Atypical depression is hard to diagnose. Because they can sometimes be positive, many people with atypical depression are unaware. The poor attitude, discouragement, and dread that clouds everything return soon.
Beyond sadness and fatigue, atypical depression
Atypical depression is frequent despite its name. Its traits resemble serious depression.
This illness is notable for its odd symptoms, such as the ability to at times react positively to others. Other unusual symptoms include a good appetite and arm and leg heaviness.
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The 1950s saw the accidental debut of this therapeutic phrase. Some depressed individuals did not respond to antidepressants, according to several physicians.
They had to examine these patients further. Their goal: to uncover common elements to explain these patients' depression.
They first noticed arm and leg pain in the patients. Heavy extremities made mobility difficult for patients.
In the second observation, these professionals found quite atypical symptoms that differ from serious depression. Hypersomnia and polyphagia are some unusual symptoms.
The experts also found that the patients' moods worsened in the afternoon. In contrast, these individuals responded well to praise, visitors, and other stimuli in the morning.
After gathering this information and finding these commonalities, the specialists created a new typology dubbed “atypical depression”.
After identifying the traits, it was easy to build new medication therapies for this type of depression.
Clinically, Jonathan RT Davidson of the University of California found that physiologic or vegetative symptoms distinguish atypical depression.
Patients report physical discomfort, weariness, and “no longer able to control their bodies”.
Atypical depression is hard to identify because of these characteristics. The patient may think his symptoms are caused by work exhaustion, fatigue, bad diet, or lack of exercise.
Due to its persistence, atypical depression can become fragile if not treated or detected.
Let's examine this psychological state's most obvious traits in the rest of this essay.
Not reacting to positive stimuli is a sign of serious depression and dysthymia. The patient struggles to feel joy and well-being.
However, atypical depression individuals can feel good when they get a visit or a compliment.
Atypical depression often coexists with anxiety and bipolar illness. These symptoms are among the most prevalent of this disorder: Nervousness, hypersensitivity, and persistent negative feelings...
Disease symptoms include trouble sustaining happy or stable emotional relationships. It makes patients sceptical, sensitive to criticism, and scared of betrayal or abandonment.
Symptoms of atypical depression include extremity heaviness.
In particular, patients have extreme weariness in the arms and legs, causing pain and trouble moving.
Sleeping too much is another sign of atypical depression. The person sleeps too much, takes long afternoon naps, wakes up late, and struggles at work.
Fatigue persists regardless of sleep duration. The sufferer always feels weak.
Excess hunger
Patients with atypical depression have polyphagia because anxiety and nervousness make them always hungry.
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