Causes, symptoms, forms, how to deal with depression in women? Signs of depression in a woman - how to recognize and treat Causes of depression in middle-aged women

Depression in women is a mental disorder that manifests itself in a painful state of melancholy, hopelessness, and depression.

Often this condition appears as a reaction after stress or a difficult life situation. However, depression in women due to their life situation must be differentiated from mental trauma associated with diseases such as schizophrenia, neurosis, etc.

Each new day should bring new emotions, impressions, new joys and even a little anxiety. It’s good when a woman wakes up in a wonderful mood, she has a desire to sing, dance, and love the whole world. In this state, the sky seems bluer, and the grass is greener, everything around is pleasing, and what was planned comes to fruition. However, it also happens differently. When nothing makes you happy, but only irritates you, you want to be sad, lie down and do nothing. This lethargic state is considered depression if it lasts up to two weeks.

Causes of depression in women

Often depression in women occurs for no apparent reason. Depression in women can be triggered by hopelessness, a series of failures, everyday problems, as well as mental, physical illnesses or taking certain medications.

Today, the percentage of women suffering from depression is only increasing. The cause is multifactorial, but primarily these are changes in hormonal levels, starting from the first menstruation to the menopause. Each period has its own signs of depression.

Symptoms of depression in women

The disease is manifested by emotional, mental, and motor retardation. Severe cases of this condition are characterized by delusions of blame, in which the patient feels that she is being judged, blamed for poor work performance, unethical behavior or self-deprecation, as well as self-blame, when the patient blames herself for poor work, dishonesty, misconduct, and considers herself to be to blame for the death of everything peace.

For patients with psychiatric diagnoses, it is inherent in which the patient feels changes in the internal organs that can lead her to eternal torment.

Signs of depression in women

The signs of depression vary among women, so treatment is carried out taking this into account. First of all, the signs include a decrease, as well as loss of volitional qualities. Signs can manifest themselves through a variety of psychological states, which include depression, depression, increased irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, and internal tension. All these mood changes occur with decreased activity, distracted attention, increased fatigue, and loss of energy.

Signs of depression in women include disturbances in sleep and appetite. can radiate pain to the mammary glands, joints, muscles, heart and be accompanied by headaches, increased heart rate, and weakness in the body.

Signs of depression in women must be differentiated from bad mood. This is achieved by analyzing certain situations. Resolving an everyday or psychological problem returns the previous mood, which does not happen with a depressive mood, which is characterized by a course of two weeks or more. In this state, the patient feels weakness, helplessness, thoughts of uselessness arise and hopes for success are lost, interest in life itself gradually disappears, and indifference appears. There are also signs of depression such as failures at work, in school, poor relationships with society, and intimate problems.

Depression after divorce in women develops almost immediately after breaking up with a man. The condition is characterized by acute neurotic symptoms with pronounced depression. Only a small percentage of women cope with this problem on their own.

Pre-nuptial depression is also common in women. This can be explained by fear of new things, exciting upcoming events, or fear of an unsuccessful wedding ceremony. They provoke pre-wedding depression in women and omissions with their future husband, when quarrels arise over stupid things, as well as trifles. All this does not add romance to the relationship, but only worsens the situation, causing this condition. This is due to the fact that the groom also experiences stress and is very worried about upcoming events.

Postpartum depression in women is marked by prolonged depressed mood, depth of manifestations and inability to act and emotionally contact the newborn. Postpartum depression in women, if left untreated, tends to become chronic, so it is important not to ignore the woman and her behavior, but to begin treating her in a timely manner.

Depression in women treatment

Treatment of the disease in severe form is carried out in psychiatric hospitals, since such patients tend to commit suicide, as well as self-harm. For this reason, they must be under constant medical supervision.

How to treat depression in women?

Depression in women and its treatment includes the use of psychotropic (antidepressive) drugs, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy.

Most patients are self-treated with antidepressants, but these drugs can only be used after being prescribed by appropriately qualified specialists. Next, it is important to take treatment seriously and strictly follow all instructions.

Drug therapy takes time and the first effect of the drugs does not appear immediately, but after one to two weeks. The same period is characterized by the selection of the required dose of an antidepressant. Cancellation of a psychotropic drug is also carried out only by a doctor. And after the symptoms of depression disappear, you should continue to take antidepressants for the entire prescribed period. If this is not followed, there may be a risk of exacerbation of the disease. And exacerbation of a depressive state, after premature cessation of treatment, is much more difficult to treat. Even if you decide to stop taking it on your own, consult your doctor.

How to get a woman out of depression?

A ten-year study at the Harvard College of Public Health found that to reduce the risk of developing depression in a woman, as well as prevent suicidal tendencies, it is necessary to drink two cups of coffee a day.

Advice for patients with depression: always set realistic goals, isolate important initial ones from work and leave secondary ones for later, do all the work consistently; being in a painful state, do not plan grandiose life changes and suppress the occurrence of negative thoughts; do not stay alone for a long time; increase time spent in fresh air; do those things that can lift your spirits.

Female depression. What could be sadder? A woman is an amazing organism on the planet, giving life to a new person, creating, ennobling, evolving. Both men and women are susceptible to depression. Females of the middle age category are most susceptible to depression.

What is depression?

Depression in psychiatry refers to painful conditions that result in disturbances in the mental and physical functions of the human body.

In society, it is customary to say “fell into depression,” which is indicated by clear signs of partial or complete disconnection from society, withdrawal from reality, ignoring current events, and reluctance to take part in the daily life processes of society.

Signs of depressive conditions do not appear overnight; the body “tunes” to the program for launching them for some time. Typically, a deep depressive state is preceded by negative everyday events in a person’s life that greatly excite the psyche.

At the moment when the body ceases to resist stimuli, a reverse defensive reaction occurs, caused by a feeling of detachment from problems, which forms the basis of depression.

Sometimes it may seem that a person who is in a state of depression is trying to attract excessive attention from others. In fact, this is not true at all. In the modern world, millions of people in different countries, with different skin colors, different social status, men and women, children and the elderly, are susceptible to depression.

Types of depression in women

Female depression is usually divided into types.

1. Premenstrual syndrome. One of the most striking and characteristic syndromes, characterizing the “possibilities” of a woman’s response to external stimuli. Usually a week before the start of menstruation, a woman may change beyond recognition, signs of irritability, hypersensitivity, and unpredictability appear. You can combat this condition by taking complexes of vitamins and microelements, which the body urgently needs during this period.
2. A fairly common syndrome in the modern world. After childbirth, a sharply changing hormonal balance can bring a woman’s psyche to some extreme states, even suicide. This is usually due to inattention to the pregnant woman and a lack of nutrients, which the body especially urgently needs during this period.
3. Depression during menopause. The most vulnerable period for women to commit suicide. This period can be eased with the help of a balanced diet and providing the woman with comfortable conditions. Group psychotherapy is effective.

Symptoms of depression in women

Female depression is the most dangerous. Women are affected three times more often than men.
Everyone needs to know the symptoms of incipient depression in order to track their condition.

The most typical symptoms are as follows:

• increased fatigue;
• increased drowsiness;
• inertia;
• apathetic attitude towards the outside world;
• excessive tearfulness;
• mood swings;
• night insomnia;
• frequently taking everything that happens outside personally;
• lack of interest in life;
• distrust of others;
• increased suspiciousness;
• increased irritability;
• absent-minded attention;
• close attention to the actions of others;
• increasing feelings of guilt;
• decreased appetite;

The symptoms of depressive states are very extensive; as the disease progresses, psychosomatic diseases may arise, complicating the course of the depressive syndrome itself. In such cases, it is necessary to act immediately (as soon as the first symptoms are noticeable), since the person is capable of extreme actions, even suicide.

Causes of female depression

There are many causes of depression in women. In our society, a woman cannot remain indifferent. Sometimes the heaviest burden of worries, worries and troubles falls on her fragile shoulders.

The most common causes of depression in women are given below:

• death of a loved one;
• loss of ability to work;
• job loss;
• partner's betrayal;
• divorce;
• hormonal surges in the body in middle age;
• financial difficulties;
• pregnancy;
• miscarriage;
• menopause;
• eating disorders;
• lack of microelements and vitamins in the body;
• impossibility of self-realization;
• housing problems;
• unrequited love.

The list of these reasons can be continued indefinitely.

The most important factor in the life of any person can be considered his self-realization

This concept is different for everyone. The characteristics of the female psyche are closely intertwined with the reproductive function of the body.

Many women dream of a family, they see their life surrounded only by loving people in a cozy home. Some women, on the contrary, consider it their duty to achieve career success, engage in journalism, travel a lot, collect and analyze various information, which should also not be barriers if a person has adopted such a lifestyle. The most important thing is for a woman to feel comfortable and independent in this world.

Treatment and prevention of female depression

Depending on the reasons that caused depression, it is necessary to select methods of its treatment. Depression must be experienced and overcome. Do not neglect traditional methods of treatment in this case; group sessions with psychologists, trips to nature, and anti-stress activities are quite effective.

Traditional medicine tips

Some psychologists practice an interesting technique for particularly deep apathetic states of their clients. It may not be possible to treat everyone with it; it should be carried out under the close supervision of a specialist.

People suffering from depression and suicidal tendencies are brought to cancer centers to see patients who are clinging to life with their last strength. Typically, such an event radically changes a depressed person’s attitude towards life and gives him an impetus to start a new life and reconsider his values.

Conclusion

Some people do not consider the signs of depression to be a serious health threat, ignoring their treatment, characterizing them as whims and excessive sensitivity. But in fact, the situation is much more serious. People prone to depression are sometimes capable of very unpredictable actions: from displaying extreme aggressive actions towards the outside world to self-destruction.

Women should not feel lonely and left alone with their problems. Close people should not blame women for such conditions; this will look like mockery of the problem and will only aggravate the patient’s condition and alienate him from his loved ones.

Signs of depression can last for years, changing a person’s life beyond recognition. During long-term, protracted depressive states, the psyche changes qualitatively, and irreversible organic damage can occur in the brain tissue. It is difficult for the patient to return to normal life in such cases. Take care of yourself and your loved ones and be healthy!

Update: October 2018

Depression is a long-term (more than 2 weeks) condition when a person feels a bad mood, nothing makes him happy, his reactions slow down, and he begins to look at all things negatively, pessimistically. Other signs of depression include loss of interest in usual activities and hobbies, in family and friends, decreased self-esteem, loss of energy, anxiety and a pessimistic outlook on the future.

Depression is not a one-time occurrence associated with fatigue, low mood and lack of desire to do anything. Symptoms of this condition can persist for years and may resemble signs of diseases of the nervous system, heart, spine or gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the person tries unsuccessfully to treat the latter.

In the case of severe symptoms, a person often tries to “drown out” them with alcohol or drugs, which only aggravates the situation and can lead to suicide. Fortunately, depression can be treated well, even if it is not addressed immediately, but after quite a long time.

Therapy is supported individually by a psychiatrist: it can be either pills, various types of psychotherapeutic sessions, or a combination of these techniques. After the diagnosis is made, the psychiatrist or psychotherapist does not inform work or friends about it. Only with pronounced personality changes or suicidal tendencies can hospitalization be suggested.

How common is depression?

Even children can suffer from depression: 5% of those under adolescence have this condition. In adolescents, the disease develops more often - in 15-40% of cases, and they also have a higher incidence of suicide.

Over the age of 40, depression is observed in every tenth person, while out of three sufferers, only one person is a man. By age 65, the number of patients triples.

What causes the disease

Psychiatrists name the following causes of depression:

• separation from a loved one (as a result of his distance or death);
• job loss;
• moving to another place of residence;
• discrepancy between personal values ​​and those imposed by society;
• chronic stress;
• situations associated with severe pregnancy and childbirth;
• unrequited love;
• financial losses;
• taking synthetic glucocorticoid hormones (“Prednisolone”, “Hydrocortisone”, “Diprospan”), sleeping pills, some antibiotics, drugs that reduce acidity (“Ranitidine”, “Cimetidine”), chemotherapy drugs and benzodiazepines (“Gidazepam”, “ Phenazepam");
• chronic alcoholism;
• some diseases of the brain: atherosclerosis of the vessels that supply it, traumatic brain injury, tumors in the forehead or temples, Alzheimer's disease, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, Gettington's chorea;
• drug or psychostimulant abuse;
• severe chronic disease that cannot be completely cured: angina pectoris, previous heart attack, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, liver cirrhosis, sarcoma or uterine cancer, glaucoma;
• insufficiency of thyroid hormones.

The feeling of depression usually occurs in suspicious people, unsure of themselves or their future, or particularly restless people who feel responsible for others and subtly empathize with them. People of too high or too low income, introverts and those who have been deprived of the support of family, friends and colleagues since childhood are more prone to this condition.

This condition can be triggered by stress (including that associated with pregnancy), as well as sunless weather or being in dark rooms. In rare cases, depression develops after a long-awaited joyful event (getting the desired job, getting married, entering an educational institution). This is called “achieved goal syndrome.”

Neurophysiologists name the following as “internal” factors that determine the development of a state of depression:

• lack of biogenic amines (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) - substances produced by the body itself;
• deficiency of thyroid hormones: this factor can lead to the fact that it becomes difficult to influence depression with specific medications;
• imbalance of female sex hormones. This explains the most frequent development of melancholy in adolescence, as well as in women in labor or during menopause;
• genetic predisposition to the development of such a mental state.

Although depression occurs 5-6 times less often in men, it is more severe. Among the 10 suicides, only 2 were women. Psychiatrists explain this by differences in self-medication: women prefer food, especially chocolate, which contains endorphins. Men, on the contrary, “wash down” the feeling of depression with alcohol and various psychotropic drugs that aggravate the situation.

Symptoms of depression

Depression has similar symptoms in women and men. They can be divided into four groups:

In some cases, deep depression may develop. Its signs are as follows:

• daily depressed state, intensified in the morning, and his actions in the morning may resemble attacks of self-directed aggression or impulsivity. In this case, the person himself wakes up several hours earlier;
• significant difficulty in communicating, even with loved ones;
• deterioration of self-care skills and homework;
• poor ability to concentrate;
• ideas of guilt;
• pessimistic vision of the future;
• decreased appetite;
• loss of libido;
• suicidal tendencies;
• a mournful expression freezes on the face;
• the person is inhibited;
• there may be a hallucinatory syndrome;

In this case, the person stops critically assessing his condition and does not want to participate in treatment and rehabilitation activities.

How to know if you have overcome depression

Signs of recovery from depression are the emergence of interest in life, joy, the meaning of life, relief of bodily sensations associated with this disorder, and the disappearance of the desire to commit suicide. For some time after leaving this state, a decrease in the ability to empathize, elements of egocentrism, and isolation persist.

Types of pathology

There are several types of depression, each of which has its own causes, mechanisms of occurrence and some differences in symptoms.

After childbirth

Postpartum depression develops in women in the first 2 weeks after childbirth. It is unlikely to affect a woman who is calm in life, whose pregnancy proceeded smoothly, without hospitalizations “for preservation”, separations from the child’s father and scandals with her own parents. But if:

• immediate family members have had episodes of depression;
• pregnancy or childbirth was complicated;
• the woman in labor herself has always been distinguished by increased vulnerability, took a responsible approach to pregnancy, read special literature, or she had one or several depressive states before pregnancy or she had to endure psychological trauma;
• after the birth of the child, material well-being decreased sharply;
• there was a divorce from my husband or there was no divorce at all, conflicts in the family, close relatives did not provide moral support during pregnancy,

There is a high chance that after the birth of the child, a woman will develop a depressed mood and other signs of depression. This is due to significant fluctuations in prolactin and female sex hormones during pregnancy, childbirth and immediately after them during the weakening of the body associated with childbirth.

Temporary disturbances in sleep, appetite, anxiety about whether a woman can become a full-fledged mother, especially in first-time mothers, are not depression. Such a diagnosis can be assumed in cases where at least one of the following symptoms persists for several postpartum weeks:

• sleep disturbance;
• decreased appetite;
• various obsessive fears, for example, the sudden death of a child, losing a husband, for one’s health;
• hysterical attacks;
• apathy;
• suicidal tendencies may appear,

or the woman completely stops caring for the child or even tries to harm him (see).

in spring

Spring depression is a seasonal disorder. The reasons for it are unclear. Hypotheses have been put forward that the reason may be an increase in illumination time, which causes a change in the level of not only melatonin and serotonin, but also sex hormones. The second group of scientists believes that this condition may be associated with hypovitaminosis, characteristic of spring.

You can understand that this particular condition has developed by the appearance of drowsiness, causeless anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating and decreased motivation. In women, premenstrual pain increases. They also tend to gain weight.

Anxiety-depressive disorder

With the introduction of a new classification of diseases, the term “anxious depression” ceased to be used. Previously, it was used when the following symptoms predominated over signs of depression:

• excitement;
• tension;
• anxiety;
• increased skin sensitivity.

In this case, the person has better control over his behavior than with ordinary depression, and can suppress anxious anxiety by switching attention. Motivation for activity is also relatively preserved.

Thinking here is not inhibited, but attention often switches. Ideas of judging oneself and others develop, and although a person makes contact relatively well, he is not critical of his judgments and actions.

Masked depression

Latent depression is a condition in which symptoms of internal organ disease come to the fore: heart pain, abdominal pain, increased blood pressure, itchy skin. These symptoms are so “diverse” and also replace each other that it becomes difficult for a therapist to establish any clear preliminary diagnosis. Depressive mood, despair, anxiety and low self-esteem against this background are almost invisible.

This condition is the reason for late contact with a psychotherapist or psychiatrist: a person “reaches” such a specialist last, after ruling out possible diseases of the internal organs. Sometimes a person does not turn to such specialists at all, believing that he has a somatic disease, and doctors “do not treat” him, “ignore him,” although the results of tests and instrumental studies do not reveal pathology.

A distinctive feature of latent depressive disorder is:

1. lack of improvement in the condition against the background of treatment for an internal organ disease;
2. the appearance of symptoms after a traumatic situation.

Prolonged depression

Protracted depression is one that lasts for years. Most often it occurs against the background of severe somatic diseases:

• tuberculosis;
• oncological diseases;
• after a myocardial infarction or stroke.

The reason for this is that with such serious illnesses that directly threaten life, a person constantly experiences super-stress, and his nervous system reacts to this.

Prolonged depression is more likely to develop in a person who “washes down” the slightest problems in his life with alcohol and in those who abuse alcohol. As a result, the problem grows like a “snowball”, which may well end in suicide.

Dysthymia

This second name is chronic depression. This is a mild form of depression when people continue to carry out their usual activities, existing normally in society and in the family, but at the same time they seem constantly sad or unhappy. People suffer from it for 2 or more years. The “culprit” is considered to be the hormone-like substance serotonin, which causes special reactions in the brain. It is also believed that chronic illness and constant use of certain medications can also cause the development of chronic depression.

The following signs can indicate that a person has dysthymia:

• change in appetite (loss or excessive stimulation);
• guilt;
• early morning awakening;
• constant feeling of sadness;
• sleep problems;
• feelings of worthlessness or helplessness;
• loss of interest in yourself;
• difficulty concentrating;
• frequent headaches;
• slowing of mental or physical reactions;
• thoughts of death or suicide.

Depressive disorder and alcohol

Drinks containing ethyl alcohol are provocateurs of mental disorders in a person: at first they cause euphoria and indifference to the problem, after the end of this effect despondency and a feeling of hopelessness progress. Depression and alcohol are interrelated: the first aggravates alcoholism, just as drinking alcohol ends in the development of a manic or melancholic state.

Alcoholic depression develops most often in people over 35 years of age, and can occur in two ways:

1. short-term depression of mood after excessive libation;
2. depressive disorder that occurs after heavy drinking.

In the first case, depression is combined with a hangover syndrome. The person experiences not only nausea and headache, but also remorse or a feeling of guilt for the excess that took place. In addition to the previous symptoms, a decrease in glucose levels occurs as a result of ethanol processing. This causes a melancholy mood, muscle weakness, and decreased concentration. At the same time, magnesium deficiency occurs, which is the culprit for the appearance of chills, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness.

The severity of this type of depression is “prescribed” at the genetic level, depending on the level of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which converts alcohol into a source of acetic acid.

After quitting alcoholic beverages, a more severe and dangerous type of depression develops, which requires medical attention. It develops not in those who were on a drinking binge for the first time, but in those who suffer from stages 2-3 of alcoholism.

A post-binge depression develops in the first 2-5 days after stopping drinking alcohol. It is aggravated by signs of withdrawal syndrome (tremors, hyperactivity, convulsions, palpitations, “jumps” in blood pressure). A person, on the one hand, understands that alcohol will not solve his problems, but, on the other hand, he feels deprived of joy and euphoria, where ethanol “gave a pass.” Therefore he feels:

• loss of meaning in life;
• lack of positive emotions;
• own worthlessness;
• feeling deprived of joy.

When recovering from heavy drinking, a depressive state is the most dangerous: it can either lead to suicide or force a person to find a “replacement” for alcohol in the form of promiscuity, gambling, extreme sports, or drugs.

Features of the course of depression in some cases

In some situations, depressive disorder develops more often and has some specific features.

During the "midlife crisis"

This refers to depression after forty. Its reason is a turning point when a person understands what he really needs, that he lost his youth not for his “real calling,” and now some of these plans cannot be realized due to age limits. Women may have similar problems due to changes in appearance, failed marriage or motherhood, or because children have grown up and left home.

You can name more “prosaic” causes of depressive disorder after 40 years:

• lack of vitamin B12, the digestibility of which decreases due to an age-related decrease in the amount of factors in the stomach necessary for its absorption;
• thyroid disease. In this case, sleep disturbances, decreased appetite, and a feeling of constant fatigue are accompanied by increased heart rate, increased body weight with decreased appetite, constipation, and trembling limbs. Please note: such symptoms do not always indicate pathologies of the thyroid gland, so to make a diagnosis you need to see a doctor;
• premenopausal change in the combination of sex hormones in women;
• alcohol. Every fourth person who liked to drink away problems develops a depressive disorder after 40 years. This usually develops after a provoking factor: the death of a colleague, divorce, retirement;
• serious illness. Having suffered a stroke, cancer, or heart attack leads to the development of depressive disorder.

Whether depression occurs after forty or not depends on the character and perception of the person.

Neurasthenic depressive disorder

When a person lives under chronic stress, including that which arises as a result of the inability to organize his daily routine, he may develop a combination of two diseases - nervous exhaustion and depression. The latter in his case will be called “neurasthenic”.

Neurasthenic depressive states develop gradually, gradually, so a person cannot say exactly when the first symptoms appeared. Against the background of constant fatigue and irritability, a feeling of depression appears; later sadness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness or guilt join. You lose interest in sex, work or delicious food, and it becomes difficult to concentrate. At the same time, a person is dissatisfied with the state of his own health; he may undergo examinations by doctors who will not show anything.

Depression easily occurs against the background of a depleted nervous system, when the latter becomes especially vulnerable. In this case, even “minor” troubles can cause such a disorder. If a person has had endogenous, symptomatic or organic depression, constant stress will aggravate their course and cause frequent exacerbations.

Features of the course in men

This is not to say that depression in men has radically different symptoms. But due to the fact that representatives of the stronger sex are taught from childhood that it is shameful for a man to cry and suffer, they do not seek help. Preference is given to such “treatments” as alcohol and drugs, as a result of which the mental disorder worsens. That is why for every 10 men with depression there are 8 suicides.

Features of the course in children

Children are less likely to suffer from depression, however, they can also have it.

This disorder manifests itself in children:

• loss of appetite;
• nightmares;
• problems with academic performance, which was not the case before;
• changes in character: the appearance of aggression, distance, resentment.

Diagnosis of the disease

To select treatment methods, you must first make a diagnosis. It is diagnosed by a psychiatrist after diseases of the internal organs have been excluded based on laboratory and instrumental studies, but the person has 2 of the 3 main symptoms and 3 or more additional symptoms described below.

Treatment

Without treatment for depression, a person may commit suicide. That is why the disease needs to be treated by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Hospitalization is not mandatory or compulsory. It is carried out in case of suicidal tendencies and if there is a fear that the patient will not take the necessary medications.

The treatment regimen is selected individually, after examination by a doctor and conducting the necessary tests. There is no average protocol according to which autotherapy can be recommended. Therapy may include one or all of the following:

• Treatment with medications.
• Psychotherapy.
• Social therapy.

Each patient needs his own treatment time, which depends on the characteristics of the psyche and the severity of the condition (see).

When a person suffering from this mental disorder has some kind of physical illness that did not cause depression, it needs to be cured. Otherwise it will interfere with therapy.

Drugs

There are various types of drug treatment for depression:

• Mainly stimulating effect. They are used to treat conditions accompanied by lethargy, melancholy, and apathy. These are drugs such as Imipramine, Venlafaxine, Bupropion.
• Mainly sedative. They are used for anxiety, irritability, and suicidal component. Drugs for treatment: Sertraline, Amitriptyline, Paroxetine. If the anxiety is minor, use Azafen or Lyudiomil.
• The remedy for treating mild to moderate depression is herbal based. This is Hypericin.
• For a combination of anxiety and lethargy, Sertraline is prescribed. Sometimes it can be supplemented with Gidazepam, Phenazepam.

Effective treatment in some cases may be a combination of drugs. Sometimes a combination of two antidepressants is good, sometimes an antidepressant and lithium salts, or antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics, or supplemented with thyroid hormones, testosterone or others. You can combine these drugs with antipsychotics or nootropics.

The antidepressant effect does not appear immediately, but only after 2-3 weeks or even later. Abruptly stopping the medication may cause withdrawal symptoms.

Psychotherapy

The following types of psychotherapy are effective:

• Cognitive-behavioral. It helps reduce a person’s negative ideas about himself and others.
• Interpersonal. It is aimed at the connection between mood and situations in society, helps to smooth out patients’ disappointments in expectations, and reduce conflicts with others. This type of psychotherapy is most effective for chronic depression.
• Existential.
• Psychodynamic.
• Client-centered.
• Role therapy.
• Suggestive. This is an option based on suggestion in a state of wakefulness, hypnotic or medicated sleep.
• Rational. In this case, methods of approval, clarification, distraction and others are used.
• Group. The psychotherapist monitors the interaction of several group members, helping to recognize and correct their own attitudes.

Any type of psychotherapy allows you to reduce the dose of medications used, while effectively preventing relapse even with short-term medication use.

Other treatments

The following may be effective in treating depressive disorder:

• physical exercise;
• electroconvulsive therapy (special stimulation of the brain to induce seizures);
• light therapy, especially effective for seasonal disorder;
• treatment with sleep, or more precisely, its absence, also turns out to be effective. Despite insomnia, the patient is deprived of sleep for the whole night and the next day, after which his sleep returns to normal, and with it the signs of depressive disorder go away;
• transcranial magnetic stimulation;
• Vagus nerve stimulation is used as an adjunctive treatment for a disorder that has not responded to 4 or more antidepressants;
• massage;
• hypnosis.

Techniques such as therapeutic anesthesia, head cooling, and oxygen supply in a high-pressure chamber are not very effective.

In some cases, methods such as:

• meditation;
• yoga;
• qigong;
• dosed hypoxia;
• art therapy;
• aromatherapy;
• music therapy;
• balneotherapy;
• zootherapy;
• acupuncture;
• balneotherapy.

The main thing for a person suffering from such a disorder is not to listen to advice to “get distracted,” “have fun,” and “pull yourself together.” Consult a doctor, remember, in mild cases no one prescribes pills, and psychotherapy is not a terrible thing. No one at work or school will report your illness.

Depressive disorders are becoming more common, as a person is exposed to regular stress at home, at work, and in personal relationships. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the greater the chances of getting rid of it completely. Depression is often combined with other mental disorders.

What is depression

A disease such as depression is a mental disorder that manifests itself in a long-term decrease in mood and lack of muscle activity. The disease is accompanied by inhibited actions, lethargy, as well as negative thoughts that a person has every day and can interfere with a good night's sleep.

Depressive disorders affect 25% of people worldwide. This disease is one of the most common in psychiatric practice.

It is an affective disorder, that is, it is accompanied by a violation of the natural perception of events. People with this disease suffer more severely from common somatic diseases than others. Even minor eating disorders are often perceived as alarm bells from the body. Patients with depression are susceptible to suicide, alcoholism and drug addiction. Especially if the disease is protracted.

People with this disorder feel slowed down in their thinking processes, which interferes with work that requires special concentration. An ordinary person with a healthy psyche perceives problems as they are. People with depression tend to exaggerate small problems to the point that they themselves panic. In this case, autonomic disorders often occur: hand tremors, dizziness, changes in blood pressure.

There are two main types of depressive disorders: exogenous and endogenous. The first form of the disease is provoked by external factors - the death of a friend, the loss of a loved one, etc. Endogenous depression occurs against the background of internal conflicts and other problems of a similar nature, for example: self-rejection, etc.

Additional classification of the disease:

1. Dysthymia is a chronic form of depression that lasts for many years and is manifested by lack of appetite, lethargy and bad mood.
2. Postpartum disorder - occurs after the birth of a child, is associated with hormonal changes in the body and new functions assigned to a person as a parent.
3. Neurotic - appears against the background of neuroses that are protracted.
4. Manic-depressive illness occurs in waves, with periods of exacerbations and remissions; a person feels bouts of anger, which are replaced by a bad mood.
5. Recurrent - periodically occurring depression that lasts several days.
6. Reactive - occurs suddenly against the background of severe stress.

Depression is accompanied by a lack of activity and mood

How and why the disease occurs

Affective disorder is triggered by prolonged stress or psychological trauma. These conditions are triggers - starting points for the development of depression. When a person’s psyche cannot cope with a problem, then a depressed mood arises. In the process of the onset of depression, neurochemical factors also play a role, which are expressed in disruption of the metabolism of biogenic amines. This can occur with various hormonal disorders. In simple words, there is a disruption in normal chemical processes in the brain.

Provoking factors:

• stroke;
• chronic cerebrovascular accidents;
• menopause;
• endocrine disorders;
• AIDS;
• malignant tumors;
• heart disease;
• taking psychotropic medications;
• difficult childhood: violence from peers and parents, abuse, etc.;
• a lot of stress;
• constant employment and lack of proper rest;
• brain and spinal injuries;
• failures in your personal life or other significant areas of life.

Long-term use of glucocorticoids and medications for high blood pressure can provoke depression.

The mechanism of depressive disorder is a disruption of chemical processes in the brain

Who is most susceptible to the disease?

According to statistics, women suffer from depression 1.5 times more often than the stronger sex. The peak incidence occurs between the ages of 15 and 25 years and occurs in 40% of people. This is due to hormonal changes during adolescence and the reproductive period. It is at this age that a person most often faces complex psychological problems: studying at school, entering a university, getting a job, getting married, etc. People over 40 years old get sick only in 10% of cases. And patients with depression at 65 years old account for 30%.

Representatives of the fair sex get sick more often due to hormonal changes in the body during the menstrual cycle. In some women this is more pronounced, while in others it is less pronounced. In this case, depression often occurs in the second phase closer to menstruation and passes without a trace in the first half of the cycle.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of depressive disorder:

• feeling of hopelessness;
• blaming others for your problems;
• reluctance to communicate;
• constant fatigue;
• low self-esteem;
• increased anxiety;
• feeling of despair.

People with affective disorders have reduced learning ability, memory suffers, and memorization deteriorates. The speech of patients is often slow. In order to concentrate attention, you have to make a lot of effort. People with depression often sit in one position with a sad expression on their face. Advanced forms of the disease lead to the fact that patients do not get out of bed at all.

Sleep is disturbed as the pathology progresses. Then somatic disorders are added. A person suffers from constipation, the pupils are constantly dilated, and the heart rate increases. Gradually the skin is involved in the process. She becomes pale and dry. Nails begin to break and peel. Hair falls out.

Other body systems also suffer. Patients often complain of discomfort in the stomach, stool disorders, and nausea. Although an examination of the organs does not show any pathology associated with these systems.

Sick people always feel sleepy during the daytime. Some people experience sharp weight loss, while others, on the contrary, experience an increase in appetite, which leads to obesity. A sudden headache may occur. Apathy gives way to nervousness. The person almost completely loses social adaptation and does not feel satisfaction from performing everyday activities.

As the disease progresses, the feeling of tension increases. The person practically does not relax, which worsens the course of the disease. Teenagers with depression have virtually no friends, they are withdrawn and unsociable, they lag behind in learning and eat poorly. In women, libido decreases and the menstrual cycle is disrupted. Men often experience impotence.

Lethargy and lack of interest in everyday activities always accompany depression.

Why is the disease dangerous?

Prolonged depression can lead to serious consequences for a person. Against the background of affective disorders, anorexia develops, which in advanced cases is irreversible and ends in death. A person may become completely incapacitated due to lack of ability to concentrate. The risk of committing suicide increases.

Many people who experience depression talk about the intensity of their emotional distress. Anxiety becomes so strong that it does not allow you to perform even basic actions. A person is captive of his thoughts.

Anorexia often occurs against a background of prolonged depression

How to get rid of the disease

Treatment for depression is always comprehensive. They use methods of art therapy, self-hypnosis, as well as individual and group psychotherapy. Physiotherapy has a good effect. Medicines are used for prolonged depression when other treatments become ineffective.

To get rid of depression, the patient’s desire to get rid of the disease is important. In other cases, any therapeutic methods will be useless.

You can get rid of the problem forever; to do this, you must follow all the doctor’s instructions. Depression is a reversible disease.

How to cope with depression - video

Independent ways to get rid of the disease

At home, you can use methods of self-hypnosis, visualization and art therapy. The first method is the basis of auto-training. A person repeats affirmations (a set of positive phrases) every day, while being in a relaxed state. Meditation allows you to touch the depths of the subconscious. It is important that the phrases contain information directly opposite to negative ideas about yourself. For example, a person feels like a failure. Every day he must repeat: “I am a lucky person. Luck comes into my hands on its own. Everything works out for me.” Each person has a different set of affirmations.

Before you begin this method, you need to relax your body muscles as much as possible. To do this, you can turn on meditation music. You can repeat phrases silently or out loud. The course of treatment is at least 2–3 months. The procedure must be repeated daily. The best time to do this is 10 minutes before bed.

Auto-training allows you to get out of depression

The visualization method used in modern psychotherapeutic practice allows us to eliminate the source of depression. It is necessary to imagine what worries you most - a negative thought. You need to mentally place this picture in front of you. Then imagine how the colors floated across it, as if they were being washed away by rain. Eventually the image should be completely erased. And after that you need to imagine a picture of what you would like to replace the negative image with. A positive image must be visualized in all colors. It is advisable to do this every day before bed for 3-4 months.

Visualization helps replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

To enhance the effect of visualization, the author of these lines regularly views the desired images on the computer. If it’s difficult to fantasize, then you can print out the pictures and make a target slide out of them. Many photographs can be pasted onto whatman paper and placed in the most visible place. Most people find it easier to perceive information this way. The photo can be attached to the refrigerator using magnets, then the desired result will always be before your eyes. A little trick - it’s better to place positive slides just above the eye line. Thus, according to experts in the field of neurolinguistic programming, what is desired reaches the subconscious faster.

An excellent way to get rid of affective disorder is art therapy. It consists of reflecting your negative thoughts on paper with paints. You can draw anything you want. The main thing is to throw out negative emotions as much as possible.

Art therapy is about throwing out all negative emotions on paper.

Additional ways to get rid of depression at home:

• modeling from plasticine;
• playing sports;
• free dances.

Group and individual psychotherapy

Psychotherapy methods give good results and are the most effective. You can work with the patient individually or in a group. The second method is not always suitable for patients with severe depression who avoid contact with other people. Hypnosis has a good effect, allowing you to immerse a person in a special trance state. At the same time, the psychotherapist recognizes hidden psychological problems that could become a prerequisite for the development of depression.

To get rid of affective disorder, Gestalt therapy methods are often used. It is based on the fact that the psychotherapist is an active participant in the process. At the same time, the patient expresses hidden emotions, works through a difficult situation, sorting it out in real time.

Conventive behavioral therapy is the most commonly used therapy today. It allows you to look at yourself from the outside. The doctor asks the patient unexpected questions, answering which the person understands the absurdity of his condition and begins to look at the disease with completely different eyes, without exaggeration. In other words, the psychotherapist convinces the patient that all responsibility for what is happening lies entirely with him. And when the patient wants, he can start a completely different life without depression.

Conventive behavioral therapy is based on interrupting the pathological thought cycle

A psychotherapist is trying to break the cycle that makes up chronic depression. It is important to convince the patient to give up negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

Drug treatment for depression

Medicines used to treat depression:

1. Antidepressants. Improves mood and stimulates mental activity. They have a number of side effects, so they are prescribed in a minimal dosage. The course of treatment is 4 weeks.
2. Tranquilizers. Used for depression, which is accompanied by anxiety disorders. Tranquilizers are taken in a short course for no more than 2 weeks.
3. Nootropic drugs. Improves cerebral circulation and concentration. Such drugs are used as an auxiliary method of treatment for a course of 4 weeks.

It is dangerous to use antidepressants and tranquilizers without a doctor’s prescription, as they have a lot of side effects and can cause cardiac arrest if the dose is exceeded.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy procedures that will be effective:

1. Acupuncture. Accelerates blood circulation, strengthens the immune system, and has an effect on the entire body. Used as an auxiliary method for eliminating depression. The course of treatment is 10 procedures or more. Contraindications: acute psychosis, epilepsy and infections.

   Aromatherapy is an auxiliary way to get rid of depression

Physiotherapy is not an independent method of treatment, but is used only in combination with psychotherapy.

Fighting depression - video