Depression is not just a bad mood or feeling depressed
What to know about this topic
What is important to know about depression?
Depressionis one of the most common mental health disorders, in which a person feels depressed for a long time, loses all interest and performs daily activities reluctantly. The disease can occur without good reason and affect a person in different ways: disrupt habitual behavior, affect the quality of life and relationships.
How does depression manifest itself?
Periods of development of depression are distinguished depending on its manifestations. Often they can be repeated or replaced in different sequences.
The initial stage of depression is manifested by nausea, headaches, discomfort in the heart, disturbances in the digestive system, and dizziness. At the same time, there is a decrease in mood and an increase in negative emotions (in particular, anxiety). It becomes difficult to perform usual actions, enjoy your favorite activities, self-criticism increases.
At the second stage, heart dysfunction, pessimism and decreased overall tone, negative thoughts and experiences, passivity, decreased performance, sleep and appetite disturbances are added to the symptoms.
Main symptoms of depression:
- depression;
- loss of appetite;
- prolonged fatigue;
- decrease or increase in body weight;
- loss of interest;
- inability to experience joy;
- decreased vital energy, passivity;
- lack of strength to perform household chores;
- sleep disorders;
- anxiety;
- low self-esteem;
- feelings of guilt, despair, or worthlessness;
- impaired concentration;
- lethargy;
- obsessive thoughts about death.
Depression requires professional treatment if symptoms last more than two weeks and are persistent. According to statistics, women develop depression much more often than men.
Types of depression:
- Clinical depression.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is a depressed mood that lasts more than two years.
- Postpartum depression - occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth.
- Psychotic depression is a combination of depression and a certain form of psychosis.
- Seasonal affective disorder is a state of depression during the winter months when there is little natural sunlight.
- Depression as part of another illness (for example, bipolar affective disorder).
How to treat depression?
You need to start treatment with a visit to your family doctor, who, if necessary, will refer you to a psychiatrist. Treatment depends on the severity:
Mild and moderate severity: psychotherapy is used.
Moderate and severe conditions: Doctors recommend a combination of psychotherapy and medication (antidepressants).
Expert opinion
“Depression affects people differently and is manifested by different symptoms: from prolonged low mood and feelings of hopelessness to loss of interest in everything. Physical symptoms are also possible, such as feeling tired, poor sleep, lack of appetite, sexual desire, and pain. This is an insidious condition that can lead to eating disorders, phobias, and loss of social contacts. Therefore, it is important to diagnose depression promptly and begin treatment. People often confuse a bad mood with depression. Mood is a temporary state that can be caused by stress, fatigue, or even appear out of nowhere. A bad mood usually goes away on its own and does not affect a person’s ability to function,” - Kristina Zhivago, PhD, psychiatrist of the highest category, child psychiatrist.