Depression - what disease?

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Is depression that common?

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 160.000.000 registered cases of depression on the planet. However, most experts believe that only one in three patients with depression is under medical supervision. According to another expert, it is difficult to determine the number of people suffering from depression. Because depression manifests itself in a variety of clinical manifestations, and the diagnosis is not always accurate. On top of that, not all patients with depression go to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Are the causes of depression too many?

The main causes of depression are acute and chronic depression, successive failures, and long-lasting serious illnesses. Depression that develops due to external negative factors is called exogenous depression. Depression that develops for no apparent reason is called endogenous depression. The role of hereditary factors in the development of endogenous depression is significant.

What is masked depression?

Somatic symptoms, i.e., depression masked by impaired visceral function, are referred to as masked depression. Why is it called masked depression? Because even though the patient is depressed, his complaints are reminiscent of other illnesses, such as “Migraine”, “Heartache”, “Joint Pain”, “Gastrointestinal Diseases”, "Skin and genital diseases", etc. The doctor examining the patient thinks that the patient's mood has dropped due to pain. In fact, the patient will develop masked depression. Such a patient should definitely be examined by a medical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Is the patient also to blame or what could a psychologist do?

Sometimes a patient walks without consulting a doctor or psychologist even after being diagnosed with depression. The reasons for this are various: embarrassment of relatives, colleagues and neighbors, unwillingness to remain under the supervision of a psychiatrist or psychologist, fear of dismissal or rejection, disbelief in recovery, refusal to take psychotropic drugs. rqish, etc. In most cases, depression develops after family and work failures or accidents. At such times, the patient refuses treatment, saying, "The reason for this situation is clear, what the psychologist would do, I will recover in time." The psychologist forgets or does not realize that he is a specialist who takes the patient out of exactly such situations. Usually, such a patient is encouraged by his relatives and acquaintances to consult a psychologist. So, they are forced to come to a psychologist. The outlook of the patient, who underwent an initial interview at the psychologist's reception, often changes dramatically, and then he or she begins to attend the psychologist's appointment. Of course, the effective completion of the initial interview also depends in many ways on the skill of the psychologist.

What mental disorders are observed in depression?

The main psycho-emotional disorders that are often observed in depression are depression, despair, sadness, constant anxiety, waiting for bad events, guilt or self-blame, stubbornness, stubbornness, Not being aware of oneself, dissatisfaction with one’s life and self-deprecation is a loss of interest in the events around one and one’s loved ones. The mood of people with depression can fluctuate throughout the day. For example, if he is in a good mood in the morning, his mood will generally drop in the evening. In some people, the opposite is true.

What symptoms appear on the head and body?

Symptoms of depression include headache, dizziness, pain in the neck and neck area, pain in the heart area, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, constipation, sexual weakness, menstrual irregularities, various general weakness observed. Headache is the most common symptom of depression. Hence, it is necessary to check whether a patient with constant headache has depression. The headache in such a patient is relieved by anti-depressant drugs, not painkillers. This should be kept in mind by doctors and psychologists.

How is behavior impaired in depression?

Behavioral disorders are very common in depression. These include suicidal ideation, lack of interest in any activity, inactivity, staying home, loneliness, avoidance of contact with others, addiction to alcohol or various pharmacological drugs.

Does memory impair in depression?

Depression is a common disorder of memory and thinking. Neglect, memory loss, and especially memory impairment are very common. Dementia is one of the main symptoms of depression.

Is depression also observed in strong people?

Depression is more common in people who are strong, goal-oriented, but emotional. When their pre-depressed lives were studied, the following characteristics were identified: Depressed individuals have a unique outlook, they are people who analyze the events around them based on their own worldview, and they are emotional. They often live unsatisfied with life, their achievements do not satisfy them, they are critical of their activities. These people live only to occupy the marra. At the same time, others, for example, like to find fault with their colleagues and give advice. If they point out his mistake, he will suffer more than that and dislike this person.

They are accustomed to living according to a definite plan, both in the family and at home, and are very demanding, demanding that their children live in the same way. This often leads to family majorities. Such individuals take family and work failures and tragic events seriously, and can also quickly become addicted to alcohol. Sometimes their lives are also unstable.

They like solitude, and when they start something or get an assignment from a leader, they strive to do it perfectly. Such people can be very happy with a trivial price and very upset with a trivial price. That’s why it’s easy to make them angry or depressed.

How is a diagnosis of depression diagnosed?

Depression is often perceived by both patients and loved ones, and sometimes by physicians, as a manifestation of bad behavior, and for these reasons, it is not detected in a timely manner. Depression, which is characterized by psychosomatic disorders, is also not detected in time and is diagnosed as an "internal disease." Depression is not just a condition associated with mood swings, but a disease with several symptoms. Early detection of this disease and early initiation of treatment procedures will help the patient to recover quickly from depression.

The following 3 symptoms lasting more than two weeks are also sufficient to make a diagnosis of depression. These are mood swings, numbness of thoughts, and loss of desire to move.

How to get rid of depression?

Medications and psychotherapeutic conversations are used to treat depression. When these two treatments are done together, the effectiveness is high. While pre-drug psychotherapy facilitates the treatment process, subsequent psychotherapy prevents the recurrence of depression. There are many psychotherapeutic methods used in the treatment of depression today, and we will talk about some of them.

Is Depression Treated by Psychoanalysts?

At the heart of depression lies a set of internal contradictions: on the one hand, the person does not want to be dependent on others, on the other hand, he wants others to recognize and support him. Of course, these contradictory situations create a constant feeling of dissatisfaction, that is, anger and resentment towards others pervade the inner world of the individual. At the same time, the individual wants to be recognized in the eyes of others as a kind, humane and wonderful person. It is the failure of these desires to lead to the formation of depression. Every unrecognized wish and desire settles in the subconscious over the years, and as they accumulate, the internal contradictions intensify. At such times, strong stress alone is enough for depression to form. Chronic depression, on the other hand, develops under the influence of constant emotional stress.

The main goal of psychoanalytic therapy is to fully reveal the internal contradictions in a patient with depression. This therapy is, of course, carried out individually and is aimed at revealing the cause of internal conflicts in each patient. Psychoanalytic therapy is carried out in the patient until catharsis, i.e. spiritual cleansing, is achieved. A positive result can be achieved in a few days, and sometimes the process takes several months.

What is cognitive psychotherapy?

The method of cognitive psychotherapy is aimed at strengthening the patient's self-confidence in an optimistic spirit. It is also based on changing the patient's thinking world for the better. There are many methods of cognitive psychotherapy, which are described in detail in the specialized literature. Psychological interviews with the patient last 10-20 sessions, depending on the type and severity of depression.

Should the psychologist also interview the patient’s relatives?

Of course! The psychologist must conduct interviews with relatives of the patient. Because these conversations help to have complete information about the patient. In the treatment of a depressed patient, it is very important to interact with his relatives. However, this communication can also have the opposite effect if the patient does not allow it. The psychologist also explains to the patient’s relatives how to behave in front of him. This is very important. Because some family members create a mournful environment at home with the patient, this situation exacerbates the patient’s condition and intensifies suicide attempts. It is also not possible to lean on the patient or criticize his or her behavior. If a patient has suicidal thoughts and attempts, he should not be left alone. Supervision by family members should be such that the patient himself is not aware of it. Because protecting the patient hurts him. Going out on the street with family members who have earned the patient’s trust, and mainly talking to the patient during the trip, is a good way to empathize with his or her feelings. The patient should always be able to contact a psychologist in any situation. Because the help of a psychologist may be needed immediately.

Do Medications Help Relieve Depression?

Definitely helps! But you have to choose them correctly. Medications can be recommended for all types of depression. One of the most important conditions that a doctor or psychologist puts in front of a patient is to carry out treatment according to a plan and unconditionally follow the doctor’s recommendations.

Medications used to treat depression are called antidepressants. Antidepressants increase the amount of serotonin, a mood hormone in the brain.

Here are the rules of treatment with antidepressants:

1. The patient himself should never take anti-depressant medication using the internet or books written for doctors. Unauthorized taking medications, especially in depression, can lead to very bad consequences.

2. The physician selects and recommends a specific antidepressant based on the type, degree, clinical picture, and somatic condition of the patient. The doctor will prescribe its daily dose and make a treatment regimen.

3. It is explained to the patient that the symptoms of depression gradually disappear (usually after 1-2 weeks) during treatment with antidepressants. He is told that it is impossible to stop him without a doctor's advice. It is said that it is necessary to take antidepressants for several months and the doctor himself will determine the time to stop treatment after the symptoms of depression have completely disappeared.

4. Explain the need to take antidepressants for another 2-4 months (sometimes longer) even after the symptoms have disappeared. This rule was adopted to prevent recurrence of depression.

Conducting psychotherapy treatments during drug treatment accelerates the patient's recovery from depression. During psychotherapeutic treatments, the patient is interacted with, the problems associated with taking antidepressants are resolved (because most patients stop taking the medication after 1 month), and good results are assured in the patient. Stopping them early or giving them unreasonably small amounts will not give the expected positive result. The patient should be under constant medical supervision until the symptoms of depression disappear. Sudden discontinuation of medication can cause depression to flare up again.

In addition to antidepressants, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and herbal treatments are also widely used to treat depression.

What is the psychological portrait of a person with depression?

For many years, I have tried to create a psychological portrait of depressed patients based on my observations. Because people close to me have also experienced depression and I have been following them for many years. Here is their psychological portrait. “They have a negative perception of the world and what is happening around them, they pessimistically assess their place in life, they feel useless to anyone. They live in constant anxiety, are not interested in any activities, are completely indifferent to the entertainment around them and the fate of their loved ones.

They sigh all the time and always feel guilty. It is possible to force them to do something to distract them, but they do it with no interest or attention. No work has a positive effect on their mood. They suffer from insomnia or just sleep deprivation, nightmares. These dreams are varied, strangling or stabbing someone in their dreams, and often include dreams of loved ones who have died and bloody events. Such dreams further lower the patient's mood and aggravate the condition. They are always careless and numb, trying to commit suicide. They do not believe in their recovery and come to treatment at the urging of their relatives. ”

In describing depression, it is necessary to mention another dangerous symptom that is characteristic of this disease, namely, the tendency to commit suicide. That is why depression has become a social problem in all countries. But striving for recovery and a strong will will help them a great deal to get rid of this disease. Dear patients reading these lines. You will definitely recover! Strengthen your will. After all, you used to be a strong man! If this power has left you temporarily, it will surely come back to you again. Because this is your power!