Unipolar depression and bipolar depression both run in the same family of mental disorders. They are however, both very different with unique individualized characteristics. They both do cause a person to experience severe and very debilitating bouts of depression, clinical or major. As stated in the prompt, “many people become depressed at some point in their lives, but when these feelings interfere with an individual’s ability to live a normal life and persist for an extended period, the individual should seek professional help. Some individuals not only experience depression but also extreme highs, known as mania, making it more difficult to live a normal, productive life.”
Unipolar Depression
Depression with no history of mania is known as unipolar depression. Unipolar depression can result in the person losing his or her will to carry out the simplest of life’s activities or even lose his or her will to live (Comer, 2005). The exact cause of depression is unknown. There can be multiple factors and is also believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. This chemical imbalance is said to be caused by genes and can be caused from certain stressful events (NCBI, 2012). Anyone can suffer from depression there are however those more susceptible. Those who are more susceptible tend to have history of alcohol and drug abuse, various medical conditions, sleeping problems, and are taking heavy medications. Serious life events can also cause depression such as a significant other dying, abuse, rape, war, and things that are not as dramatic like a stressful life event.
Symptoms
People with unipolar depression usually see everything with a more negative attitude. These individuals may be agitated, restless, irritable, display changes in appetite, an inability to concentrate, a lack of energy, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, worthless, he or she may become withdrawn, lose pleasure in activities they once enjoyed, become suicidal,