Everyone experiences depression at some point in their life, although there is no doubt that some people do experience it more often or with greater severity that they need counseling or other types of treatment. If you are keen to know more about your own depression, or perhaps that which someone you love suffers from, then there is a lot that you might want to research on this unfortunate condition.

One of the main things to understand here is that depression can be divided into two main types: chemical depression and situational depression. Let’s look at what these are, how they differ, and why it might matter to find help, whichever of them you might be suffering from.

Chemical Depression

Chemical depression is so called simply because it’s caused primarily by the fact that there is an imbalance of chemicals in your brain. This doesn’t mean that there are not also situations which are causing you trouble, of course, and it can often be that there is indeed a trigger as well. But in chemical depressive states, your brain is simply lacking in serotonin, causing you to be depressed.

Chemical depression is sometimes otherwise known as clinical depression, and it is something that a person can be diagnosed with as a condition that can be treated. It is not dependent upon what is happening in your life at the present time.

Situational Depression

On the other hand, situational depression refers to depression which comes about only as a result of some change happening in your life. There are many situations which can warrant situational depression, and there is no right or wrong about what these might be. It could be divorce, grief, loss of any kind, moving home, career troubles, an abundance of stress and so on.

The important thing to bear in mind if you think you might have situational depression is that it is treatable, just as chemical depression is. But don’t allow yourself to think that it is somehow not important. It is, and you still need to find the necessary help to ensure that you can get through it and out the other side in one piece.

Finding Help

Whether you are suffering with chemical depression or situational depression, it is best to seek treatments for depression at your earliest convenience. You may schedule a meeting with a mental health professional for a consultation. The sooner you ask for help, the easier it will be to get through it, no matter which kind of depression it might be or how severe it is. Modern treatments like TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation can be of tremendous help when battling depression.

Regardless of which kind of depression you have, it is best to speak to an expert about it. You can find a professional who can help you determine which one you are and why you are suffering with it, and then they can also give you advice on how to overcome it. This might be a combination of therapy and medication (such as this ketamine for depression in Phoenix, AZ) for instance. It is different in every case.

You should try to seek help as soon as possible. There is no shame in doing so, and all depression is manageable, so it is likely to help.