Any modern person should know the essence of depression. Many people are accustomed to thinking that under this term hides the meaningless spleen, a temporary frustration due to the dull winter sky and lack of sunlight. But doctors have long recognized depression as a mental disorder requiring specific treatment. True, it is important to understand that in this sense the word is not “sadness, longing,” but a serious situation. A person who gets into it needs outside help.
General view
Signs of depression are the so-called depression triad. It includes a decrease in mood, distorted thinking, inhibition of movements. Mental disturbances deserve special disclosure. This phenomenon includes negativity of reasoning, pessimism. Sick people cannot feel joy. Often, with such a mental deviation, a person suffers from a lowered self-esteem, cannot feel a pleasant impression of life, even if everyday life is accompanied by positive events. Completely lost interest in the usual tasks, events.
Knowing how to get out of depression is important, as the deterioration of many pushes various ways of self-destruction. The most common option is alcohol abuse. Some people are addicted to other psychotropic substances.
Relevance of the problem
Regardless of public opinion, stereotypes, perceived in the heads of many people, and reviews, depression is a pathology, a mental disorder, and therefore needs to be adjusted, treated. Many believe that this is not even a disease at all, but only a bad character, laziness, a pessimistic attitude, selfishness. Psychologists, psychiatrists assure: depression is much deeper than they used to think about it. The disease in many cases is psychosomatic in nature, which means that it can only be managed with the help of professional doctors. The best prognoses for those who managed to make a diagnosis on time and begin adequate treatment. Otherwise, the development of the disease can lead to various difficult situations, including death.
Doctors are not bad, although they do not fully know what depression is, how it manifests itself and how such a mental disorder can be cured. Currently, this problem is characteristic of all ages and genders; social affiliation, nationality, and race do not play a role. As it was revealed during specialized studies, 10% of all people of 40 years of age suffer from manifestations of this disorder (of varying severity). Only a third of these are men. But among 65-year-olds, the percentage of patients with depression tripled. Up to 5% of children and adolescents are also susceptible to this phenomenon. Among young people, rough estimates are 40%. It is for this age category that the suicidal way of thinking is more characteristic.
Historical summary
Many people think that only modern people know what depression is, but in the old days this problem was not familiar to anyone. Such an opinion is a delusion, just a stereotype. As is known from information that has been preserved since ancient times, in antiquity, depression was assessed as a disease, described by doctors of that era. For example, Hippocrates paid special attention to melancholy, giving her a characteristic similar to the disease that psychiatrists, psychotherapists of the present treat.
Hippocrates suggested treating melancholy with enemas and baths, mineral water, massage, and also recommended more fun. Even then, a strong influence on the person of the change of seasons and weather was noticed. For many, their condition got better after a sleepless night. Doctors of those times thought for a long time about how to get rid of depression. It was at that moment that sleep deprivation was first practiced. Of course, the term itself did not exist then, but modern doctors are well aware of its essence and are actively using this approach in practice.
Where did the trouble come from?
It is extremely difficult to list all the causes of depression, there are too many of them. Often, dramatic experiences resulting from personal loss - a person, job, status, position, lead to such a situation. Depression formed under the influence of such a factor is called reactive, that is, it is a response to stress, an external effect on the individual.
What is depression is known to many people who have experienced nervous breakdowns. This term refers exclusively to a stressful moment provoked by psychic, social, physiological factors. Social causes are most often caused by too fast life rhythm, increased competition in society, stressogenicity of the conditions in which the individual lives. Many note that they are not confident in their future, have too unstable position in society, are forced to constantly struggle with economic difficulties.
Conditions and reactions
Very well, modern people know on their own what depression is, because our society forces us to adapt, to impose rules and values on an individual person. All this stimulates a feeling of dissatisfaction with oneself, one’s actions, capabilities, strengths, decisions. A cult of endless improvement is practiced without limit (psyche, physical form, economic status), strength, well-being.
Unable to adapt to the imposed by the community, a person is faced with symptoms of depression. Many are worried, numerous personal issues arise, people face setbacks. However, in some cases, the causes are assessed as somatic. A doctor can identify them at the reception. If the doctor decides in favor of just such an option, the diagnosis will sound like endogenous depression.
What is it about?
If endogenous depression is established, what to do, the doctor will tell at the reception. This form of the disease is diagnosed if there is a lack of amines in the body: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, which normally should be produced by special structures.
Another option is seasonal mental abnormalities due to insufficient sunlight. The hardest people have in winter, autumn, when the sky is covered with heavy clouds. Under the influence of sunlight, vitamin D is produced in human skin, the lack of which, when there is a lack of light, becomes one of the factors in the formation of an oppressed psychological status.
What else is possible?
Sometimes symptoms of depression are observed while taking a number of specific medications. Often this effect is caused by corticosteroids used to stop inflammatory processes. A similar side effect can provoke benzodiazepines. When the therapeutic course comes to an end, the negative effects associated with it go away on their own, the psychological state returns to normal. There is a possibility of initiating depression with antipsychotics. This condition can last up to a year and a half, it is characterized by a vital character. Sleeping pills, sedatives, mental stimulants, alcohol - all this can trigger depression disorders.
The symptoms of depression are known to be characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis affecting the brain. Similar manifestations are observed with head injuries, flu.
How to suspect?
Depression has more than once become the object of research by specialists from leading clinics and research institutes from around the world. As it was discovered, the frequency of mental disorder is in competition with pathologies of the heart and blood vessels - and this is the most common ailment on the planet. A rough estimate of the number of patients at present is several million, but it is not possible to calculate more precisely. Manifestations of the pathology vary significantly, a lot depends on the individual characteristics, the nature of the disease, human living conditions.
It is customary to identify the physiological symptoms of depression (in women and men are quite common), behavioral, as well as associated with emotions and way of thinking. The public is best acquainted with emotional manifestations: despair, longing. It is they who are remembered when they talk about depression. Patients are characterized by a depressed state, anxiety, tension, insecurity, a tendency to get irritated, feel guilty, dissatisfied with themselves. Many worry too much - not so much for themselves as for loved ones, while others completely cease to feel experiences.
Physiology and Behavior
Physiological symptoms of depression:
- loss of appetite;
- oppression of libido;
- fatigue, lethargy, lack of energy;
- trouble sleeping
- violation of intestinal functionality;
- muscle pain.
The behavioral symptoms of depression include the careful exclusion of targeted activity from your life. Patients are passive, they are not interested in events, people. Many try to spend time in solitude, completely abandon any fun, recreational activities. In depression, people tend to abuse alcohol, psychotropic compounds.
Depression and Thinking
Symptoms of depression can be seen by the difficulty of concentrating. It is not easy for the patient to concentrate, to make every effort to one thing, not to be distracted from him for a long time. Decision making is extremely problematic, and thinking in general is somewhat slower than usual for people.
Many patients note that mainly their thoughts are negative, heavy, gloomy, and the future is seen exclusively in a pessimistic light. It is extremely difficult to imagine positive prospects. Crush thoughts of meaninglessness, futility. In this state, many are inclined to suicidal thinking, leading to appropriate attempts. Explaining their behavior, patients use evidence of insignificance of themselves to the public, helplessness and uselessness as arguments.
Official approach
Depression in women and men has long been the subject of attention of specialists, and the pathology itself was officially recognized, including in the classification of ICD-10. It follows from it that the symptoms are primary and secondary. An official diagnosis can be made if the patient has two typical manifestations or three of the list that complement the picture. Among the typical include depression state, not corrected by external factors, lasting 14 days and a longer period, as well as chronic fatigue, worrying for at least a month. ICD-10 also contains a mention of anhedonia, when the patient loses interest in what previously brought him joy.
Treatment for depression is necessary if the patient has at least three of the symptoms identified as additional. These include pessimism, guilt, fear, futility, anxiety. ICD-10 contains a mention of the complexity of decision-making, problems with concentration, low self-esteem. Secondary symptoms include thoughts about death and suicide, appetite disorder, and sleep problems. To form an accurate diagnosis, the patient's condition should be observed for two weeks or more. When anxiety symptoms persist, depression is officially established.
Important Features
Sometimes there is no need to wait two weeks to formulate an accurate diagnosis. If the symptoms are severe, depression can be established much faster. Much remains at the discretion of the attending doctor. He should choose how to cope with depression if the case is difficult.
Depression deserves special attention if such a mental disorder develops in a child. On average, the probability of a situation is lower than that of an adult, but the consequences can be worse. You can suspect a problem by impaired appetite, alienation. Some children become aggressive, fall behind in school.
Features of violation
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish unipolar, bipolar disorders. In the first case, the mood is constantly reduced, does not depart from this pole. The second option is an affective disorder in which the patient’s mood jumps sharply from a positive status to a negative pole. Such transitions are completely unpredictable. Manic attacks, mixed episodes are possible. Sometimes depressive abnormalities are due to cyclothymia.
Modern doctors distinguish such forms of unipolar disorders: clinical (large), resistant, small. Atypical cases, postpartum depression, and autumn are known. Finally, there is dysthymia.
A special case
Some experts describe vital depression - a life pathology characterized by anxiety, sadness, haunting at the physical level (for example, near the solar plexus). It is generally accepted that this form is cyclical, not caused by external factors, for the patient himself has no reason and explanation. More often, vital depression is bipolar in nature. Possible with the endogenous nature of the disease.
The narrowest interpretation of the term “vital depression” implies a dreary form of the disease, associated with a state of despair. The pathology is quite difficult, but the prognosis for it when interacting with doctors is favorable. Special preparations have been developed to stabilize the patient's condition. In combination with psychological assistance courses, this allows over time to bring mental health back to normal.
How is everything going?
At first, depression is manifested only by weak signals - sleep problems begin, irritability comes, it becomes increasingly difficult to cope with everyday duties. Over time, the symptoms become stronger. Usually, development takes up to two weeks, a full manifestation is observed after two months, sometimes later. Possible one-off attacks, relapses. The lack of proper therapy can cause suicidal attempts, the rejection of functions associated with a normal person's life. Depression often provokes family breakdowns.
What to do?
The most effective option is a timely request for medical help. Many people are used to thinking that it’s enough to keep emotions in check, and depression is just a whim. This opinion is erroneous. There are cases when people do not seek help, fearing public condemnation, job loss, family breakdown. As practice shows, ignoring the problem over time is more likely to lead to such consequences than timely treatment, which others will learn about.
In the past few decades, several research activities have been carried out aimed at identifying the most effective approaches to therapy. The very first thing that should be achieved is the exclusion of a negative way of thinking, the creation of an adequate, friendly atmosphere. Defeating depression is easier if a person can count on the help and support of loved ones, friends, relatives. If possible, conflict situations, condemnation should be avoided, as well as excluding people from the circle of communication, the dialogue with which is reduced only to such content.
Special approach
In a relatively small percentage of cases, the course of the disease is quite severe, therefore, hospitalization of the patient is required, an outpatient course is often enough. The doctor selects pharmaceuticals, directs to a course of psychological and social therapy. The complex effect on the patient allows you to achieve really decent results in a short time.
As shown by numerous cases, only then the effectiveness of therapy is high when the patient is ready to trust the doctor and understands that the specialist works for the benefit of the client. The doctor prescribes certain drugs, techniques, procedures, gives other recommendations. Only careful, consistent observance of all established allows to guarantee the success of the therapeutic course. It is important to visit a doctor regularly, even if you don’t have the strength or mood to do so. If the doctor prescribes antidepressants, taking such drugs is most often accompanied by negative effects, often quite strong. You should consult a specialist and continue therapy if the doctor insists. Having abandoned treatment due to unpleasant impressions, the patient will only worsen his situation.
Pharmacological approach
On the pharmacy shelves there is a fairly wide variety of items intended for the treatment of depression. Most Popular:
- "Fluoxetine";
- Clomipramine
- "Paroxetine."
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