through this condition, encourage them to get professional help. Help is within your reach now!
At Renewed Mental Health Group, we have a certified team of mental health professionals who diagnose the exact cause and recommend treatment that suits you best. We use multidisciplinary approaches, such as therapy, medication, and effective treatments, to ensure that individuals can find a path toward well-being. You can get compassionate care as we use advanced approaches to treating depression and other mental health disorders. We offer personalized programs, as well as group therapy options; choose whatever fits your needs. Our psychiatrists offer virtual treatment as well to accommodate you in any possible way. We also cover a wide range of insurance plans so you can get treatments with ease without hassle about the bills and reimbursements.
So, take the first step toward healing today
Book your consultations now by making a call at (714) 361-0898.
Find Support for Unipolar Depression!
You do not have to manage this condition alone; we will walk beside you in this journey. Talk with a healthcare provider at Renewed Mental Health Group to explore treatment options that can help you feel more like yourself.
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