Depression: first symptoms, causes and consequences

Medical information is reliable Checked by Shaidullin Renat Flyurovich

Depression is a disease of our time, as the disorder is called at the everyday level. Every day the number of recorded cases is growing; according to statistics, about 20% of the population of countries with a good standard of living suffers from it. The disease is serious; when the first signs appear, you should contact a specialist. Treatment of depression will help you return to normal life, get rid of apathy and bad mood, and increase your ability to work.

The difficulty of therapy is that patients are very little aware of the causes of the disorder and its consequences. Prolonged mental and physical illness is often mistaken for bad character, whims, and constant dissatisfaction, so they do not pay attention to it. The condition does not go away on its own; you need the help of a specialist. At Dr. Isaev’s Clinic, the patient is not only prescribed a therapeutic course, but also relapse prevention is carried out, information is provided about the preconditions for the disorder and ways to avoid them.

Signs of Depression

Under certain circumstances, this condition can occur in every person, regardless of gender, age and social status. Depression is a type of mental illness accompanied by a persistent decrease in mood. A person remains in this state for more than two weeks continuously; he experiences a decrease in memory and concentration, loss of interest in life, and retardation of movements. In the absence of timely treatment, the patient loses the ability to live and work fully for many months and even years, and the possibility of attempting to commit suicide cannot be ruled out.

2. Be aware of what your mind is trying to tell you.

Every day thousands of thoughts appear in our heads. Not all of them are true. If you suffer from depression, it is very likely that your thoughts will become increasingly pessimistic.

First of all, you need to realize what exactly you are telling yourself. Once you identify negative thoughts, find the healthy part of yourself that can counter them. With its help, try to instill in yourself ideas that will help you fight depression.

Depression causes

According to statistics, about 90% of diagnoses are made to people who are in a state of chronic stress or experiencing acute psychological trauma. The body cannot cope with this influence of external factors on its own, the psyche fails, depressive episodes are a kind of defensive reaction.

Conditions arising due to severe psychological trauma are considered reactive. They can be triggered by the following events in the patient’s life:

disability due to health and absence of serious illnesses;
detection of a malignant tumor;
conflicts at work, constant tension in relationships with colleagues;
serious illness of a close relative;
death of a loved one;
divorce from your beloved spouse;
retirement;
rapid decline in financial levels;
moving to another city and other factors that can be a real shock for a person.

Depression is not always formed on the basis of negative events. Sometimes the disease occurs when an important life goal is achieved, when a person experiences great success. The patient gets what he wanted. He suddenly loses the meaning of life, he no longer needs to make every effort for a specific result. The situation is aggravated if there are no other life goals at this moment.

A separate category includes depressive neurosis, which develops against a background of constant stress. In this case, it is not always possible to establish the specific cause that became the trigger for the pathology. The patient describes his life as a chain of constantly recurring failures that haunt him every day.

A depressive state of the psychogenic type is more typical for women, while older people suffer from the disease more often than young people. In our society, there are two extreme poles of financial well-being - poverty and wealth. This social scale causes a person to feel dissatisfied with himself if he constantly approaches the first category.

Additional provoking factors will be:

pessimistic outlook on life;
low self-esteem, constant self-flagellation;
loss of parents, loved ones, friends;
emotional violence against a person;
physical aggression that the child experienced at an early age;
predisposition to drug addiction and alcoholism;
lack of support from others, their indifference towards the person.

Each of these factors in itself is not dangerous; if desired, a person can easily ignore it or seek help from a psychotherapist. If there are several of them, the situation becomes more complicated, the experiences become more intense and acute. In this case, drug treatment may be required.

For example, in a teenager, the period of growing up is associated with intensive growth of all organs and systems; pregnancy and menopause in women are accompanied by hormonal storms. This is fertile ground for the development of a melancholic mood and ever-increasing dissatisfaction with oneself. During these periods, experiences take on a negative connotation; the world around often seems hostile and indifferent.

Organic brain lesions, as well as physical diseases, are classified into a separate category. Cerebrovascular accidents, strokes and heart attacks, traumatic brain injuries, coronary heart disease, and stomach ulcers are also among the sources of depression listed by experts. Against the backdrop of the development of such diseases, depression manifests itself clearly and clearly.

Etiology

To date, the exact causes of depression have not been clarified. But the most widespread and clinically confirmed theory is hereditary disorders of neurotransmitter production. But the impetus for the development of the disease is external reasons:

serious illness, death of a close relative;
chronic fatigue;
constant conflicts in the family and/or at work;
regular severe stress, etc.

Some experts believe that a predisposition to depression is formed in early childhood, when, due to incorrect upbringing, the child becomes dependent on the opinions of others and fears that his actions will be incorrectly assessed.

Depression symptoms

For each person, signs of depression can manifest themselves differently, it all depends on the stage and form of the pathology. Symptoms occur at different levels, affecting all aspects of the emotional sphere and behavioral reactions of the patient.

Emotional manifestation:

deep depression is accompanied by a loss of the ability to experience simple human feelings (anger, joy, surprise, fear);
there is no interest in surrounding events and people;
those activities that previously evoked pleasant emotions are of no interest to the patient at all;
a person is dissatisfied with himself, his appearance;
lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem;
constant feeling of guilt, even if the objective reason for this is not determined;
the patient often blames himself for everything, without necessarily saying it out loud;
increased irritability, nervousness;
depressed and depressed mood;
often falls into despair;
the patient is characterized by melancholy and suffering;
the feeling of internal tension increases;
a subconscious expectation of trouble arises;
increased anxiety even in the absence of any reason.

Fears about the health of loved ones are constantly present in depressed patients. They understand that they cannot do or change anything in this situation. Anxiety is also associated with fears of appearing stupid or ineffective in the eyes of the public. Going to a psychiatric clinic is the first step on the path to recovery.

The manifestation of the disease at the physical level is expressed in the following:

sleep disturbance (constant daytime sleepiness or insomnia);
complete loss of appetite or uncontrolled eating;
decreased libido, sexual needs cease to interest the patient;
disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (constipation or diarrhea);
increased fatigue and chronic fatigue;
decreased energy level, exhaustion, feeling of lack of strength.

Even with ordinary physical or intellectual stress, general weakness of the body, unpleasant sensations in the body and pain of varying intensity occur.

Behavioral symptoms of depression:

it is impossible to involve a person in any activity that involves the implementation of a certain algorithm of actions;
he refuses entertainment;
There is a tendency towards solitude and avoidance of social contacts.

A depressed state can change the intensity of cognitive processes:

there are difficulties when trying to concentrate on any subject;
concentration suffers;
the patient experiences problems if he needs to make some decision and cannot rationally “weigh” the risks;
he constantly doubts whether he is doing the right thing, turning over the situation in his head, and in the end he never comes to a definite opinion;
constantly thinks about his own helplessness, insignificance for others;
thinking is slow, which is very noticeable to others;
in severe cases, thoughts of suicide occur, and the likelihood of committing it is high.

If there are two or more symptoms from this list, and they are observed in the patient for 2 weeks or more, the doctor may diagnose depression. The selection of effective treatment depends on which type of disorder the patient has:

Dysthymia.

This is a mild variant of the disease, which begins in adolescence and is formed against the background of intrapersonal conflicts, problems with parents, and constantly changing hormonal levels. People around him believe that this is a manifestation of a difficult character; such a person is called a melancholic or a pessimist.

Depressive episode.

This condition arose in the patient for the first time in his life; it did not have time to develop into a severe form. A short-term but memorable case of total sadness, exhaustion, lack of interest in everything that was happening.

Bipolar affective disorder.

Characterized by alternating moments of bad mood and pathological joy, the patient’s life is constantly between these two poles. He seems to float on the waves of mood, constantly moving from one peak of emotions to another.

Recurrent depressive disorder.

These episodes recur every few years, after which they may go away on their own. The pathology must be treated in a psychiatric center for a long time with the help of psychotherapy and periodic courses of medications.

Clinical picture of the disease: stages of depression

The disease occurs in several stages. Without proper treatment, it becomes chronic with periodic exacerbations.

initial stage

Characterized by a general deterioration in health. Typical:

feelings of weakness, fatigue, powerlessness;
sleep disturbances (usually very early awakenings);
sentimentality, tearfulness;
a general decrease in tone, accompanied by boredom, laziness, weakness, intolerance to physical activity, blues, and an almost constant feeling of discomfort;
weakening of the urge to communicate, emotional contact;
desire for solitude.

One of the first, “classic” symptoms of depression is the loss of the ability to rejoice, experience pleasant emotional sensations, and the lack of desire to engage in previously favorite activities and hobbies. A person is prone to a pessimistic assessment of his capabilities and prospects.

It is extremely difficult for an outsider to recognize changes in the patient’s behavior and mood at this stage of the disease, but such changes are noticeable to relatives and family members. At this stage, there are no indications for treatment of depression in a hospital, but you should contact a specialized specialist as soon as possible.

Cyclothymic stage

Accompanied by an increase and worsening of all signs of depression. Typically:

noticeable deterioration in well-being (headaches, tachycardia, shortness of breath, a feeling of squeezing and heaviness in the abdomen, chest, other somatovegetative manifestations);
stiffness of movements and speech, it seems that it is difficult for the patient to find words to express his emotions, which does not have the best effect on the quality of communication;
the appearance of obvious melancholy, vague restlessness, anxiety, but such a feeling does not persist throughout the day, but occurs periodically, and lasts on average up to half an hour;
a feeling of shame for one’s appearance, words, actions;
obsessive thoughts about unsuitability for work, family relationships, communication with other people.

Melancholic stage

The frequency of attacks disappears. The patient is physically exhausted, he has no desire to do anything, emotions are either absent or very poorly expressed. The picture is classic for this stage of depression: shoulders are slumped, the back is hunched, arms hang limply along the body or lie on the knees. A person sits motionless in the same place for hours (and sometimes days) without feeling hunger or thirst.

Also characteristic:

pallor of the skin (with a bluish or grayish tint);
excessive dryness, flaking of the skin, impaired sweating;
shallow breathing with periodic deep breaths;
“dry” crying (without tears);
lack of appetite.

The patient generally appears very aged. Brittle hair and nails, rapid appearance of new wrinkles, and weight loss are noted. Men are prone to constipation, and women are prone to menstrual irregularities. Speech is very poor - the patient simply and monosyllabically answers questions addressed to him, but is not the first to start a conversation.

Without timely help for depression, there is a high probability of progression of the disease and the development of severe affective psychoses and manic delirium.

Depression scale

If a patient has doubts about the state of his health, and he is sufficiently informed in matters of mental disorders, it will not be difficult during self-diagnosis to determine the presence of a depressive episode.

The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory is used for this purpose. It contains several statements, in each of them you need to select only one option. This phrase should reflect the thoughts and feelings of a person at the current moment as accurately as possible.

You need to answer questions as truthfully as possible and be sincere with yourself. As a result, it is necessary to calculate the total number of points; the lower their number, the lower the likelihood of depression.

If you have alarming results on the Beck scale, you should contact a specialist; you can make an appointment at Dr. Isaev’s Clinic any day. This should be done immediately if you are experiencing panic attacks due to nervous exhaustion.

Disease statistics

Depression is the most common mental disorder in the world. According to statistics, 280 million people experience depression, which is as much as 4 percent of the total world population. In our country, according to the Ministry of Health, every tenth person suffers from depression. This is about 15 million people of different ages and genders. Experts say that the female half of humanity is most susceptible to the development of mental disorders of a depressive nature.

Depression in men

Constitutional differences between the male and female body lead to the fact that mental disorders have different manifestations. This condition in a man is often unnoticeable to those around him; the patient tries to appear joyful and cheerful, telling everyone about the absence of problems.

The depressive triad, characteristic of men, is expressed as follows:

anhedonia – the ability to experience pleasure and joy is reduced or absent;
changes in thinking processes - new, sometimes absurd, judgments arise, negativism and pessimism predominate;
motor retardation, slowness.

One of the reasons for the development of the disease in the stronger sex is erectile dysfunction. Decreased libido, lack of attraction to the opposite sex, fear of being ridiculed by a partner causes a feeling of slight dissatisfaction with oneself, and then turns into a severe form, accompanied by a feeling of one’s own helplessness and insignificance, the man does not feel strong and self-confident.

Depression in women

There are several factors that lead to the development of depression in women. Among them are the following categories:

Biological

The disorder develops slowly and gradually under the influence of changes in the body. Increased nervous excitability, decreased levels of norepinephrine or serotonin, and hormonal imbalance lead to pathology. The situation is aggravated if the body lacks vitamins, microelements and other useful substances.

Social

This group of factors is associated with frequent stress, bad habits, polluted environment, increased physical and emotional activity. The female body is weaker than the male; it is not able to withstand such loads for a long time. The psyche is depleted, various unfavorable states arise, including depressive ones.

Interpersonal relationships

Psychotraumatic events that occur in a woman's life can cause this disorder. Among them are:

death of a loved one;
long-term separation or complete breakup of relationships;
lack of understanding on the part of relatives;
constant dissatisfaction with your appearance, excess weight or physical characteristics;
professional dissatisfaction.

The combination of these factors threatens an increase in symptoms and a gradual deterioration in a woman’s health.

The lack of joy in life radically changes the patient’s character; he becomes melancholic, constantly dissatisfied with himself and his loved ones, and makes complaints about everyone, even if there is no reason for this.

Postpartum depression

After the pregnancy period has been successfully overcome and a woman gives birth to a child, she may experience a different range of feelings and sensations on the physical level. Postpartum depression is an atypical mental disorder that can be dangerous for the new mother and her environment.

It is important to understand that childbirth represents enormous stress for the psyche and a great test for the body. Psychological assistance is necessary for the patient in case of serious deviations from the norm. This condition occurs during the first 3 months after birth and can be mild or severe.

Among the provoking factors, experts identify:

excessive physical exertion associated with caring for a newborn;
the pregnancy was difficult or unwanted;
inability to breastfeed;
financial difficulties;
dysfunction of the nervous system, which began even before birth;
conflicts with a partner (separation, quarrels, infidelity);
moral exhaustion of the body;
unjustified expectations of a young mother;
lack of help at home from close relatives.

This disorder can be distinguished from others by a number of specific signs. The doctor diagnoses and prescribes medications; self-medication in this case threatens to worsen the condition. Among the symptoms characteristic of women are:

Regular complaints of excessive fatigue, lack of energy, loneliness. This is accompanied by mood swings, euphoria is often replaced by causeless sadness, and outbursts of anger occur that the woman is unable to control. She often cries, becomes hysterical, and does not respond to attempts to calm her down.
Panic fear. Usually it concerns the health of the newborn, the mother has fears that he may suddenly die or something will happen to him. A gloomy vision of the future becomes dominant, the imagination draws terrible pictures of events that could happen in a few hours or days. Articles about accidents and illnesses read on the Internet are automatically “tried on” to oneself.
The feeling of guilt does not leave a woman; even the smallest failure plunges her into a world of fear and self-flagellation.
Provoking conflict. Often a young mother throws tantrums every day for any reason, she becomes grumpy, and she herself looks for reasons to quarrel with her husband or loved ones. People around them attribute these symptoms to whims and bad character, so they do not respond to them in a timely manner.

Prediction and distribution of depression

It is safe to say that depression is the most common psychological illness. It has been successfully treated for a long time; a specialist is able to restore the patient’s faith in himself in a few sessions. Most often, women who seek help are those who, due to their mental characteristics, are more susceptible to stress. Of the four ladies, one had to seek specialized medical help at least once in her life. Men are more resilient in this sense; only one in ten bothers psychologists with requests for help with a depressive episode. This prevalence of the disease is compensated by the fact that in 90% of cases, people who consult a doctor completely get rid of the disease.

Depression test

The psychological tools that psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists use in their work have certain specifics. These can be tests, questionnaires, questionnaires, projective techniques. The difficulty lies in the correct interpretation of the material received from the patient.

It is strictly not recommended for patients to use their own intuition and information on the Internet. The patient may misdiagnose himself and prescribe medications that are not required in his case.

Moreover, most tranquilizers, antidepressants and other strong drugs are available only with a doctor's prescription. The use of dubious remedies will not only not help, but will also aggravate the situation and increase the level of intensity of symptoms.

In addition to tests, Dr. Isaev’s clinic performs diagnostics using modern equipment, which can be used to determine the presence of concomitant diseases. In some cases, treatment must begin with them, since such pathologies complicate the clinical picture.

Our specialists

Khorkin Sergey Anatolyevich - Psychologist, systemic family therapist. Directions: difficulties in relationships with the opposite sex, family relationships, depression, neuroses, difficulties in communicating with other people, psychosomatic disorders; experiences of loss, grief. The cost of an individual consultation (50 minutes) is 3800 rubles. Family consultation (50 - 80 minutes) - 5500 rub.

Korshunova Yulia Valerievna - Analytical psychologist, child psychologist, family therapist. Experience in personal therapy and professional supervision.

The cost of an individual consultation (50 minutes) is 3800 rubles. Family consultation (50 - 80 minutes) - 5500 rub.

Salnikova Irina Anatolyevna - Practicing child psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences, clinical psychologist, analytical psychologist, specialist in the field of child and adolescent psychocorrection, expert diagnostician, author of training programs for psychologists and children's group programs. The cost of an individual consultation (50 minutes) is 3800 rubles. Family consultation (50 - 80 minutes) - 5500 rub.

Anna Nikolaevna Sarycheva - Family, child psychologist, narrative practitioner, doula, perinatal psychologist. The cost of an individual consultation (50 minutes) is 3800 rubles. Family consultation (50 - 80 minutes) - 5500 rub.

Sedlov Anton Yurievich - Analytical psychologist, child psychologist. The cost of an individual consultation (50 minutes) is 3800 rubles. Family consultation (50 - 80 minutes) - 5500 rub.

How to get out of depression

Psychologists advise to be attentive to your body, at the first signs of depressive episodes, try to help yourself before visiting a doctor. It is important to follow these rules:

There is no need to avoid a bad state and mood and hate yourself for it. The patient must accept himself as he is at a particular moment. This is a normal phenomenon that occurs under the influence of external and internal factors. Depression must be fought, but this must be done gently, without putting strong pressure on the psyche.
Redirecting focus to another activity. Reading books, riding a bike, going to the gym, swimming, and changing the environment helps a lot. If finances and time allow, you can go on a trip, see many interesting and new places, in this case the apathy often goes away on its own. Perhaps the person simply lacked impressions.
You need to get rid of the fear of losing your positive emotions. Manifestations of joy, euphoria, and pleasure should be enjoyed at the moment they appear, and not constantly replay bygone times in your thoughts.
Communication with new people, interesting contacts. You can go to an exhibition, cinema or theater, meet interesting interlocutors, let others help. There is no need to be afraid of being rejected or not needed; in most cases, such experiments end successfully.
The psychotherapist will recommend meditations that can be used when the first symptoms of depression approach. Such techniques help develop a sense of inner integrity.
Normalization of sleep and rest patterns. An exhausted body needs help first. A full eight-hour sleep helps restore its reserves and promotes inner peace.

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Treatment of depression

If a person cannot cope with his condition on his own, he needs the help of a psychotherapist. Treatment of depression involves the use of various techniques aimed at relaxing the nervous system, calming down, and increasing self-esteem.

If the patient does not realize what is happening to him, hypnosis sessions are recommended. Immersion in a trance and precise adherence to the doctor’s commands makes it possible to travel back to childhood or adolescence, to determine the place and time when the psychological trauma was inflicted. In some cases, the patient requires consultation with a neurologist or psychiatrist if he develops other pathologies against the background of a depressive disorder.

Coping with depression on your own

If you decide to cope with your depressed state on your own, this is already a good sign of recovery. This means that you can adequately assess an unpleasant situation and are ready to take measures to eliminate it. Clinical psychologists advise for depression:

Get good sleep: Sleep is a great medicine and the body’s way of putting itself in order. Don't overwork yourself, relax by all means available. However, you should not self-medicate with medications or alcohol. This may only make your condition worse.
Sport. Any physical activity helps your body switch to another activity, which has a beneficial effect on relieving stress and tension.
If you have the opportunity, change your type of activity or at least find a hobby that will allow you to spend time for yourself.
Don't be alone. Speak out your problems and pour out your heartache to your friends and family. If such people are not nearby, it is best to contact a clinical psychologist.
Try to change your surroundings, at least for a while: traveling, vacations away from home, and even renovations in your apartment - anything that you can switch your attention to will do.
Try to eat right! The most common chocolate and bananas contain substances that have a beneficial effect on mental well-being - endorphins. Thiamine-containing nuts, seeds, some types of bread, buckwheat and oatmeal are also suitable. Watch your diet so that you eat right, don’t overeat, but don’t give up food completely.

Still, the best way to quickly cope with your severe mental condition is to consult a clinical psychologist. A competent specialist will suggest the best way out of a difficult situation, find a suitable method of assistance and be able to monitor the result.

Questions and answers

Is it possible to get rid of a bad mood on your own with the help of antidepressants?

We categorically do not recommend prescribing medications yourself. This is done by the doctor based on examination of the patient. Many medications have a number of contraindications, which the patient himself may not be aware of.

How long does it take to treat depression?

This is an individual indicator, it all depends on the form of the disease and its stage.

Remission

The human psyche has an amazing property - it can self-heal as long as the body lives and breathes. With the right approach and treatment for depression, you can quickly learn to live and breathe again. At first hesitantly, then more and more confidently. Then the understanding will come that the “winter of the soul” was needed in order to bring spring and summer back into life, learn to listen to your heart, love simple things, smile at the sun and every new day, enjoy food and communication with your loved ones. Enjoy the little things that you simply didn’t have time for before. Love life in all its manifestations.

Source: posta-magazine.ru