Many of us by depression mean longing, unreasonable or connected with some life events, when nothing pleases and does not want anything. In fact, this is not entirely true, and real depression, the symptoms of which are partially similar to the above, is a serious disease that affects the entire body, even at the chemical level. This disease significantly reduces a person’s ability to work, and in some particularly severe cases, those suffering from depression lose it completely, being unable to even get out of bed, or even move.
Depression symptoms of which are observed in 20% of the inhabitants of developed countries - this is a disease of civilization. In countries with lower living standards, the number of people suffering from depression is much lower. Perhaps this is due to the intensity of physical activity and the predominance of physical labor, especially since it is one of the best recommendations on how to overcome depression - it is an increase in the intensity of playing sports or active work in the fresh air.
Depression Symptoms
There is no standard set of signs of depression: everything is individual here and depends on the personality. The signs of depression are diverse: it can be irritability or apathy, self-flagellation or blaming everyone in the world for their troubles, anxiety and bad premonitions, or longing and despair, a decrease in self-esteem and interest in everything, including your favorite activities, lethargy and a decrease in the speed of thinking, and so on Further. In a neglected state, apathy turns into an absolute absence of any emotions, an unwillingness to go out to public places, and then completely out of the house, and in the most severe cases, the desire to live is lost and constant suicidal thoughts that may lead to suicide attempts are pursued.
Among obsessive thoughts there may also be critical thoughts about oneself, one's life, appearance, meaningfulness of existence, uselessness and futility. Often, as a result of this, the patient turns to psychoactive drugs, for example, alcohol, which help temporarily distract from these heavy thoughts, and persistently try to maintain an inadequate state in order not to come into contact with reality. This only aggravates the situation, since alcohol itself is dangerous, and in a state of mental disorder it can not only strengthen existing symptoms, but also contribute to the development of irreversible conditions. it cannot be allowed to develop into alcoholism, but it is impossible to blame such a patient for being a licentious and worthless person: he must be convinced of the need for medical help as soon as possible.
Like any other disease, true depression symptoms are not only mental, but also somatic. This is a decrease in sexual function up to a complete lack of attraction, insomnia or, on the contrary, constant drowsiness, increased fatigue, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, most often constipation, loss of appetite, both in the direction of its decrease, and vice versa, in the direction of overeating. With prolonged or severe depression, pain in various parts of the body may occur, associated not with the state of internal organs, but with a neurological nature.
How to overcome depression
The diagnosis of depression is made on the basis that at least several of the above symptoms are present in the patient for at least several weeks continuously. It is dangerous because with advanced states, deep personal, and sometimes organic changes occur that are difficult to correct. The doctor should prescribe the treatment of depression, because, most likely, medications cannot be dispensed with, and most often they are not sold on conditions of mass availability, and you need to be extremely careful with them, since their incorrect and uncontrolled intake can aggravate the situation. In addition to drug therapy, there are a number of general recommendations: this is physical activity, your favorite activities, walks in the fresh air, perhaps traveling and changing your environment, gifts to your beloved and changing your image.