How is manic depression different from depression?

When it comes to depression and mania, many friends know that it is a common emotional disorder nowadays. However, when it comes to manic-depressive disorder, many friends think that it is a combination of these two diseases, and some friends even think that it is the same disease as depression. In fact, manic depression and depression are two completely different diseases. What is the difference between manic depression and depression?

The symptoms of manic depression and depression are different. The main symptoms of depression are low mood and negativity, while manic depression is the alternation of mania and depression. It can be said that the symptoms of manic depression are much more serious than those of depression, and it is also much more difficult to treat.

Depression and bipolar disorder are both mood disorders, but they are not the same. Depression is a common mental illness, the main manifestations of which are low mood, decreased interest, pessimism, slow thinking, lack of initiative, self-blame and guilt, poor diet and sleep, worry about suffering from various diseases, feeling discomfort in many parts of the body, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A joint study by the World Health Organization, the World Bank and Harvard University shows that depression has become the second largest disease burden in China. Factors that cause depression include: genetic factors, physical factors, mental factors, etc. The risk of depression is extremely high, and the suicide rate of severe depression is nearly 15%. Both Chinese and Western medicines have certain therapeutic effects on depression, but depression is a mental illness and must be combined with psychotherapy to be completely cured.

Now that we have seen some of the symptoms and factors of depression, let’s look at the characteristics of manic-depressive disorder:

Manic-depressive disorder is a mental illness characterized by repeated and alternating episodes of mania or depression. Its main feature is affective disorder, so it is also called affective psychosis. Attacks can be bidirectional or unidirectional. Mania is characterized by excitement, agitation, optimism, and high emotions, while depression is the other extreme, characterized by melancholy, pessimism, calmness, and low emotions. Because the two symptoms can occur alternately, the disease is also called cyclothymia. Throughout the whole process, some patients are mainly manic, while others are mainly depressive. Sadness turns into joy in one stage, and joy turns into sorrow in another. The disease is characterized by low mood, slow thinking and motor inhibition, and presents as alternating episodes of mania and depression.

Through the detailed introduction of the characteristics of these two diseases, you should know the difference between manic depression and depression. However, no matter which disease it is, patients need to endure the dual torture of psychology and physiology. Therefore, for emotional disorders, we must pay attention to the treatment. The best treatment method is a combination of drugs and psychological counseling!