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.
Consider the types of depression, its causes, associated symptoms and possible ways to treat the disease.
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.
So what types of depression are there? Psychiatry offers the following options:
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.
Having considered the types of depression, we turn to establishing the causes of its occurrence. The most common are the following:
Another important reason is a severe psychological trauma, the appearance of which could be triggered by many factors:
In order to timely detect the disease in oneself or others, it is necessary to get acquainted with the question of its main symptoms.
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:
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.
Signs of depression in a teenager:
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.
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.
There are three main stages of the course of the disease:
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.
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.
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:
This is the easiest of all possible tests. The more yes answers to his questions, the greater the likelihood of depression.
Treatment of depression with the help of pharmacological drugs involves the administration of antidepressants, tranquilizers, narcotics and neuroleptics.
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 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.
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.
What do psychologists advise on this?
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.