Agitated Depression Is Not Common
- But It Still Hurts!
Agitated depression is just one of the many types of depression commonly found today. When looking for how to cure depression it is often a difficult task to properly diagnose the type of depression a person is suffering from. The list of the varying types of depression is seemingly endless. Agitated depression is possibly one of the less common forms of depression and often it is never heard of or referred to and as a result it can be overlooked. An important element of this form of depression is that it does not always fit into the normal range of symptoms, namely the lack of energy or fatigue and the feelings of sadness that are associated with depression generally.
How Does Agitated Depression Manifest?
Agitated depression typically presents as periods of aggravation and/or extreme feelings of irritation. More specifically the symptoms can be listed as:
- Outbursts of rage and anger including violent verbal outbursts.
- Periods of restlessness and anxiousness
- Wandering restlessly around the room
- Outbursts of complaining or shouting and making the same complaints over and over again
- Tearing or pulling at clothing and rubbing hair and skin
- Intense feelings and deep thoughts
- Endless thoughts and movement which are essentially without base
- Talking on and on – nearly continuously – appearing to be unable to stop talking
- Wringing of the hands constantly
- Pacing and an inability to sit or stay still
- Insomnia and restless sleep patterns
- The victims often find it hard to define their problems
Agitated Depression Is A Unique Kind of Depression
Many depressive disorder symptoms can present in very similar ways and can mimic one another. This is often where confusion can arise in the diagnosis. However, form of depressive disorder such as agitated depression usually have very specific symptoms, as described above, and are therefore in a category all on their own.
In most types of depression there will be some level of agitation, but in this particular type of depression these symptoms of agitation are far more pronounced. These specific symptoms make if far easier to diagnose.
It is common in most types of depression for the sufferer to feel lethargic, drained, exhausted and tired. In cases of agitated depression this is not usually the case. The unfortunate victim may feel the emotions of anger, agitation and irritability, without necessarily complaining of tiredness or fatigue. Agitated depression is said to be one of the most severe forms of depression.
Agitated depression can be a serious depressive disorder if it is left untreated. The symptoms will range from moderate to extreme in their severity. This form of depression is most common in older males. The condition is often associated with elderly male patients who are often referred to as “grumpy old men”. However, be warned, younger people can also be afflicted with this condition.
Treatment For Agitated Depression
When signs of agitation occur and start to cause concern it might be prudent in the first instance to undertake a blood sample. It is important to rule out the possibility of there being an infection that may be responsible for the agitation episodes. Likewise we must rule out vitamin deficiencies and hormonal imbalances.
Treatment for agitation depression could well include the prescription of traditional anti-depressants medications and in some case mild sedatives. Care needs to be taken since the possible difficult behavior patters of some of the victims could lead to the sufferers’ inability to take medication on a regular and consistent basis.
Psychotherapy is also useful as a treatment option for agitated depression. A combination of antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy is often the favored option. However treatment will not be an overnight success and patients must be prepared for treatment to take time. Indeed, it can take months for the combination of antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy to show promising results. So please be prepared to be patient when it comes to beating depression.
Conclusion.
The diagnosis of depression has been in the past and will always be a tricky thing to get right. As already discussed there is a danger of misdiagnosis since it has a tendency to mimic other forms of depression. Agitated depression can be treated, so do not despair. It may require medication or counseling or a combination of the two. Only in extreme cases will victims be expected to attend in-patient treatment facilities. So, agitated depression is a condition that can be treated, given the right diagnosis and sufficient time.
