Posted by MB on June 1, 2003, at 17:24:00
In reply to Re: HPA, Atypicals and Opiates?--Cam??, posted by maryhelen on June 1, 2003, at 16:33:40
Atypical Depression is they type where sufferers will sleep more and eat more when depressed. Mood might improve for a *short* time if something great happens (e.g., the man of your dreams calls for a date), but then it's right back into the dumps for the Atypicals. Atypical Depression is actually quite common, which is counterintuitive when you read the name. The other type of depression is where the person can't sleep, can't eat, loses a bunch of weight, etc. With this type of depression, the person probally wouldn't feel better (even for a short time) even if they won the lottery. That's called a lack of "mood reactivity." The Atypicals have *some* mood reactivity, while the others don't. Sometimes people with more typical symptoms are called "melancholic."
I hope that helps the confusion, and if I'm wrong about something, I hope the other posters will correct me.
Peace,
MB
poster:MB
thread:228381
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230630.html