What Is Agitated Depression?
When people with depression experience extreme levels of agitation and irritability, it’s possible that they may be experiencing a unique subset of depression known as “agitated depression.” In this article, we’ll take a closer look at agitated depression to learn more about what this mental health condition is and explore the treatments available.
What is agitated depression?
Agitated depression is a specific form of depression in which a patient exhibits the following symptoms: irritability, fidgeting, physical restlessness, handwringing, outbursts, or picking at their skin. The intensity of the agitation fluctuates, with instances where the symptoms of anger are more pronounced and persistent. Generally, people who have major depressive disorder are thought to have lower energy levels and are seen to be less active, but this is not the case with agitated depression. People with agitated depression can show symptoms of lethargy, but it is far less common. Instead, they are often fidgety and more active than people with other depression types. This type of depressive disorder is not listed by name with other mental disorders in the diagnostic and statistical manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but is instead considered a valid depression subtype with mixed features.
Treating agitated depression often requires the help of a professional. The most common treatment option is a combination of medication and therapy. Medications used to treat agitated depression include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and mood stabilizers. Please consult with a health care provider or primary care physician before considering any medication options.
Managing agitated depression can be challenging but is entirely possible, given you are willing to put in the time and often symptoms of depression can be reduced with therapeutic intervention. There are many approaches to treating depression. The type of treatment that works most effectively for you will depend on your specific experiences and needs, including the kind of plan a therapist designs for you. To give you an idea of what you might be able to expect, many helpful treatment plans include a combination of therapy and medication. In some cases, a psychiatrist may recommend electroconvulsive therapy. Medications that are commonly used to treat mixed-state or agitated depression may include antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety medications.
Each of these medications can be uniquely helpful in its own way. For example, antidepressants can help to alleviate depression symptoms, while mood stabilizers can help people avoid severe mood swings and angry outbursts associated with agitated depression. Likewise, specially formulated medications to reduce anxiety may help you feel a general sense of calm and holistically reduce your symptoms. However, it’s important to remember that you should only take medication that has been prescribed to you by a physician, whether that’s your primary care doctor or a licensed mental health professional.
Finding the right treatment is especially important for people who are experiencing agitated depression because it may cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms that can put you at a higher risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. If you’re experiencing any of these feelings as a result of your agitated depression, it’s important to seek help.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Formerly called National Suicide Prevention Lifeline the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has counselors and suicide prevention staff available 24/7 in both English and Spanish, and there is help available via live chat on the lifeline’s website.
How agitated depression affects your life
Agitated depression (also known as "melancholia agitate") is a specific type of depression with symptoms related to restlessness and sometimes anger. While this type of depression can stand alone, it is often accompanied by other mental health disorders.
Symptoms of agitated depression
Agitated depression has specific symptoms, the most common being extreme irritability. Sometimes people with this type of depression will explode into angry outbursts for no apparent reason. They may become offended or annoyed by something that would normally be considered insignificant. This can be difficult for families of people who have this type of depression, who may feel they are walking on eggshells when their loved one is in this type of irritable state.
Another symptom is racing thoughts. Racing thoughts can make a person ramble on and on about seemingly nothing. People who have agitated depression can have difficulties settling down, and they might struggle to maintain a sense of calm as easily as others. This can lead to their minds running too fast, perpetuating their feelings of restlessness.
What causes agitated depression?
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Agitated depression can be associated with several other mental health conditions and medical problems, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety or even hypothyroidism. Hormonal imbalances have been known to cause agitated depression, and may need to be addressed to alleviate the symptoms. There are also cases where certain medications, specifically depression medications, that may not properly treat agitated depression.
Agitated depression diagnoses
Coping with agitated depression
It’s also helpful to know that, in addition to therapy and medication, you can do many other things to decrease your agitated depression symptoms and improve your quality of life when living with depression.
Other ways to decrease depression symptoms:
Exercise
Avoid caffeine
Caffeine is known to reduce serotonin levels. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms of agitated depression, it’s important to know that caffeine can make you feel anxious, which may not help. If you regularly drink a lot of coffee — or even caffeinated tea — you may want to gradually reduce your caffeine intake to see if it alleviates some depression or anxiety symptoms.
Soak up some sun
Sunlight exposure helps boost your vitamin D levels, and that in turn can improve your mood. Sitting in the sun can even help improve your cognitive function, which often becomes impaired with agitated depression.
Sleep regularly
Sleeping can be difficult when you feel anxious or depressed— and it can be even harder if you’re experiencing both at the same time. As a result, it may feel impossible to develop a strict sleeping schedule and stick to it. But it’s still important to do everything you can to cultivate a healthy relationship with sleep. Most people’s mental and physical health improves after a night of high-quality sleep, and this is especially true for those experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions like agitated depression.
Living with agitated depression can be exhausting and upsetting. Your symptoms can leave you feeling frustrated and unable to connect with others or enjoy the things that used to bring you pleasure in life. If you feel that your symptoms of agitated depression are holding you back in life, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to battle these symptoms forever, and you certainly don’t have to do it on your own.
If you’re experiencing agitated depression as a result of a depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or another mental health condition can be difficult to do on your own. Plus, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. Consider connecting with an online therapist through BetterHelp to get started with a treatment plan that suits your needs. BetterHelp’s licensed therapists are trained in various specialties so that you can find someone with experience in the area you’re struggling with.
Online counseling for agitated depression
Online therapy can be a powerful tool for coping with symptoms of agitated depression and various other mental health conditions. One medically reviewed study found that psychotherapy delivered via the internet was just as, if not more effective, than in-person interventions for the same problems. Researchers found that participants receiving online therapy experienced a reduction in their depressive symptoms and had high rates of satisfaction with the treatment they received.
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Takeaway
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for depression:
Can depression make you feel agitated?
When people picture someone struggling with depression, they often think of the typical symptoms: apathy, social isolation, fatigue, low energy, and thoughts of suicide. These are not symptoms you’d typically associate with agitation, which is why many are surprised to learn that some people with depression experience agitation as part of their mood disorder.
If you are feeling agitated and have depression, symptoms may include:
- Restlessness
- Extreme anger or irritability
- Psychomotor agitation (engaging in movements that serve no purpose, like pacing, fidgeting, nail-biting, wringing hands, etc.)
- Picking at skin
- Excessive talking
- Pulling hair, eyebrows, etc. (trichotillomania)
How can I calm my agitation?
Suppose your agitation symptoms are related to major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or other mental health conditions. A mental health professional can look at your agitated depression symptoms, if you have any, and create a personalized treatment plan to help you cope. Here are five tips if you need to calm agitation in a pinch:
- Put on your headphones and do a quick three to five-minute guided meditation. You can find tons of beginner meditations on YouTube or in meditation apps.
- Exercise, go for a walk, or clean your house/room. Research suggests that physical activity is a natural stress reliever.
- Play with your pet.
- Do something nice for someone else.
- Call a friend.
- Message your online therapist.
However, if you are experiencing depression along with these symptoms, it may be worth it to get professional help with symptom management. Depression symptoms can look different for different people, as well as the varies types of depression and your lifestyle. What works for some in managing depression might not work for others, and mental health professionals can help you with depression management and lifestyle improvements.
- Name three things you see.
- Name three sounds that you hear.
- Touch three things and notice how they feel.
Is agitation a symptom of anxiety?
- Restlessness and nervousness
- Trembling or twitching
- Rapid heart rate
- Hyperventilation
- Panic attacks
- Weakness and low energy
- Unexplained digestive issues
- Sleep problems
- Obsessive thoughts
- Depressed mood
- Psychomotor agitation
What does agitation look like?
- Certain health conditions, like hormonal imbalances or thyroid disease
- Experiencing traumatic events
- Substance use disorder and mental illness (such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, and others)
- A family history of agitated depression
- Taking certain medications
- Work or school burnout
- Stress
- Chronic health problems
- Grief
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