Depression seems to destroy our creativity, spontaneity, our ability to achieve the desired goals in life, to rejoice and understand the essence of our being. Therefore, it is necessary to get to know it better with the goal of easier finding a way out of the labyrinth of this increasingly common disease…
What exactly is depression? Is depression the same as sadness? What are the signs of depression? How common is it? Why does it occur? Who is prone to it? Are there multiple types of depression? How does depression affect a person? Can an accurate diagnosis be made? Can it be successfully treated and cured? How long does the treatment last?
A person's emotional life is very diverse and as such gives a basic tone in his thoughts, actions and overall behavior. Expressed sadness is an emotion that most people equate with the feeling of depression. The expression emotion originates from the Latin language and is mostly used as a synonym for feelings. Emotions can be pleasant and unpleasant, they can move and restrain us, they can be primary and complex. The primary emotions are joy, sadness, anger and fear. Joy is a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction due to achieving the desired goal. Grief, on the other hand, is a painful mood caused by a loss (loved one, property, health or self-esteem). Feelings of joy and sadness are the basic human emotions that, whether we like it or not, color all our experiences and life experiences. They enrich our lives and give them a precious sense of uniqueness and uniqueness. Sometimes, when these feelings overcome the cause that caused them, they become pathological, diseased conditions that require treatment.
What exactly is depression?
Depression is (by definition) a term used to describe an emotional state of intense sadness, grief, pain, that occurs without a clear cause or cause or duration and the intensity of this state exceeds normal grief over loss.
In fact, the presence of depression means that without a clear reason for more than two weeks we feel unwell, sad, without energy, initiative, will, perspective ... Mostly this condition is accompanied by loss of interest or satisfaction in activities that normally give us pleasure, and lack emotional response to pleasant events, loss of appetite, decreased libido, sleep disturbance ...
The human brain is a fascinating organ in its structure and function. Its incredible possibilities and intercommunications are an eternal inspiration and the subject of many researches. However, like any other organ in the body, the brain can become ill. It happens to people of all ages and races, in all parts of the world. Depression is one of the diseases that can occur as a consequence of that disease. The victim of depression, due to this type of disorder, often feels uncomfortable, so he often does not want to admit that it is depression or hides a disease, so he is not treated at all ...
How to recognize depression?
Depression is characterized by the presence of certain symptoms and signs characteristic of this disease, which are:
Feeling of sadness; the sick person feels sad or empty almost every day (for most of the day) (often crying for no apparent reason). It is important to note that it cannot be said that everyone who experiences a state of deep sadness or even easily cries has depression.
Loss of interest in almost all activities during most of the day, as well as not finding satisfaction in them (so-called apathy).
Lack of energy, exhaustion, fatigue almost every day. Ordinary activities are also performed slowly…
Lack of concentration is, attention. It is most noticeable in students or intellectual workers. The person also finds it difficult to focus on ordinary activities (reading, doing daily household chores, watching television).
Decreased self-confidence and self-esteem. Unlike grief, depression often develops a decline in self-esteem and self-confidence, which further complicates a person's functioning. This feeling is often accompanied by a feeling of worthlessness, which makes a person almost every day feel as if he is of no use to anyone. Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt also appear as a symptom, as well as a gloomy and pessimistic view of the future. Morbid thoughts involve frequent thoughts of death or suicide, whether the person in question has devised a plan to implement it or not.
Sleep disorders can vary from person to person. Some have insomnia almost every night, while others are sleepy or perhaps sleep almost constantly, even during the day.
Changes in body weight or appetite can also be extremely different. If a person loses or gains more than 5% of their body weight within a month and when you notice a markedly increased or weak appetite.
The existence of depression implies the presence of at least two of the first three symptoms and at least two more of the other symptoms listed in the text.
How common is depression?
The incidence of depressive disorders varies from country to country. It is estimated to range between five and 10 percent. Research data indicate that depression is about twice as common in females. Many factors significantly influence the occurrence of this disease, and the research most often mentions: unemployment, poverty (belonging to the lower socioeconomic class), lower formal education and qualification, poorer living conditions, as well as life in urban areas. Depression negatively affects marital and family relationships, and parental depression can lead to neglect of children and the appearance of psychiatric disorders in children.
In the last century, the number of those who fall into depression has increased. This disease seems to attack at an earlier age than before. The first episodes of depression today often occur in the period before the age of 25, while they previously occurred around the age of 40 (the so-called midlife crisis). Also, the risk of contracting this disease has also increased over the years.
Why does depression occur (is there a tendency to depression)?
The views of the pioneers of psychiatry and psychotherapy from the beginning of the 20th century on the origin of depression are interesting:
In his work "Sorrow and Melancholy" (1917), Sigmund Freud described the difference between the process of grief and depression and gave a significant interpretation of the origin of the disease. Grief arises as a consequence of the real loss of a significant person (loss of an object), and depression is mainly a consequence of emotional loss. In depression, self-esteem is significantly lowered, while in the grieving process this is not the case.
Edward Bibring (1894–1959) believes that depression occurs when a person becomes aware of the discrepancy (difference) between the ideals and goals he strives for and his own real possibilities. The feeling of helplessness occurs as a consequence of the tension between them.