The many faces of depression

11/27/20195 minutes read 8551

Depression can develop very slowly, and you may not even realize it's there until it consumes you whole. We have all experienced sadness and sadness from time to time, but when such experiences begin to occupy more than 50% of all your feelings and emotions, this ceases to be the norm. If you are unsure what depression is, knowing about the symptoms and stages of this disease will help you take action in time and prevent generalization.

Stages of depression: denial, acceptance...

Major life shocks can cause temporary depression, such as loss, death of loved ones, or separation. In most cases, a person suffers for some time and then gradually returns to life and begins to feel its taste and joy every day. However, if joy does not return, sadness persists and worsens, taking over all aspects of life, we can talk about the initial stage of true depression.

True depression can also occur without a clearly identifiable trigger or event. It is possible that a person will not be able to pinpoint the specific cause of depression, and despite all efforts made to “overcome”, depression will continue for weeks, months, and possibly years.

When can we talk about the onset of true depression? When feelings of depression, sadness, lack of brightness in life last more than two

weeks, or repeated continuously for
two
weeks or more at several intervals over the course of a year, it is diagnosed as major depressive disorder. In its worst form, depression leads to suicidal thoughts and some people even develop psychosis.

This is a truly serious condition and should be taken seriously. This condition has five main stages including: denial and acceptance. Because depression is highly treatable, it is important to recognize the warning signs so you can seek professional help as quickly as possible.

Symptoms and signs of depression: how does it manifest itself?

There are many symptoms of depression: they can be both obvious and hidden, not noticeable at first glance.

Perhaps its most striking sign is a depressed mood

, which is practically impossible to lift.
Yes, you can make a person smile or make him pretend that everything is in order, but no more - in fact, he will really be sure that everything is very bad. Lack of interest in hobbies
or activities that they previously enjoyed - people with depression get little or no pleasure from the things that really made them happy before their illness.
Complete pessimism
and a complete lack of optimism in any area, no matter what we are talking about.
However, the patient himself may call it realism, but the essence does not change from the name. Every mentally healthy person wants to believe in something good, but this does not work with depressed people - they do not believe. Fatigue and apathy
: a frequent companion and a common symptom - according to various estimates, more than 90% of patients almost constantly feel them.
Feelings of guilt
or
insignificance
are a common occurrence with this disease, especially if a person has become depressed and believes that the event that led to this condition occurred with his participation or inaction.
Loss of libido
, or sex drive, is another symptom of this condition. Everything is clear here - it seems to the patient that everything is bad, and even such natural joys of life cease to interest him.

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Changes in appetite and weight

– a very common sign of depression and nervous exhaustion. Someone, thanks to food, calms down and begins to “eat up” their bad mood, which is why one problem gradually turns into another - excess weight caused by overeating and the constant desire to put everything that is at hand in the mouth. And the third is just around the corner - decreased self-esteem due to excess body weight. But even here the troubles do not end - excess fat in the body puts a serious burden on all internal organs and increases inflammatory processes, which can lead to other diseases that no longer have anything to do with the psyche.

It turns out to be a vicious circle, which becomes more and more difficult to break over time - the weight increases, the self-loathing becomes more pronounced, and the mood with which everything was sad before drops more and more. There is also the other side of the coin - the reluctance to eat normally. This is also not at all harmless, because at first the body simply does not receive enough nutrients, then the weight gradually disappears, the lack of healthy proteins, vitamins and minerals becomes more acute, and the person loses health and strength. And then another circle starts: there is no strength, no desire to do anything, all that remains is to get sick, preferably in a lying position.

Too much or too little sleep

- another symptom of depression. Someone begins to spend literally most of their time in this state, while others develop insomnia, and it is not yet known which is worse. Sleep is a very important state that helps the brain clear the metabolic products accumulated during the day, or the metabolism that occurs in its cells, and helps to cope with psychological trauma. Its excess is also not the healthiest option, because it deprives a person of an equally important component of health - movement, thanks to which organs work correctly, and mood improves due to the joy hormones produced - dopamine, serotonin and endorphin. All of them are produced during physical activity and with a feeling of the correctness of the actions taken - any, not necessarily work.

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Slow movements and speech

- almost classic symptoms of depression.
A person believes that everything is bad for him, he has nowhere to rush, it definitely won’t get better anyway, and he literally withdraws into himself, leaving a minimum of energy and attention for interacting with the outside world. Difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions
are common manifestations of the disease, including causing the problems with slowness described above.

Excitement, anxiety

and trying to stay active can also be a sign of depression.
These conditions are exhausting and debilitating, and the person himself cannot always cope with them on his own, and often it is possible to get rid of them only with the help of special medications. Anger and irritability
often accompany depression, as do other mood problems.
Some people are simply sad and withdraw into themselves, while others begin to throw out their condition on others in a similar way. Alcohol and drug use
: this method of disconnecting from problems is often used by depressed or stressed people, and in quite a number of cases it is not a sign of promiscuity, but a symptom of a very real disease. According to Americans, every fifth, or 20% of people with mood and anxiety disorders resort to it. Those who choose this method may feel that psychoactive substances temporarily help them cope with grief, feelings of loneliness and hopelessness.

In fact, alcohol and drugs not only do not solve problems, but only aggravate them, adding quite physiological ones to mental problems. In addition, they can be a kind of trigger, or “trigger”, literally turning on mental and psychiatric problems in people prone to developing them.

Pain and health problems

– also a common manifestation of depression. Quite common accompaniments of this condition are pain in the back, head or other parts of the body that have no other logical explanation. In addition, there are digestive problems, arthritis - joint damage, autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s own cells begin to fight its own cells, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and even cancer. However, a considerable part of this list can be explained by the symptoms described above. Thoughts of death and suicide, or even attempts to voluntarily leave life are not uncommon for depression.

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According to US statistics, depression in women

occurs approximately 2 times more often than in men, and is usually expressed as fatigue, irritability, mood swings, anxiety and complete pessimism. In addition, only representatives of the fair half of humanity suffer from two types of depression unique to them - postpartum and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is not at all the same as PMS or premenstrual syndrome, but a very serious disease that occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, threatens mental health and requires treatment.

Signs and symptoms of depression in men

tend to look different: they are more likely to abuse alcohol and substances, take risks, express anger, become absorbed in work, and avoid contact with family and friends.

Symptoms and signs of depression in teenagers

and young people are different from what it looks like in adults. As a rule, their illness results in withdrawal and reluctance to communicate with loved ones or other people, difficulty concentrating on school or other important activities, feelings of helplessness, worthlessness or guilt, and an inability to sit still - they want to constantly switch from one to another.

Depression can be detected at any age, even the youngest - according to the same American statistics, a similar diagnosis is made to more than 3% of children aged 3 to 17 years. Symptoms of depression in children

affect not only intrafamily relationships, but also the educational process. This may look like constant fatigue and lack of energy, especially noticeable among peers, tearfulness, difficulty concentrating and deteriorating thinking abilities, fixation on something - an object or action, and defiant behavior.

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Stages of depression other than denial-acceptance

Now that we have a clearer understanding of how the stages of grief relate to depression, let's look at the five stages of depression. These stages are based on the symptoms of the depressive disorder itself, however, the actual experience can vary significantly from person to person. Some people will experience all 5 stages, while others will skip stages entirely. The following five stages of depression give a general idea of ​​what most people with depression will experience.

1. Negative thinking

The first stage is negative thinking, which often begins with a series of negative thoughts that are destructive, intrusive and difficult to get rid of. These negative thoughts may be about appearance, work, or social status. They can also be focused on their surroundings. In contrast to normal concerns about the country and the world in which we live, a person suffering from depression absolutely understands that the planet is heading into the abyss, there is no bright spot, the situation is hopeless and will never improve, and there is no point in continuing to live. “What’s the point of living if everyone is doomed?”

2. Changes in eating behavior

Many people experiencing depression experience changes in their appetite. Some lose their appetite completely, while others may begin to eat more like a food processing machine, risking an eating disorder or food addiction in addition to depression. For some people, their appetite does not change at all. It depends on the person and their typical eating habits.

3. Change in sleep

Almost every person with depression experiences problems sleeping because the brain is looking for relief from the stress and pain of the disease and all its resources are devoted to this. This causes hormonal imbalance, primarily disrupting normal sleep. As with changes in appetite, exactly how sleep will be affected depends on the individual—there are no general rules.

• Some people experience insomnia because negative thoughts consume them at night, making sleep impossible. As a result, they remain tired, fatigued and lethargic throughout the day.
• Some people feel so drained by a barrage of negative thoughts that they have difficulty getting out of bed and tend to sleep more.
• Some people fall asleep normally, but wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. Some people are so afraid that as soon as they get into bed they will be overcome by negative, destructive thoughts that they try to exhaust themselves to the limit and only fall asleep in the morning.

4. Self-flagellation

The person blames himself for things that are beyond his control. He even blames himself for becoming depressed. He is ashamed that he cannot cope with his usual chores and responsibilities. This becomes a vicious cycle of feelings of inadequacy, helplessness and a sense of failure. A person blames himself for everything that is possible and impossible. As his symptoms worsen and his depression becomes more severe, he begins to realize that life may not be worth living.

5. Suicidal thoughts and behavior

As the severity of the illness increases, so does the likelihood of suicidal behavior or self-harm. Not everyone gets to this stage because many seek help before depression drives them to suicide. And for many of those who have reached this stage, the desire to kill themselves is more connected with the desire to get rid of feelings of depression than with an unwillingness to live.

But whether you've reached this stage or not, once you find yourself contemplating things related to suicide, such as making a plan or giving away personal items, you need to seek professional help immediately.

It's important to get help as early as possible

Getting help in the early stages of a complex mental health condition can make a huge difference in how quickly you recover. If you feel seriously depressed due to stress, separation from family, separation from your spouse, fears or mental anxiety, do not be afraid to contact a specialist, do not let the first stage develop into something more.

Often the thought of meeting with a psychologist in person for depression can seem daunting, but that doesn't mean you can't get the help you need. Consider using online resources such as Helppoint, which provides access to dozens of licensed psychologists who can help you cope with depression and regain your sense of joy and zest for life.

The information presented in this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional advice from a physician. If you notice signs of depression, consult a specialist!

Author: Editorial staff of the Help-Point.net portal

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Treating depression without pills

• Psychotherapy
  can provide very important help - he will tell you how to cope with the condition, what to do with depression, teach you how to cope with negativity, control your emotions, and explain in which situations you definitely need medicinal support.
• Light therapy,
  exposure to white light in certain doses, helps regulate mood and relieve symptoms of depression, and is especially effective for seasonal disorders.

Sleep and light October 14, 2020154 8

• Physical activity
  : in order for a person to remain healthy, it is absolutely necessary for him to move - our entire body is created by nature precisely for this. Even if you don’t feel like it, getting your butt off the couch and exercising yourself for at least 30 minutes a day is absolutely necessary, and not only for the normal functioning of internal organs and glands, but also for the production of endorphin hormones that improve your mood.
• Give up alcohol and any psychoactive substances
  : firstly, this will significantly improve your well-being, and, secondly, their use is highly likely to worsen depression and despondency.
• Fighting depression with the help of relaxation and meditation techniques
  : the disease cannot be overcome without the support of medications or psychotherapy, nor do they really work if used in combination with other means.
• Try dietary supplements
  and other
  natural remedies
  , such as herbal remedies, St. John's wort and fish oil, essential oils of ginger, bergamot, chamomile or rose, and vitamins B and D, but be sure to check with your doctor before taking them - they may not be combined with medications that you are already taking.
• Take care of your health
  : try to eat right, get enough sleep, avoid stress and overload - this approach will help reduce the severity of the symptoms of depression and prevent the development of other diseases that often arise against its background.