Atypical Depression

Symptoms of atypical depression include increased appetite or weight gain, sleepiness or excessive sleep, fatigue, extreme sensitivity to rejection, problems concentrating, and recurring thoughts of suicide. People with atypical depression typically no longer enjoy activities that they once found pleasurable, and feel a sense of leaden paralysis. Adolescence is typically the time when people with atypical depression first experience symptoms.

As with other mental health issues, low self-esteem often underlies depression. Other causes include a significant loss, such as death or divorce; relational trauma or trauma caused by physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; and a family history of depression. Without proper treatment, a minor depressive episode can progress into atypical depression.