Each person may experience periods of sadness and anxiety from time to time in their lives. For most of us these periods of depression pass and we are able to continue with our daily lives, but when we loose our ability to live a healthy lifestyle this is when there may be experiencing mood disorders. Mood disorders, including acute or mild depression, bipolar disorder, or major depression. A person with any of these disorders may experience weight loss, insomnia, a negative self-image, or suicidal impulses. .
Depressive and manic episodes may include major depression, either acute or mild. Each of these episodes a person may feel helpless or hopeless, loss of pleasure and interest in daily activities, loss of energy and feelings of guilt. Mild depression is a gradual onset and the person might withdraw from social contacts, they may have no motivation or want any involvement in the outside world. Acute depressives also have these symptoms but they are heightened and may result in hospitalization.
½ a million Americans experience bipolar disorder, it is characterized by mood swings, and may also be called manic depression. They may experience episodes of hyperactivity, sleeplessness, distractibility, and/or reckless behavior. These people may become delusional, paranoid, and think that they control the world, they have distorted judgment, and might be called raving maniacs. Their moods follow an up and down pattern, like a roller coaster, they alternate with major depressive moods and normal moods. Mild bipolar disorder or hypomania may even go undetected. Although, each of these disorders seems to have almost opposite symptoms each can result in destructive thoughts, while major depressives may think of harming themselves, manic depressives may hurt others or themselves. .
80% of the attempts of suicide are made by major depression. Most suicide attempts are associated with major depression or bipolar disorder.