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Depression is a mental disorder that can potentially cause severe feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
There are many forms of this condition, and double depression is an often overlooked one.
Double depression can develop in the context of persistent depressive disorder (PDD), formerly known asdysthymia.
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Double depression is a form of depression that can significantly affect your quality of life and daily functioning.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
Persistent depressive disorder is alow-gradeform of depression.
People with PDD often report feeling like they are covered by a veil of darkness or a deep fog.
When left untreated, PDD can sometimes persist for decades.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disordertends to be an episodic form of depression.
Diagnosis
There are no specific tests to diagnose double depression.
Instead, this is an informal term indicating that you meet the criteria for both MDD and PDD.
Another problem with diagnosing double depression is that people with chronic depression often dont seek help.
Causes
There is no clear cause of double depression.
A combination of genetic and environmental factors might be responsible for the condition developing.
Environmental factors that might trigger the condition include unemployment, major life changes, substance abuse, and trauma.
Treatment
A combination of medication and therapy is typically used to treat double depression.
Your doctor will most likely tailor your treatment plan to your specific needs.
Medication
There are many medication options fortreating symptoms of depression.
The medication available for treating depression is usually similar across thedifferent types of depression.
Most people wont notice the effect of medication on their depressive symptoms right away.
Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapyis most commonly used when treating double depression.
Accurate and more positive thinking is an important part of recovery from depression.
However, for therapy to be most effective, a combination of medication and therapy is often needed.
Finding the right treatment, developing coping skills, and building healthy lifestyle practices will help you recover.
In addition to the treatment recommended by your doctor, you might adopt certaincoping mechanisms.
Choosing theright foods, developing goodsleep hygienepractices, and getting regularphysical activityare fundamental components of depression recovery.
Managing stressors in your life, like your job, can also significantly improve your depressive symptoms.
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