After all, what is depression?
Depression is a mental disorder, and it is extremely common. Despite the abundance of studies on the topic and is a recurrent topic in the media recently, there is still a lot of stigma and ignorance about the topic.
First, it is necessary to recognize that depression is a large-scale global problem. Around the world, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression to a greater or lesser extent. Here in Brazil, the crisis is potentially even more serious - we are the country with the highest rates of depression in Latin America.
In addition, it is the leading cause of disability in the world, and a major factor in the overall burden of disease around the globe. In its worst manifestations, depression can lead to self-harm and even suicide.
The concern with the subject is even greater given the fact that less than half of the affected people receive effective treatments for depression - in some countries, this rate is less than 10%. The stigma involved, lack of resources and information, scarcity of professionals prepared to deal with the issue are some of the factors that cause these alarming numbers.
There is still a lot of confusion about exactly what that word means. There is a misunderstanding by a large part of the population about the relationship between <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/depression-vs-sadness">sadness and depression</a>, about the symptoms caused, about the treatment, and even about who is likely to develop it. That's what we're going to explore here.
Depression is not sadness
Sadness is a completely normal feeling. Countless times in life, it is expected that a person will feel sad. The death of a loved one, being fired from a job, ending a relationship, family fights ... All are situations in which it is completely normal to feel sad. However, the sadness brought about by these difficult times in life is not the same as being depressed.
Depression is an abnormal state of consciousness - it is not a feeling. When you are sad, it is possible to point out a specific reason (or several reasons), be it more or less serious. In addition, it is perfectly possible to feel moments of joy interspersed with periods of sadness in the face of the difficulties that life presents. Depressed people, on the other hand, are saddened by everything all the time - all their interactions with the world are filtered through the veil of that situation.
Depression does not necessarily require that something has happened. Often, in theory, a person's life is fine; and yet, the depressive feels terribly bad. At the same time, it affects a person's self-esteem. Along with feelings of sadness, the individual may experience some type of self-loathing and a drop in self-confidence and self-esteem.
If simply feeling sad does not constitute depression, what are the real symptoms that a depressed person experiences?
What are the symptoms of depression?
First of all, according to https://trustsession.com/, it should be noted that only a prepared mental health professional can make a definitive diagnosis. However, some symptoms are very much related to depression and should be taken seriously if you or someone close to you identifies with them.
In order to characterize a depressive condition, these symptoms must be recurrent - at least two weeks of persistence. From that period, it is possible to start to think if depression is within the possibilities. The symptoms can be separated, for better understanding, into some categories.
Behaviour
- not socializing anymore;
- not producing at school/work;
- isolation from close family and friends;
- high use of alcohol or sedatives;
- not to practice activities that used to be pleasant;
- difficult to concentrate;
Feelings
- exhaustion;
- fault;
- irritation;
- frustration;
- lack of confidence;
- unhappiness;
- indecision;
- discouragement;
- sadness;
Thoughts
- I am a failure;
- Everything is my fault;
- Nothing good ever happens to me;
- I am useless;
- Nobody likes me;
- Life is not worth it;
- People would be better off without me;
Physicists
- being tired all the time;
- become very sick and dejected;
- having headaches and muscles;
- sleep too much or too little;
- change or loss of appetite;
- significant weight loss or gain;
Prevention and early treatment.
Is it possible to prevent depression? This is still a very debated subject within psychology and psychiatry, but recent studies increasingly show that there are ways to prevent it - or at least practices that considerably decrease the incidence of depression. Let's look at some of these practices.
1 - Therapy
The first practice is therapeutic monitoring with a psychology professional. Studies show that preventive psychological interventions can decrease the incidence of the disorder, especially in cases of relapse. Other therapeutic tools have also been proven effective, with a decrease of up to 50% in the incidence of depression compared to the control group.
2 - Physical exercise
One of the best actions to take to prevent depression is to exercise. With the release of several neurotransmitters in the brain that take the brain to states of greater relaxation, exercising is also essential in preventing - and even in treating - depressive disorder.
3 - Sleep well
Having a good night's sleep is extremely invigorating. Sleeping a reasonable number of hours consistently, however, is even more important than simply waking up rested. Studies have linked the incidence of insomnia to a higher rate of depression; sleeping well at night, therefore, may be related to the prevention of depressive disorders.
4 - Social networks
Here on the blog we already talked about the problems relating to mental health to depression. Therefore, keeping the use of cell phones and applications at a lower level also helps to prevent depression, anxiety, etc.
5 - Food
A balanced and healthy diet is essential for a balanced life; but in addition, it has a direct impact on a possible case of depression. For example, high-fat diets change behaviour and may increase the risk of depression and other psychiatric illnesses.
Is it possible to treat depression?
The diagnosis of depression, like any other illness, must be made by a specialist - in this case, by a mental health professional. Seeking specialized help is essential, as the diagnosis is complex and it is important to eliminate other diagnoses with similar symptoms.
The professional will do a physical exam and take the patient's history to establish the symptoms and possibly only after a recurring follow-up can he say if the diagnosis really is depression.
There are some questionnaires that help the professional to understand the severity of depression. <a href="https://www.mdcalc.com/hamilton-depression-rating-scale-ham-d">The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale</a>, for example, consists of 21 questions that will result in a degree of severity of depression.
As for treatment, they exist effectively for both moderate and severe depression. The most varied therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help in the treatment of depression of the most different degrees. Another tool that exists is antidepressant medications, which may be appropriate in some cases; however, its use must be extremely controlled. This is another reason why the diagnosis should be made by a mental health professional - only that person will be able to both evaluate and recommend the best treatment for the specific case.