/ / Types of depression: signs, treatment

Types of depression: signs, treatment

The occurrence of depression is difficult to predict.Its appearance can be associated not only with the tragic events in life (as is commonly believed), but also with mental problems or chemical imbalances in the body.

types of depression

Consider the types of depression, its causes, associated symptoms and possible ways to treat the disease.

What is depression?

Depression is considered to be a mental disorder that may arise as a result of unpleasant events in life or for no obvious reason.

There are several types of depression, which differ depending on factors contributing to the appearance of the disease.

Classification of depression and its types

So what types of depression are there? Psychiatry offers the following options:

  1. Endogenous (deep) depression.Its appearance is due to the presence of organic factors. For example, there may 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.
  2. Masked depression.This type of illness 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 disorders in women, problems with sleep, and so on. It is also possible the appearance of attacks of gratuitous anxiety, panic, irritable bowel syndrome. After taking antidepressants, all of the above symptoms disappear very quickly.
  3. Anxious mental depression.Its main feature is the appearance of fear, panic and anxiety. People suffering from this type of disease are very aggressive, as they need to relieve internal tension. Statistics show that patients with anxious depression are more prone to suicide.
  4. Postpartum depression.The main reason for the appearance of the disease is hormonal alteration in the woman's body. Accompanied by weakness, apathy, sadness, frequent mood swings. In addition, there may be deterioration of sleep, loss of interest in the child or excessive care for him, headaches, loss or loss of appetite.
  5. Reactive depression.This type of disease results from strong psychological shocks. For example, it could be the death of a loved one, rape, rupture of relationships, and so on. Reactive depression is very easy to diagnose, especially if the therapist knows the reason for its occurrence.
  6. Seasonal depression. Most often, the disorder occurs in autumn or winter. The main symptoms are mood decline, drowsiness, irritability.
  7. Depressive stupor.This is one of the most severe forms of the disease. During it, the patient remains in one position all the time, does not eat anything, does not contact with others at all. A depressive stupor appears as a reaction after a past episode of schizophrenia.

depression test

In addition, there is also a biopolardisorder. Its peculiarity is that periods of depression alternate with episodes of high spirits. The main problem is that it may take a long time (sometimes up to 2 years) to diagnose the disease.

Causes of Depression

Having considered 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 your personal life;
  • serious health problems;
  • migration;
  • changes or problems at work;
  • worsening financial situation.

Symptoms of depression

In order to timely detect the disease in oneself or others, it is necessary to get acquainted with the question of its main symptoms.

reactive depression

As mentioned above, there are different typesdepression, each of which has its own characteristics of manifestation. However, there are some common symptoms that can help recognize the onset of depression.

First, it is the appearance of a depressed state that does not disappear even after a few weeks. Usually it is accompanied by feelings of gratuitous anxiety and despondency.

Во-вторых, человек, страдающий депрессией, he tries constantly to “withdraw into himself” even if he previously preferred to rest in noisy companies. The circle of his interests becomes narrower, and those things that had previously lifted the mood (music, cinema, nature, etc.) completely cease to please. Problems in his working social relationships and family life become noticeable. A person can start talking about what does not see the point in life and think about suicide.

A depressed patient may also differ:

  • slow reaction;
  • deterioration of physical well-being (the appearance of pain, malfunction of the digestive and other body systems, etc.);
  • loss of natural drives (sexual needs, maternal instinct, appetite);
  • frequent and drastic mood swings;
  • lack of activity;
  • the appearance of indifference to others and close people.

Depression in adolescents

Teenage depression - very difficultdisease. Sometimes it is quite difficult to recognize it. In some cases, parents and others may perceive adolescent depression simply as a bad upbringing, write it off as character traits, and so on. This happens due to the fact that the symptoms of the disease are quite specific.

depression stages

Signs of depression in a teenager:

  • bouts of aggression and outbursts of anger that are directed at loved ones;
  • gloominess;
  • deterioration in attentiveness, fatigue, loss of interest in learning, absenteeism, reduced academic performance;
  • conflicts with parents and others, because of which there is a frequent change of friends and buddies;
  • regular complaints that nobody loves him or understands him;
  • lack of perception of any criticism;
  • pretermission of duty;
  • the appearance of pain (headaches, in the heart, in the abdomen);
  • unreasonable fear of death.

Features of depression in the elderly

Depression in the elderly may occurquite often, since there are many factors contributing to this: retirement, a sense of uselessness and futility, irretrievable loss of time. It’s hard to handle on your own.

periods of depression

The main feature of depression in people in the elderlyage is its protracted nature. The disease can last for several years, especially if a person does not seek help from specialists and blames his middle-aged age for apathy, fatigue, reduced activity and other factors, and not psychological problems.

Independently solve the problem practicallyit is unrealistic, but with the help of proper treatment it can be done absolutely at any age. That is why if any suspicions appear you should contact a psychiatrist who will determine the further course of action.

Depression stages

There are three main stages of the course of the disease:

  1. RejectionA person denies having difficulties and blames normal fatigue for his condition. He is torn between the desire to get away from others and the fear of being completely alone. Already at this stage, the help of a specialist who will help you quickly cope with the situation.
  2. Adoption.At this stage, the person realizes that he is depressed, such a condition is often frightening. In the same period, problems with appetite and the work of the immune system begin to be observed. More and more negative thoughts appear.
  3. Destruction. In the absence of qualified assistance, the third stage begins. During it, there is a loss of control over oneself, aggression appears. The man begins to collapse as a person.

Depending on the stage of depression the disease was detected, the effectiveness of treatment and the time to get rid of the problem directly depend on it.

Diagnostics

It is important to remember that others will not be able to help get rid of the disorder, so it is imperative that you seek help from a psychotherapist.

Determining the presence of the disease is carried out using special scales and questionnaires, through 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 bioelectrical activity of the brain (EEG) and hormonal studies.

Depression test

When considering methods for diagnosing a disease, the use of special questionnaires was mentioned. Consider one of them to get an idea of ​​what constitutes a test for depression.

The patient needs to answer a few simple questions:

  1. Is it difficult for you to fall asleep at night?
  2. Do you often suffer from nightmares?
  3. Do you often feel emotional exhaustion and fatigue?
  4. Has your weight changed over the past six months (strong changes are taken into account in a smaller or larger direction), given that you did not sit on special diets?
  5. Have you noticed a decrease in sexual desire?
  6. Have any of your close relatives been diagnosed with "depressive disorder"?
  7. Can you rate your daily stress level as medium or high?
  8. Are you suffering from auditory or visual hallucinations?
  9. Do you have a worsening of mood with the onset of autumn or winter?
  10. Do you hide your experiences from loved ones?
  11. Do you often think that life has no meaning?

This is the easiest of all possible tests. The more yes answers to his questions, the greater the likelihood of depression.

Medical treatment of depression

Treatment of depression with the help of pharmacological drugs involves the administration of antidepressants, tranquilizers, narcotics and neuroleptics.

effects of depression

Prescribe the use of a drugcan only doctor individually. The wrong choice of drugs or their dosage can not only bring no benefit, but also cause irreparable harm, since they act on the central nervous system and the brain.

In most cases, for the correction of health canenough only antidepressants. The effect of their use is not immediately noticeable, it is necessary that at least one or two weeks have passed. Despite the strength of the effect, antidepressants are not addictive and addictive. At the same time, it is necessary to stop drinking drugs gradually in order to avoid the so-called "withdrawal syndrome".

Treatment of depression with psychotherapy and physiotherapy

Treatment of depression with the advice of a psychotherapist can take several months. There are many methods, and depending on the situation, the specialist selects the right one.

Physiotherapy can only be used as an aid. It includes 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 necessary to do everything possible to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.

mental depression

What do psychologists advise on this?

  1. Observe the mode of the day, which provides a good night's sleep and proper nutrition.
  2. Engage in sports and other motor activity.
  3. Communicate more with your loved ones.
  4. If possible, avoid stressful situations.
  5. Allocate time for yourself and your favorite activities.

So, we considered the types of depression and featuresof this disease. Finally, I would like to say that psychological health is no less important than physical health. Therefore, if a problem arises, you should immediately entrust its solution to an experienced specialist.

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