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Unlike bipolar disorder unipolar depression does not cycle between mania and depression. It is another name for major depressive disorder. It does not mean that the person is depressed all of the time. However, the person experience periods of remission that alternates with periods of depression. There is a subtype of unipolar depression called atypical depression where the person feels happier when their circumstances change                                                                      

This is one of the most common types of depression in mental health diagnoses. In addition, to experiencing a sad mood the person also has physical symptoms: (1) Difficulty in doing daily tasks, and (2) Difficulty in managing relationships. In 2019 7.8% of all of the adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode.

In order for a person to be diagnosed as having a major depression the person must experience five out of the following symptoms:

• “Depressed mood: A person feels sad, empty, hopeless, or uncertain about the future for the majority of the day on most days.  In children, these symptoms might manifest as behavioral issues or irritability.
• Lose of pleasure: A person no longer gets pleasure from doing things that they once derived pleasure from.
• Weight or appetite changes: A person will gain or lose 5% or more of their body weight without having changes in appetite, such as eating too much or too little.
• Sleeping issue: A person sleeps too much or too little.
• Fatigue: A person feels physically and emotionally exhausted which interferes with their motivation to do daily tasks.
• Concentration issues: A person has difficulty in focusing, paying attention, or thinking clearly. They may also experience brain fog.
• Thoughts of death, or suicide: A person has intrusive thoughts of dying, harming themselves, or dying by suicide.”

“The symptoms of depression can also cause secondary symptoms, such as:

• Trouble getting or keeping a job.
• Relationship conflict
• Trouble studying or excelling at school
• Difficulties with self-care”

Unipolar depression differs from other types of depression. People with Bipolar depression experience cycles of depression and mania. This is the experience is shared by people whose diagnoses is bipolar disorder, or bipolar depression.

People with bipolar disorder have major depressive periods. However, they have periods when their mood is very elevated. This mood is called mania. They are unusually happy, they make impulsive or harmful decisions, such as spending too much money.

People who have unipolar depression are not always depressed. They may appear happy, pretend to be happy, or experience times during which their depression symptoms improve.

One subtype of depressive disorder is atypical depression, which tends to be chronic. The person can experience a lessoning of symptoms when their circumstances or situation improves. This is not the same as mood cycling.

Major depressive disorder is not the only form of depression:

• “Postpartum depression: This form of depression occurs following the birth of a baby.
• Seasonal affective disorder: This seasonal type of depression which typically occurs in the winter.
• Persistent depressive disorder: This chronic form of depression tends to have less severe symptoms than major depressive disorder.
• Psychotic depression: This type of depression causes a person to have psychotic thoughts. Psychotic thoughts are those disconnected from reality, such as delusions and hallucinations.”

RESOURCES:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/unipolar-depression#causes

Signed: Renee D. Warring of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries