Depression is difficult to predict. Its appearance can be associated not only with tragic events in life (as is commonly believed), but also with mental problems or a chemical imbalance in the body.
Consider the types of depression, the causes of its occurrence, concomitant symptoms and possible methods of treating the disease.
What is depression?
Depression is considered to be a mental disorder that can occur as a result of unpleasant events in life or without any obvious reason.
There are several types of depression that differ depending on the factors contributing to the onset of the disease.
Classification of depression and its types
So what are the types of depression? Psychiatry offers the following options:
- Endogenous (deep) depression. Its appearance is due to the presence of organic factors. For example, these can be various disorders in the functioning of the nervous system. A person suffering from this type of depression is apathetic, does not make contact with others and does not see the point in later life.
- Masked depression. This type of disease is not accompanied by typical symptoms such as depression, sadness, and so on. Its main feature is the presence of somatic diseases in the form of chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, menstrual irregularities in women, the occurrence of problems with sleep, and so on. It is also possible the appearance of attacks of causeless anxiety, panic, irritable bowel syndrome. After taking antidepressants, all of the above symptoms disappear very quickly.
- Anxious mental depression. Her main symptom is the appearance of fear, panic and anxiety. People suffering from this type of disease are very aggressive, as they need to relieve internal stress. According to statistics, patients with anxiety depression are more likely than others to suicide.
- Postpartum depression. The main cause of the onset of the disease is hormonal changes in the body of a woman. It is accompanied by weakness, apathy, sadness, frequent mood swings. In addition, sleep impairment, loss of interest in the child or excessive care for him, headaches, decreased or loss of appetite can be observed.
- Reactive depression. This type of disease occurs as a result of severe psychological shocks. For example, it can be the death of a loved one, rape, severance of relations, and so on. Reactive depression is very easy to diagnose, especially if the therapist knows the cause of its occurrence.
- Seasonal depression. Most often, the disorder occurs in autumn or winter. The main symptoms are decreased mood, drowsiness, irritability.
- Depressive stupor. This is one of the most severe forms of the disease. During it, the patient stays in one position all the time, eats nothing, completely does not contact with others. Depressive stupor appears as a reaction after an episode of schizophrenia.
In addition, there is also biopolar disorder. Its feature is that periods of depression alternate with episodes of high spirits. The main problem is that a long period of time (sometimes up to 2 years) may be needed to diagnose the disease.
Causes of depression
Having examined the types of depression, we turn to establishing the causes of its occurrence. The most common are the following:
- genetic predisposition;
- hormonal disruptions (in adolescents, in the postpartum period, during menopause, etc.);
- the presence of congenital or acquired defects of the central nervous system;
- somatic diseases.
Another important reason is a severe psychological trauma, the appearance of which could be triggered by many factors:
- problems in personal life;
- the presence of serious health problems;
- migration;
- changes or problems at work;
- deterioration in financial position.
Symptoms of Depression
In order to timely detect the disease in oneself or others, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the issue of its main symptoms.
As mentioned above, there are different types of depression, each of which has its own characteristics of manifestation. However, there are some common symptoms that can help you recognize the onset of depression.
Firstly, it is the appearance of a depressed state that does not disappear even after a few weeks. Usually it is accompanied by feelings of causeless anxiety and despondency.
Secondly, a person suffering from depression, is constantly trying to "go inside", even if he previously preferred to relax in noisy companies. The circle of his interests is becoming narrower, and those things that previously lifted the mood (music, cinema, nature, etc.) completely cease to please. Problems are becoming noticeable in his working social connections and family life. A person can begin to say that he does not see the point in life and think about suicide.
A patient with depression may also differ:
- inhibition of reaction;
- deterioration of physical well-being (the appearance of pain, malfunctioning of the digestive and other body systems, etc.);
- loss of natural drives (sexual needs, maternal instinct, appetite);
- frequent and abrupt mood changes;
- lack of activity;
- the appearance of indifference to others and loved ones.
Depression in adolescents
Teenage depression is a very complex disease. Recognizing it is sometimes quite difficult. In some cases, parents and others can perceive teenage depression simply as a bad upbringing, attribute it to character traits, and so on. This happens due to the fact that the symptoms of the disease are quite specific.
Signs of depression in a teenager:
- bouts of aggression and outbursts of anger that are aimed at loved ones;
- sullenness;
- impaired attentiveness, increased fatigue, loss of interest in learning, missed classes, decreased performance;
- conflicts with parents and others, due to which there is a frequent change of friends and pals;
- regular complaints that no one loves and understands him;
- non-acceptance of any criticism addressed to you;
- pretermission of duty;
- the appearance of pain (headaches, in the region of the heart, in the abdomen);
- causeless fear of death.
Features of Depression in the Elderly
Depression in older people can occur quite often, since there are many factors that contribute to this: retirement, a sense of futility and futility, an irrevocable loss of time. This is difficult to handle on your own.
The main feature of depression in people in old age is its protracted nature. The disease can last several years, especially if a person does not seek the help of specialists and blames his young age, not psychological problems, for apathy, fatigue, decreased activity and other factors.
It is almost impossible to independently solve the problem, but with the help of proper treatment it can be done at any age. That is why, if there are any suspicions, you need to contact a psychiatrist who will determine the further course of action.
Stages of depression
There are three main stages of the course of the disease:
- Rejection. A person denies difficulties and blames ordinary fatigue in his condition. He is torn between the desire to leave others and the fear of being completely alone. Already at this stage, the help of a specialist is needed, which will help to quickly cope with the situation.
- Adoption. At this stage, a person realizes that he has depression, this condition is often frightening. In the same period, problems with appetite and the functioning of the immune system begin to be observed. More and more negative thoughts appear.
- Destruction. In the absence of qualified assistance, the third stage begins. During it, a loss of control over oneself is observed, aggression appears. Man begins to collapse as a person.
Depending on at what stage of depression the disease was detected, the effectiveness of treatment and the time to get rid of the problem directly depend.
Diagnostics
It is important to remember that others will not be able to help get rid of the disorder, so it is imperative to seek the help of a therapist.
Determining the presence of the disease is carried out using special scales and questionnaires, thanks to which you can not only establish the final diagnosis (depression), but also assess the severity of the situation.
In some cases, it may be necessary to study the bioelectric activity of the brain (electroencephalogram) and hormonal studies.
Depression test
When considering methods for diagnosing a disease, the use of special questionnaires was mentioned. Consider one of them to have an idea of what a depression test is.
The patient needs to answer a few simple questions:
- Is it difficult for you to fall asleep at night?
- Do you often have nightmares?
- Do you often feel emotional exhaustion and fatigue?
- Has your weight changed over the past six months (strong changes are taken into account, smaller or larger), taking into account the fact that you did not sit on special diets?
- Have you noticed a decrease in sex drive?
- Have any of your close relatives been diagnosed with Depressive Disorder?
- Can you rate your daily stress level as medium or high?
- Do you suffer from auditory or visual hallucinations?
- Do you have a mood decline with the onset of autumn or winter?
- Do you hide your experiences from loved ones?
- Do you often have thoughts that life makes no sense?
This is the easiest test possible. The more yes answers to his questions, the greater the likelihood of depression.
Medication for Depression
The treatment of depression with the help of pharmacological drugs involves the use of antidepressants, tranquilizers, medications and antipsychotics.
Prescribe the use of a particular drug can only be a doctor individually. Wrong choice of drugs or their dosage can not only not bring benefits, but also cause irreparable harm, as they affect the central nervous system and the brain.
In most cases, only antidepressants may be sufficient to improve health. The effect of their use is not immediately noticeable, it is necessary that at least one to two weeks pass. Despite the impact, antidepressants are not addictive and addictive. At the same time, it is necessary to stop drinking the drugs gradually to avoid the so-called "withdrawal syndrome".
Treatment of Depression with Psychotherapy and Physiotherapy
Treatment for depression with the advice of a psychotherapist can last several months. There are many methods, and depending on the situation, the specialist selects the right one.
Physiotherapy can only be used as an adjuvant. It includes carrying out such procedures as aromatherapy, massage, therapeutic sleep, light therapy, music therapy and others.
Depression Prevention
As you can see, the disease is very serious. The consequences of depression can be very diverse, starting with the collapse of personal life and ending with suicide. Therefore, it is worth doing everything possible to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.
What do psychologists advise on this?
- Observe the daily routine, which provides for a full night's sleep and proper nutrition.
- Go in for sports and other physical activity.
- Get more in touch with your loved ones.
- Avoid stressful situations whenever possible.
- Take time out for yourself and your favorite activities.
So, we examined the types of depression and the features of this disease. In conclusion, I would like to say that psychological health is no less important than physical. Therefore, if a problem occurs, you should immediately entrust its solution to an experienced specialist.