Depression: What is it and how does it manifest itself? Part I
Hello my dears readers! Today I come with a new article about a disease that in recent years has gained more strength, because more and people suffer from it. I will talk about depression. It is important to emphasize that I am not a psychologist or psychotherapist, so the content of this article is strictly informative. At no time should what is written here is a substitute for medical and psychological help.
I write according to my experience as a person who for many years struggled with depression as a consequence of the physical loss of a loved one, but with psychological help and a lot of willpower I was able to move forward. Being a patient with depression I had to investigate and research in depth about this matter for a long time, so I acquired knowledge that allowed me to understand my condition and be able to help myself, thus complementing the medical-psychological assistance. I reiterate that I am not a specialist in this area and my content is purely informative.
I will now proceed to write in a broader and more generalized way about depression and what we must do to overcome it.
Introduction
Depression is currently considered one of the most common ailments, together with cardiovascular diseases, because it affects millions of people around the world. According to the results of several investigations that have been carried out, up to 20% of the population in developed countries suffers from depression, making it a situation that concerns and occupies medical science in the search for solutions to reduce and prevent the risks of this disease or mental disorder.
Throughout our lives we experience a great variety of feelings and emotions, our mood is changeable and we feel depressed at some point. Sometimes we are sad, overwhelmed by failures, we feel loneliness, exhaustion and fatigue, all this is normal and it could be said that depresiion is temporary; but when depression darkens the whole world of the person and lasts for more than two (2) weeks it becomes a problem that must be attacked in time. In this case, a greater awareness of the characteristics of this disorder and professional help to overcome it is required.
What kind of illness is depression?
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a decrease in mood with a pessimistic evaluation of oneself, drastically reduces the ability to work, impairs thinking, and brings suffering to both the sufferer and their loved ones. The cause of its appearence and development can be traumatic situations, somatic diseases, abuse of psychotropic substances (drugs), seasonal depression ( lack of bright light in places with very cold weather), among other causes. The disorder is accompanied by decreased self-esteem, social maladjustment or inability to sustain interpersonal relationships (social isolation), loss of interest in usual activities, one's own life and environmental events.
Unfortunately, people are largely unaware of the typical manifestations and consequences of depression, so many patients receive help when the condition becomes prolonged and severe, and sometimes nothing is provided. In almost all developed countries, health services are concerned about the current situation and are making efforts to promote information about depression and how to treat it.
Risk factors
Depression is a disease that can occur due to stressful situations or without any predisposition, so it has not been possible to determine why it often occurs in apparently healthy people in an environment of complete well-being. But this does not prevent experienced psychotherapists from fighting the disorder and winning.
Some risk factors are:
Neurological diseases such as cancer, AIDS, diabetes mellitus among other somatic diseases. Also addiction to drugs and alcoholic beverages.
Stressful and traumatic situations such as the loss of a loved one, overwork, family conficts, conflicts in the work area and internally in the same person, negative environment.
Genetic predisposition, i.e. the presence of depression and other mental disorders in family members that are genetically inherited to descendants, significantly increasing the risk of developing the disease. Among other risk factors.
How do I know if I have depression?
The following are some of the most common symptoms that I particulary presented when my depression process began and during the development of the same. It is important to keep in mind that the symptoms are diverse and each patient may experience them in different ways depending on the level of the illness.
Depression is caused by a combination of factors that influence each other. Let us look at the different possible causes of depression and its most typical signs:
Feeling of depression and longing, which is present for a long time, anguish, suffering and oppression due to the loss of loved ones.
Loss of life goals, abandonment of favorite activities, social isolation.
Decreased energy, increased fatigue, lack of motivation, loss of strength.
Anxiety, feeling of inner tension, expectation of problems, irritability.
Dissatisfaction with oneself, decreased self-confidence, low self-esteem, anxiety and fear.
Sleep disturbance such as presence of insomnia, hasty awakening, and restless sleep, sleeping few hours or sleeping excessively.
Loss or excessive increase of appetite.
Decreased sexual desire.
General malaise with pain in various areas of the body.
Difficulty concentraing and making decisions.
Predominance of gloomy and negative thoughts about yourself, about your life.
Suicidal thoughts.
Frustration at the inability to meet very high demands of oneself.
How to get out of depression?
In the case of mild depression due to a stressful situation, it is not necessary to consult a doctor, it will help if you distract yourself at work or in a hobby, such as walking outdoors, listening to music, playing sports. In situations of moderate or severe depression it is advisable to seek medical help, through a combination of psychotherapy and medical treatment. A good psychotherapist can cope with pharmacological treatment. But in most cases, it is worth starting with psychological work; it will certainly be effective and give a good result!
A necessary condition for the effectiveness of treatment is cooperation with the doctor through strict adherence to the prescribed therapy regimen (adequate therapy allows in most cases to completely get rid of the symptoms of depression), regular visits to the doctor, and a detailed and honest description of the condition and the difficulties of life that affects you.
How can you help yourself out of depression?
In addition to the medical methods that are effective for the treatment of severe types of depression, such as depression with suicidal desires (obsession with suicide) or bipolar depression (severe changes in mood), there are other ways to complement the professional help that will allow you to get out of this difficult situation, among these techniques we can mention some:
- Healthy eating that allows you to feel good physically and be in a good mood. Chocolate is a good option but you should avoid excessive consumption as it can cause weight gain that could negatively affect self-esteem and increase depression. The diet should be rich in fruits and vegetables. Fast foods should be avoided as they tend to intoxicate the body.
- Go to bed at a certain time every night so that you can sleep at least 8 hours a day so that the body can rest fully. It is not recommended that before going to bed you watch movies or news with a negative charge; because it can cause nightmares and disturb your sleep.
- Do some physical activity as this is an excellent way to help get out of depression; therefore we must exercise daily to release endorphins, improve metabolism and oxygenate the body.
- Think positive thoughts at all times, do good deeds that help others, smile and focus only on the qualities of other people. If someone close to you is completely negative and toxic, walk away. Sometimes it is better to be alone than in bad company.
- Always do what you love, this will help you to be happy, recharge you with good energy and keep worries and negative thoughts away.
- Always be happy no matter the circumstances.
