How to get rid of depression and overcome depression. Depressed state Depressed state

You all know what a depressed state is, how burdensome and “suffocating” it sometimes is. But there is a way to get out of it or, at least, weaken it - it all depends on the complexity of the situation. Now we will look at how such a state is formed, and what needs to be done to get out of it.

First, we'll define what we're dealing with.

What is depression?

This is a state in which a person feels a decrease in strength, mental energy, activity, and sometimes also apathy. All these are just signals, symptoms, a consequence of certain causes. This condition usually results from:

a load of unresolved problems;
“bad” predictions about your future.

What is the danger of being depressed?

Too much weight can crush you with a feeling of being “overwhelming.” And “bad” forecasts create hopelessness. All this can lead to blocking activity. The person will simply be stuck in inaction.

Let's not allow this to happen. I offer you one way that will help you quickly leave this depressed state, as well as maintain or even increase your activity.

Now we will gradually look at different parts of the mechanism of the “depressed state” and we will find there leverage points for state change.

The burden of unresolved problems

Let's start with a swarm of thoughts in the head, which sometimes accumulate and are perceived as a “load of unresolved problems” - you want to pay attention to all of them, but there is no time/desire/energy. This swarm of thoughts is accompanied feeling of uncertainty, and it brings worry and anxiety to your current state.

To remove feeling of uncertainty, you'll have to work a little harder. The following method significantly frees your head from a swarm of thoughts: take a sheet of paper and a pen (or open a document on the computer) and write down everything that is spinning in your head, everything in general, all thoughts. Write until you run out of thoughts, until you begin to force yourself to write at least one more thought that is spinning in your head. After this, you will feel relief: because you wrote it all down, now you see how much of it there really is, the feeling that “there are a lot of problems” disappears, the feeling of uncertainty disappears - you see with your own eyes what was bothering you.

To further reduce anxiety, work on the uncertainty in the questions you write out. Just make it clear in which direction you will develop this or that issue. A planned plan, orderliness - all this removes anxiety and gives strength.

Pessimistic forecasts

The next factor is our forecast of the consequences of these problems, or simply a forecast of the future, when “we want it this way, but it doesn’t work out.” A negative (pessimistic) outlook often results from the fact that we concentrate too much on something bad and lose sight of the good - a narrow view of an unresolved issue. Anxiety arises, more imaginary than real.

Beliefs, conclusions drawn from past experience

And if we add a few more negative thoughts to this pessimistic forecast (which we are not very aware of, these are conclusions that we made based on some of our past actions or decisions), we will get a depressed state. This is what is usually mixed with a bad prognosis - self-observations or thoughts: “I’m not trying to do/change anything”, “I can’t do anything”, “I need to try too hard”, “I’ll have to try for a very long time” , “I feel a conflict of interest - I want it to be this way, but the situation does not allow it,” and so on. All these moments aggravate a bad prognosis and it puts pressure on a person, the load seems simply unbearable, and so the result is a “depressed state.”

Fortunately, there are ways out of this situation. Since we have analyzed how the “depressed state” works, what its structure is, nothing prevents us from using this same structure to our advantage.

Let's fight the depressed state!

Firstly, you can now recognize a depressed state in yourself, the key signs are: burdensome, feeling of an unbearable burden of impending problems, apathy, lethargy, stuck in inaction. Once we recognize this condition, we can begin to use tools to overcome the influence of this condition.

Now we need realize that being depressed does not lead to good, the body suffers, time is wasted on worries instead of doing something useful. The experiences have not yet led to anything normal. Sometimes worrying a little is useful, if not for long. A “bad” emotion is useful if it motivates you to take constructive action. And an emotion is harmful if it blocks you: your thinking, your actions, your state of mind. If you do not consciously move on to get out of a depressed state, then it can block your activity and can drive you into “dullness” and apathy.

To change your attitude towards depression, do not force yourself, do not deny the presence of problems and poor condition. Just calmly tell yourself: “I was now in a depressed state, I don’t want to be there - it’s unpleasant for me. I admit that I am worried about such and such things right now, there may be many of them and everything may seem bleak to me right now. But I refuse to be depressed. I choose a different path, a constructive path.”

Secondly, we will now take up our perception filter to reduce the “tragedy of the forecast”. Sometimes there are moments in life when you look only at the bad, concentrate on some kind of threat, and do not notice everything that you have in addition to this “threat”. And you have a lot! Therefore, we need to take a broader look at the situation. Look not only at the “bad” moments of the situation, but in general at the entire situation, as a whole. This will reduce negative perceptions. You can also look for good moments, benefits of the situation, lessons from the situation. This will change our forecast to a more favorable one. The less uncertainty about the situation, the better you understand its pros and cons, as well as your resources (strength, time, ability to solve this situation and/or intention to solve it, available help from other people, etc.), the more favorable the prognosis will be, the more confident you will be in a positive outcome of the matter.

Thirdly, there may be such negatively influencing thoughts as “I’m not doing anything about this”, “I can’t change anything”, etc. They arise naturally: a depressed state takes over us, blocks our activity, and the brain begins to “ drip”: “I’m not doing anything with this”, “I’m not doing anything with this”... We have already changed our forecast a little in the second step, now we will replace these bad thoughts with more positive ones, and we will do this without self-hypnosis and self-deception. We need to take our problem, which “depresses” us, think, look for solutions, search as much as necessary, and not give up. If you are searching, if you are struggling, if you are trying to find a way out, your outlook will no longer be affected by the thought “I am not doing anything,” because you have already started doing something. Write down at the end of the day what you did - the brain will automatically “see” and make sure that something is being done, the problem is being solved. That's why by starting to do something, you will weaken this bad influence. It can be replaced by “I’m already doing something,” and if you are “trained” in solving problems, then it can be “I’ve already done a lot, I can handle it, I can handle it” - such thoughts reinforce your confidence in a positive outcome.

So, in this simple way, we got out of the depressed state, weakened its influence and moved on to constructive actions.

Let's repeat the steps again:

We end up sitting in oppression and depression. We recognize and get out from under this state.
Review of a significant situation (or desired future) more broadly and completely, and not just its negative aspects (we want a significant situation to end well, and because of this we concentrate on the bad - and this has the opposite effect, we begin to worry without noticing good sides of the situation). A complete and calm review of the situation will weaken the negative outlook of the situation.
We find negative factors that aggravate our forecast about the future or a particular problem. Then we work through them one by one, trying to look for a way of action that would remove the negative ones and create positive, reinforcing factors. And this requires personal activity.

As a result, we come out from under the influence of a depressed state and do not become its victim, but manage our own state.

Happy using everyone! If something doesn't work, write to me.

Even if sex has ceased to interest you.

If you can't sleep, sleep too much or wake up too early.

If, along with feeling depressed, you have difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

If, due to a depressed mood, you begin to drink alcohol more than usual.

If you feel like screaming or crying in despair.

What do your symptoms indicate?

Sometimes a person is attacked by melancholy. This could be the pain of losing a loved one or loved one who occupied an important place in your life, or big personal troubles such as divorce or job loss. The development of depression in such cases (even if it lasts for several months) is a completely natural reaction.

Under the influence of low self-esteem and a predisposition to stress, a person can also become depressed. Scientists have found that people with severe depression have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain.

Therapeutic effects to alleviate and eliminate symptoms

Regardless of the causes of depression, there are many effective ways to reduce the blues.

Set aside feelings of guilt for the future. If your depression is associated with ideas about your wrong actions, then self-flagellation will not help the matter, it is important to do something. Guilt does arise from mistakes. But a pathological feeling of guilt or shame looks different - when a person considers himself “wrong”.

Light your path with everyday activities. Try to adjust your sleep schedule, give up naps during the day. This way, it will be easier for you to regulate your complete sleep cycle and manage your time. You will have time to do more. This will improve your self-esteem and you will feel better about yourself. If you find yourself with too much to do, don't take on everything. Give something up or you risk putting yourself under a lot of stress.

Cut out your morning snacks and coffee. A cup of coffee with sugar can double your depression. Many people who eliminate these foods from their diet notice noticeable changes in their condition after four to five days.

Leave the booze for others. Periods of low mood are a very convenient time to quit alcohol. Despite its short-term dulling effect on the emotional state, it is a powerful means of increasing depression.

Get rid of depression with physical exercise. Many people report the antidepressant effects of exercise. Do them regularly to the extent that your physical condition allows.

Reduce your viewing of television programs. This is a deceptive activity. It is closely related to depression. One of the primary symptoms of depression is apathy, loss of zest for life and lack of energy. TV addiction makes it very difficult for some people to overcome depression.

Stop smoking. Smoking is another habit that is closely linked to depression. But if your mood decline is severe enough, you will need more help in quitting the habit. You can seek professional help. This will take many tries, so don't give up!

Watch your actions. You shouldn't make big decisions when you're depressed. The decision to change jobs, get married, or get divorced should be seriously considered only after the depression has subsided. It will take a lot of time for the condition to normalize, so you should not place increased demands on yourself.

Try aromatherapy. Research shows a direct and powerful connection between the perception of smell and emotions. Even mentally imagining a smell can cause changes in brain waves, according to scientists at the Olfactory and Taste Therapy Research Foundation in Chicago. The scent of jasmine, for example, can actually boost energy in a depressed person. Place a drop of jasmine oil on your hand or forearm and simply smell it when you are feeling low.

When depression becomes persistent

Have you tried all the remedies, and still the melancholy does not leave you? If you cannot get rid of your depression, then you can try some other options to alleviate the condition. Your doctor will help you decide which of the following approaches is best for you.

Review your medications. Some prescribed medications, including those used to lower blood pressure, antihistamines, and steroid medications to treat asthma, may trigger episodes of depression. The appearance of depressive symptoms may also be associated with an increase or decrease in the functions of certain endocrine glands. This applies, in particular, to the thyroid gland. Talk to your doctor about possible complications from the medications you are taking.

Consider consulting a specialist. An experienced psychotherapist who inspires your trust can explore your problems in a very subtle way. A relationship therapist can identify what's making your depression worse. A behavioral therapist can help you change the negative beliefs and behaviors that accompany depression.

Try drugs that affect brain biochemistry. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants for you. These agents have been used in clinical practice for a long time. There is no drug dependence when using them. Traditionally, there are two types of drugs in the group of antidepressants: tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. You may want to ask your doctor about fluoxetine and bupropion. These two antidepressant drugs generally do not exhibit the side effects associated with traditional drugs.

Increase your intake of B vitamins. Recent research shows that by increasing the levels of B vitamins - thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B6 - in older people, better results are achieved when treated with tricyclic antidepressants. Just like all medications prescribed to you, vitamins should only be taken after consultation with your doctor. Vitamin B6 can cause toxic effects when consumed in large quantities.

What provokes a depressed, depressed emotional state?

Many people know firsthand what a depressed state is and how depressing it is. To get out of it, you need to understand why it arose. Only by eliminating the factors that cause it will you be able to enjoy life again.

What is depression?

When a person loses interest in the world around him, feels a loss of strength, and loses mental balance, we can say that he is “captured” by a depressed state. He doesn’t want to go to work, meet friends, he’s not interested in anything, stressful situations unsettle him.

This apathy occurs due to certain reasons:

a large number of unresolved problems;
a bleak outlook for the future;
unfulfilled dreams;
chronic fatigue, overexertion;
constant feeling of guilt;
anger, envy;
loss of goals;
lack of self-acceptance, low self-esteem;
"black line;
uncertainty about the correctness of your life path;
disappointment;
fear of doing things;
conflict of values.

Some people do not admit their problems for a long time, and therefore do not solve them. Over time, internal discomfort and a depressive state increases, and it is much more difficult to get rid of it. A person begins to “eat” his anxiety or drown it out with other bad habits. But they bring temporary relief, so it is important to recognize the problem and find the “root of evil”.

What is the danger of such a condition?

When the emotional burden becomes too much to bear, it creates hopelessness. This blocks a person's activity and leads to apathy and depression. He “drowns” in his inaction and life ceases to please him. This is dangerous for a depressed and depressed mental state.

When a person lives by inertia, without setting goals for himself, he is unlikely to achieve any results. He stops dreaming, he doesn’t need anything, he becomes indifferent to what previously caused sincere joy.

This leads to severe, prolonged depression that a person cannot cope with on his own.

Dropping the load

This is where all the problems begin. When the burden of unresolved issues becomes unbearable, it is necessary to get rid of it. A swarm of gloomy thoughts leads to anxiety and uncertainty, and provokes emotional distress.

To reset the load, you will have to make an effort and spend a little time. Take a piece of paper and a pen and write down whatever comes to your mind. Keep writing until you run out of thoughts. Don’t analyze your feelings, just “throw them out” on paper. This will help you understand exactly what problems are bothering you. This way you will get rid of the feeling of uncertainty.

Break down all unresolved problems point by point and think about what you can do to find a solution.

Once you determine which direction you want to go, make a plan. Orderliness is very calming and gives strength.

We believe in good things!

A pessimistic outlook, as a rule, appears due to the fact that a person concentrates too much on something bad, losing sight of all the good things that happen to him.

Imaginary anxiety can bother a person even more than real anxiety, because he overwhelms himself and cherishes his experiences.

When there are many such forecasts, this condition arises over time. A person does not look for ways to solve problems and justifies himself by saying that nothing will work out anyway. He shifts responsibility for his life to others or fate, blaming random coincidences for all adversity.

Is there a way out?

Certainly. If you realize that you are in a depressed emotional state, then you urgently need to get out of it. First of all, look at the situation from the outside, objectively. You will immediately notice that there are positive aspects too.

What to do when you are depressed? Determine what factors influence the fact that the future seems so tragic to you. Work through them one by one, look for several exits and choose the one that is closer to you. Create reinforcing factors, manage your condition. Then you will turn from a victim of circumstances into a helmsman, and this greatly stimulates the awakening of activity.

As soon as anxiety appears, immediately analyze why it appeared. To drown out anxiety, “dress” each negative factor with 10 advantages that it can give if you “play” with the situation. All negative feelings must be neutralized immediately so that they do not lead to depression.

The subconscious of every person has unlimited potential, the main thing is not to lose faith in yourself.

As soon as a plan is made, a sense of power over your life will immediately appear and the depressed, depressed and depressed state will recede.

Depressed state

Daily stressful situations, lack of sleep, vitamins and sunlight can provoke the appearance of a depressed psychological state in every person, regardless of his age.

Types of depressed mental state

Emotional. You shouldn't blame a person for not showing his emotions one bit. After all, it is possible that now in life he is experiencing emotional depression. The nature of this condition is hidden even in childhood. There is a category of parents who tell their baby day after day: “Why are you crying? Who are you like now? What are these emotions for? As a result, the absence of emotional manifestations is considered the norm.
Interior. Suddenly the ability to enjoy life is lost. This may be caused by the loss of a loved one, failure in matters vital to a person. In addition, all this is accompanied by the desire to hide from the outside world, from oneself.
Psychological. A depressed depressed state can be evidence of fear for one’s own life, fear that nothing will be achieved in life, fear that what was planned will never happen.

Depressed, depressed, depressed state - how to deal with it?

There is always a way out. First of all, you need to work on your own “I”. You should not expect this condition to go away without anyone's help. Unfortunately, it can develop into something more, harmful. Thus, the great psychologist A. Adler always told his students: “If you want to get rid of a depressed state, blues, despondency, you need to remind yourself every day that you want to please someone.” What causes you to feel depressed? Constantly thinking about one’s personality, and when a person cares about others, gives them a smile, this helps him find peace and get rid of oppressive depression.

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d e p re s s i

depressed, depressed mental state

A disease that occurs in the form of attacks of low mood, usually separated by periods of normalcy

The stagnant state of the economy after the crisis

Post-crisis state of the economy, stagnation

The end of the decline in production, weak demand, high unemployment

Air rarefaction in underground mine workings created by a suction fan to ventilate them

Depressed, depressed state

Depressed mental state

The longest economic crisis in the history of industrialized countries is called the Great.

Latin "state of oppression"

Anger without enthusiasm

Depressed mental state

The stagnant state of the economy after the crisis

Endogenous depression

Depression is a mental illness that is characterized by a depressed and depressed state. Endogenous depression occurs for no apparent reason (not associated with psychogenic or situational exogenous factors), can be a manifestation of an internal disease, has a severe course and a long recovery period, and is prone to recurrence. This condition limits the patient’s socialization and often causes temporary loss of professional and everyday skills.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders today. Women are more susceptible to it than men. The risk of developing depression increases with age. Thus, among people over 65 years of age, depression occurs approximately 3 times more often than in other age groups. In childhood and adolescence, the prevalence of depression is 15–40%; depressive disorder in patients in this age group often leads to suicide attempts.

Unlike the usual low mood, a depressed state is observed for a long time and cannot be corrected by conventional methods.

Endogenous depression is characterized by the so-called depressive triad of disorders (signs of motor, emotional and ideational inhibition) and daily fluctuations in the intensity of clinical signs.

Causes of endogenous depression and risk factors

The mechanism of development of the disease is not well understood. It is assumed that the cause of endogenous depression may be a violation of metabolic processes in the brain, namely a violation of the production of norepinephrine and serotonin.

Norepinephrine, called the “wakefulness mediator,” is a hormone of the adrenal medulla, belongs to the biogenic amines of the catecholamine group, takes part in the regulation of peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure, and causes an increase in cardiac output. Serotonin, also called the “happiness hormone,” belongs to the tryptamine class of biogenic amines and plays the role of a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It facilitates motor activity, takes part in the regulation of vascular tone, affects the reproductive system, etc. The synthesis and metabolic processes of norepinephrine and serotonin have a certain connection.

People with certain character traits and personal qualities (hyper-responsibility, perfectionism, workaholism, increased sense of duty, suspiciousness, anxiety) have a tendency to develop endogenous depression.

Risk factors include:

hereditary predisposition;
chronic somatic diseases;
metabolic disorders;
age-related changes;
physical and mental stress;
poor nutrition;
taking a number of medications;
systematic vigorous activity at night;
irregular work schedule and other occupational hazards.

Forms of the disease

Depending on the dominance of a particular trait, the following forms of endogenous depression are distinguished:

Symptoms of endogenous depression

Endogenous depression manifests itself unexpectedly. Its signs: low mood, melancholy, anxiety, decreased self-esteem, guilt, uncertainty, increased self-criticism, hypochondria, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Unlike the usual low mood, a depressed state is observed for a long time and cannot be corrected in the usual ways (rest, communication with friends, walks, entertainment). Patients' range of interests decreases, they become indifferent, avoid communication, and try to minimize social contacts.

The depressed psychological state of the patient may prompt him to take alcohol and other psychoactive substances.

Symptoms of endogenous depression also include mental inhibition, which consists in the inability to quickly make decisions even in an extremely responsible situation, difficulties in analyzing the information received, assessing what is happening, and concentrating; illogicality and inconsistency of thoughts and actions. The patient's movements become slower, and the rate of speech slows down. Asthenia, sleep disorders develop (insomnia, night and early awakenings), there is a decrease in appetite or excessive appetite, which is why weight is lost or gained. Dyspeptic symptoms may appear - nausea, heartburn, bad breath, constipation. Such disturbances are reflected in appearance: pale skin appears, a sallow complexion appears, hair becomes dull and brittle. Against the background of lethargy, patients may experience attacks of intense agitation, even causing harm to themselves.

The feeling of fatigue and lethargy does not leave the patient even after a long rest. Also possible are decreased libido, anorgasmia, menstrual irregularities in women, pain in the body of unknown localization, compressive pain in the heart and back pain, and a feeling of general discomfort. The depressed psychological state of the patient may prompt him to take alcohol and other psychoactive substances.

In childhood and adolescence, the prevalence of depression is 15–40%; depressive disorder in patients in this age group often leads to suicide attempts.

The patient's mood changes cyclically throughout the day. Thus, in the case of a mild course of the disease, the peak of depressed mood occurs in the morning, and by the evening the patient’s condition improves somewhat. In more severe cases, a melancholy mood and increased unreasoned anxiety are characteristic of the evening hours.

A specific sign of endogenous depression is pathological vital melancholy. At the same time, many patients can localize sensations of discomfort in a certain area of the body (head, neck, chest) and differentiate this condition from pain and discomfort arising from somatic diseases, as well as from experiences formed under the influence of real causes.

There may be a feeling of unreality of what is happening (derealization), time slowing, depersonalization, a painful feeling of absence of feelings and desires, emotional perception of the surrounding reality. Patients with endogenous depression are characterized by anhedonia, which consists of a decrease or complete loss of the ability to experience pleasure. In severe cases, hallucinations occur that contain fragments of violent acts.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of endogenous depression is established on the basis of the patient’s complaints, medical history, as well as assessment of the level of depression using special tests (Zang scale for self-assessment of anxiety, Beck depression scale, test for determining the level of depression, adapted by T. I. Balashova, etc.).

An important indicator for diagnosing endogenous depression is the patient’s pronounced mental retardation (slowing down the rate of speech, speed of thinking, patients need more time than usual to express their thoughts and formulate answers to the questions posed). A slowdown in the rate of speech is noted throughout the entire dialogue with the patient, which distinguishes endogenous depression from asthenic conditions.

Endogenous depression occurs for no apparent reason (not associated with psychogenic or situational exogenous factors).

If endogenous depression is suspected, a laboratory examination is carried out, including determination of the level of hormones in the blood, hemoglobin content, etc. If there are signs of somatic pathology, the patient is referred for consultation to specialists (endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, etc.).

Endogenous depression must be differentiated from psychogenic depressive disorder, which is characterized by a connection with obvious or hidden psychological trauma.

Treatment of endogenous depression

Treatment of endogenous depression is usually carried out in an outpatient setting. In severe cases, hospitalization may be indicated. It is necessary to eliminate possible factors that stimulate the development of pathology, which requires correction of the patient’s lifestyle, including normalization of work and rest, nutrition, etc.

The main method of treating endogenous depression is the use of antidepressants, which should be continued for some time after the symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared, since if therapy is stopped prematurely, there is a risk of deterioration of the patient’s condition and relapse. In addition, abruptly stopping antidepressants may cause withdrawal symptoms. As a rule, motor and mental retardation decreases after 2-3 weeks of drug treatment, but depressed mood and suicidal thoughts may persist somewhat longer.

In addition to antidepressants, mood stabilizers can be used to help stabilize mood and prevent the development of new episodes of depression.

Patients' range of interests decreases, they become indifferent, avoid communication, and try to minimize social contacts.

Psychotherapy plays a supporting role in the treatment of endogenous depression, serving as a complement to drug therapy. The most common methods of psychotherapy for depressive disorders are:

existential – aimed at realizing one’s life values;
cognitive-behavioral – aimed at increasing activity, acquiring social competence, training self-control, reducing the severity of the patient’s negative ideas about himself and the world around him, eliminating residual symptoms after successful drug therapy;
interpersonal – teaching social skills that caused difficulties for the patient;
psychodynamic – based on the theory of psychoanalysis;
client-centered; etc.

A set of physical exercises is prescribed due to the impact of physical activity on the neurotransmission of certain mediators (increased production of serotonin, β-endorphins), increased body temperature and, accordingly, metabolic rate, increased body tone. Patients are recommended to practice yoga, take vitamin and mineral complexes, and take long walks in the fresh air.

Ancillary methods for treating endogenous depression include phototherapy, sleep deprivation, low-frequency alternating magnetic field therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, massage, art therapy, occupational therapy, and aromatherapy.

Possible complications and consequences

The consequence of endogenous depression can be a suicide attempt.

The risk of developing depression increases with age.

During drug therapy, tachycardia, arterial hypertension, confusion, dysuria, allergic stomatitis, hyperglycemia, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, and visual disturbances may develop.

Forecast

Timely and adequate treatment allows you to get rid of the symptoms of endogenous depression or, at least, reduce their severity and prevent the development of complications. With traumatic exposure to external factors and in the absence of properly selected therapy, the prognosis worsens.

Prevention

In order to prevent the development of endogenous depression, it is recommended:

avoiding excessive mental and mental stress;
avoidance of vigorous activity at night, especially if there is a tendency to develop endogenous depression;
measured work and rest schedule;
a full night's rest;
balanced diet;
rejection of bad habits;
sufficient physical activity;
avoidance of occupational hazards.

To prevent relapses of depression, patients may be advised to take small doses of antidepressants under the supervision of their attending physician.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Education: “First Kiev Medical College”, specialty “Laboratory Diagnostics”.

The information is generalized and is provided for informational purposes. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor. Self-medication is dangerous to health!

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Depressed mood and abnormal mental state require treatment

Depressive mood deterioration is not just dangerous, as is commonly thought, but much more dangerous. Everyone feels depressed, sad, sad from time to time, but every fifth of those who are sad today needs treatment under the supervision of a doctor.

If you do not pay attention to the change in your condition, sadness or a depressive state may deepen further: melancholy, thoughts about your own guilt and unfitness, the frailty of existence will appear, says Igor Sorokin, a psychotherapist at the Minsk City Psychoneurological Dispensary. - Interest in everything that used to be a significant part of life is lost: family, work, friends, hobbies. Life begins to seem generally bleak, gray and black. It is difficult to think, to do even simple, familiar work.

Physical manifestations also appear:

cardiopalmus,
blood pressure increases or decreases,
changes in appetite, weight,
dry mouth appears,
Tears either disappear completely or appear more frequently,
Libido decreases.

Often it is the physical symptoms that come to the fore and begin to bother the person. Such a person begins to visit clinics and undergo numerous examinations. However, it is not a therapist or neurologist who can help such a patient, but only a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

You should contact these specialists if the following manifestations are observed within two weeks (at least):

low mood;
lack of pleasure from life;
isolation from friends and family;
decreased ability to perform usual work, reluctance to do anything, even take care of appearance;
weakness, difficulty concentrating, reasoning, insomnia or drowsiness, thoughts of guilt or worthlessness;
periodic occurrence of thoughts about death, suicide.

Blues, or depression, also has biological causes. It is known that the blues are caused by low levels of serotonin, a substance with which our brain works harmoniously. Today it is not known exactly why the level of this substance decreases. It has been noted that this can occur as a result of certain diseases and prolonged stress.

Depression can be more or less severe. Depending on the severity of the mental disorder, the psychiatrist selects a medication (antidepressant), which can be used to increase the level of serotonin in certain structures of the brain, and therefore improve mood, restore physical and mental activity, performance, optimism, normal appetite, night sleep, improve general well-being.

Modern antidepressants do not cause addiction or dependence. Although any medication, except therapeutic, also has undesirable effects. You can check with your doctor about these effects. Usually, undesirable effects are mild and disappear soon after the start of use.

It usually takes 7 to 14 days for the patient to notice the first changes for the better. Complete recovery from the painful state occurs in several stages:

relief of painful manifestations,
stabilization of the condition,
prevention of relapse.

More movement, light and vanilla aroma!

Try to maintain a daily routine. Every minute of life should be meaningful. You must know what awaits you in the next hour when you finish doing what you are doing now.
Keep in mind that the best cure for depression is work.
Go to bed and wake up at the same time. Don't let yourself lie in bed even on weekends. Sleep at least 7-8 hours a day.
Allow yourself little joys (buy something nice, visit an exhibition, a performance).
Don't focus on the negative.
The aroma of essential oils of rose, tea tree, vanilla, geranium, chamomile, and mint contributes to a good mood. 2-3 drops of essential oil on a napkin can be attached above a light bulb. This will be enough to scent the room in the evening.
Bright light also improves your mood.

Don't forget about daily physical and mental activity.

Depression- state of low mood.

Depression has many synonyms and words that reflect a similar state. The most common is depression. Actually, the term depression comes from the Latin deprimo, which means “to suppress”, “to crush”.

Other synonyms for depression: prostration, melancholy, apathy, grief, melancholy, despondency, depression, dejection, gloomy, despondent, etc.

Causes of depression and depression

From the point of view of helping a person in a state of depression and for developmental reasons, experts distinguish three types of depressed mood:

1. Depression as a reaction to external unpleasant events.

due to receiving negative information that is traumatic to the psyche. For example, news about a serious illness or death of a loved one, news about the start of a war, about some kind of loss, about a threat to oneself, etc.
a long-lasting psychological conflict between the desired and the actual.
a consequence of overload of the nervous system in the form of prolonged stress or a series of excessive psychological trauma, lack of sleep, malnutrition, exhaustion due to internal diseases.
bad weather.

2. Depression is a manifestation of the disease DEPRESSION. Depression as a painful condition is characterized by decreased mood, loss of the ability to receive pleasure, pessimism, low self-esteem with feelings of guilt and other symptoms.

3. Depression is a manifestation of other mental disorders, such as:

encephalopathy (consequences of organic damage to the central nervous system);
anxiety disorders: phobias, obsessions, panic attacks;
psychosomatic diseases: asthma attacks, irritable bowel syndrome, weight gain (or loss), hypertension, eczema, palpitations, etc.;
addictions (alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling, etc.), especially in the initial period of abstinence from use (maintenance of sobriety);
asthenic syndrome, neurasthenia.

Separately, it should be said that psychiatrists distinguish among mentally healthy people a group of people who have a kind of predisposition to depression.

These are the owners of such personality traits as decreased sociability and activity, hypochondria (exaggeration of health problems), dissatisfaction with current events and with oneself, difficulty making choices due to increased suspiciousness, pessimism and a skeptical attitude towards everything.

These character traits have been observed since childhood and can intensify during periods of hormonal changes in the body. For such people, a low mood level is a kind of norm. The development of depressive conditions requiring medical attention occurs more often in them than in others.

What to do if you start to feel depressed

If this is a one-time temporary condition that does not in any way affect your behavior and ability to work, then you should not pay attention to it, look for something you can switch to and the depression will go away on its own.

Most likely, the cause of such a depressed state is an external factor (stress, psychological trauma, overwork, etc.) and therefore this is a normal mental reaction that does not require treatment.

If a depressed mood lasts more than a few days, arose for no apparent external reason and affects your activities (productivity has decreased, too much stress is required to achieve normal results, absences from work or school), then you should seek help from a specialist, since, most likely All in all, this is already a painful condition.

How to help someone who is depressed

Offer your help, try to assess the cause of suffering yourself and assess whether you need to wait out this condition or require the help of a doctor.

In some cases, you can “escape from depression” by switching to another problem or changing your attitude; in other cases, you should, on the contrary, search and think about this topic.

Don't leave him alone with you. Be persistent if you are faced with refusal to see a specialist when your condition worsens.

Sleep disturbance and weight loss are critical indicators for arranging a consultation with a specialist. Alcohol is a bad and dangerous way to help when you feel depressed or depressed.

Techniques used for depression

Psychological: support, empathy and help in solving current problems from others, “compassion”, relaxation using autogenic training or similar techniques, change of environment (vacation or time off, travel, temporary relocation);
Physical: water treatments (cold shower in the morning, warm bath in the evening), intense and regular physical activity, sound sleep for at least 8 hours, provided you fall asleep before midnight;
Medical (only as prescribed by a doctor): pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, diet therapy, sleep deprivation, etc.

Who can help with depression

With mild depression, any loved one who is capable of empathy can help. Or a psychologist who knows techniques to help cope with depression.

If it is clear that depression has painful features, then you should consult a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

Symptoms that may indicate that depression has turned into depression and a doctor is needed:

anxiety, apathy, melancholy without external reasons;
low self-esteem;
suicidal thoughts;
sleep disturbance: insomnia, lack of feeling of sleep, early awakenings, daytime drowsiness;
diurnal mood swings: worsening in the morning and relief in the evening;
loss of appetite and weight loss. Or vice versa, a strong craving for food;
physical signs of depression: feeling of a lump in the throat, heaviness in the chest, internal trembling, palpitations and shortness of breath, diarrhea or constipation

There is no most effective method or best cure for depression. Each person and case requires its own unique “tools” to combat the state of depression.

Help with depression at the ROSA clinic

We work around the clock, seven days a week.
Convenient location near the metro, parking available.
We accept on first request.
Experienced and sensitive specialists: psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists.
Modern methods of studying the psyche and nervous system.
If necessary, treatment in your own comfortable hospital.
We achieve results in a short time.

Despite the global development of medicine and the high development of technology, humanity is faced with new ailments every year. It is becoming normal for city dwellers to feel depressed. The high speed of life, a lot of stress - all this hits hard on the psyche. Due to the prejudice against psychologists that has developed in society, a person abruptly turns to specialists for help and ultimately worsens his condition. Some people believe that only lazy people and idle people have “no happiness in life,” and suggest treating them with hard work.

Causes of the disease

To treat any disease, it is important to correctly determine the cause of its occurrence. This is necessary to eliminate the likelihood of the situation repeating itself. Since it is not enough to competently cure the symptoms. If the cause persists, the disease will return after a while. often a manifestation of depression. Its causes may be due to disruptions in the hormonal system, as well as psychological and social factors.

Personal problems

For example, a depressed state often occurs in families where there is a high level of conflict, quarrels and assault reign. Often the catalyst for the process is an unfavorable course of life: alcoholism of relatives, loss of work, financial problems, etc.

Psychologists have long studied the manifestations of depression and the causes of its occurrence. They have already repeatedly noted that the mood “there is no happiness in life” is characteristic of people with low self-esteem, a small number of social contacts, etc. That is, people with chronic diseases (due to many disorders, the production of hormones is disrupted) and with certain psychological problems are primarily at risk.

Social phenomenon

A depressed, decadent state among people becomes a normal response to the development of urban civilization. Due to the unstable situation in society, high economic threat, and a lot of stress, almost every person experiences depression in their life. Unfortunately, it is profitable for some corporations to speculate on important public issues and indoctrinate people

At the forefront of everything is financial well-being with a certain set of attributes - this is beneficial for owners of different brands in order to successfully sell goods to a large number of people. The cult of strength and superiority over other people does not lose relevance either. For women, the main problem is weight, since painful thinness is actively promoted on TV screens and from the covers of glossy magazines. Thus, a large number of people are forced into social isolation without the right to failure. So they have to hide their mistakes, failures and experience them within themselves.

How to cope with a depressed state: self-help or treatment?

In the treatment of any psychological problems, use an integrated approach, since only in the aggregate will assistance measures be effective. Only a neurologist or psychiatrist has the right to prescribe medications. He collects anamnesis, conducts a conversation and selects medications. It is important to take them in a course, as the effect of their action accumulates over time.

If the patient is depressed, then, as a rule, he is prescribed antidepressants. Drugs in this group artificially regulate the production of hormones, which helps regulate mood. Sedative medications may be prescribed to reduce feelings of anxiety and restlessness.

But in recent years, studies have appeared that show the ineffectiveness of taking medications alone. Without eliminating the cause of depression, it will appear again and again.

Is psychotherapy the key to success?

Since a depressed state often develops against the background of psychological problems, their solution will be to undergo a course of psychotherapy. A specialist helps a person find the root of his troubles and effectively destroy it. There are many methods of psychotherapy, and it is impossible to determine in advance which one will suit a particular person.

In modern society, there is a prejudice against turning to psychotherapists. Most often this happens due to a reluctance to distinguish between “psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists”, a lack of understanding of what psychotherapy is. Many people find it inconvenient to burden a person with their personal experiences and intimate problems, since all this can become public knowledge. Due to a poor understanding of psychotherapy and its methods, many people think that it is “just a conversation.”

In fact, research has shown that psychotherapy combined with medication is quite effective in overcoming depression.

Help yourself or help a loved one

Close people provide important assistance. If a person is depressed and has lost the joy of life, then outside support provides serious help. Close people should know how to behave correctly in order to help and not harm.

Show sympathy, do not try to plunge into the abyss of pessimism and despair with a sick person. Maintain an emotional distance, but provide the necessary support and emphasize positive emotions.

Scientific research has proven that the deterioration of the patient’s condition occurs where he is subjected to a wave of criticism. Therefore, loved ones should refrain from making assessments and comments. It is important to create an atmosphere of understanding and support, to show the patient that the disease is not his fault, and he needs treatment. You also need to involve the person in some kind of active activity.

When depressed, people feel trapped in a way that cuts them off from their familiar environment, thus preventing them from responding appropriately and interacting with others. Typical complaints for people in this state are loss of joy in life, sadness, guilt and worthlessness. They experience loss of energy and interest, sleep disturbances, disturbances in appetite and weight, impaired sense of time, no desire to communicate with other people, as a result of which family relationships are destroyed, as well as personal and social connections, as a rule, fail, as a person feels insecure in all areas of life, and is sometimes unable to get out of his confinement, or this is given to him through very great efforts on himself, which depends on the degree of the state of oppression.

For as long as written sources have existed, there have been indications that people have suffered from depression at all times. Back in the 8th century BC, Homer described depressive suffering in the Illiad. He told how Bellerophon wandered aimlessly and moaned in anguish and despair:

He wandered around the Aleysky field, alone,
Gnawing at my own heart, running away from traces of a person...

The so-called notes of Hippocrates say that if fear and sadness last for a long time, we can talk about a melancholic state. The ancient Greeks called mental pain “melancholy,” that is, black bile; in the Middle Ages, its name was Acedia and was understood as lethargy and laziness; with the advent of natural science medicine in the 19th century, the term depression began to strengthen and was understood as depression. The changes that occur in a state of melancholia or depression are basically comparable, and it is certain that the depressive experience has always existed.

Let's talk about some aspects that accompany the state of depression. And let's start with sadness.

Many people are familiar with the feeling of sadness. Not everyone understands a person's deep, lasting, incapacitating sadness. A depressed state, when he feels like a “living lemon”, and tears - healing for ordinary sadness - dry before his eyes before they can be shed. The beginning of a depressed state and its companion sadness can be due to various reasons: the loss of a significant person, possession or status, in the way we attach meaning to our concepts, feelings, ideals and circumstances, in the feeling of lack or loss of positive emotions such as love, self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction, in feelings of deprivation, pessimism and self-criticism. While sadness is a normal and healthy response to any setback and is common, sadness that does not improve over time is pathological. People who experience normal sadness are usually able to talk about it, know why they are sad, and still have hope that the sadness will dissipate. Depression occurs when normal metabolism is absent or significantly weakened.

Immediately after sadness comes “loss of joy,” “inability to enjoy,” “lack of pleasure.” Depressed people become more and more incapable of enjoying. This, as a rule, is reflected in their relationships primarily with relatives, hobbies become boring, the perception of art and music, which they previously enjoyed, loses its attractiveness, the world of nature and sounds is deprived of diversity. This causes them anxiety, they know that the joy is gone, but cannot understand where and how to get it back, the fact that a person does not find pleasure in things or people leads him or her to emotional alienation from activities and people who would usually stimulate her. The deep sense of isolation that comes with being depressed usually makes communication difficult and becomes a burden. In cases of severe depression, a person is consumed by feelings of guilt and worthlessness: “I’m worthless,” “The world is meaningless,” “The future is hopeless.” Minor offenses and omissions can be magnified into huge violations of moral standards, that is, when depressed, our normal feelings of doubt become exaggerated.

Also, in a depressed state, self-esteem suffers. Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels valuable, worthy, and competent. Low self-esteem is most often accompanied by feelings of unhappiness, anger, a sense of threat, fatigue, withdrawal, tension, frustration, a sense of coercion, conflict and inhibition. There is a strong connection between parental warmth, acceptance, respect, and an explicit set of boundaries and positive self-esteem in children. We can say that people with high self-esteem have loving parents, while people with low self-esteem have unloving ones. People who have low self-esteem or evaluation of others tend to immediately feel helpless or hopeless in the face of loss.

When a person begins to slip, stuck in a state of inexhaustible sadness, sadness, lack of joy in life, loss of interest, of course, a warm atmosphere of understanding and support in the family is a great help, but also important and necessary is the professional help of a psychotherapist who will help find the lost time. that's joy.

Depression as a rhythm disorder

From research in the field of depression, it is known that its characteristic signs are that mental and speech activity, as well as the ability of a person to act while in a state of depression, become inhibited. But it has also been established that in a state of depression the rhythm of sleep also changes.

It is known that in the state of sleep there are two types of its activation, which are fundamentally different from each other. One of them is “slow-wave sleep,” which, in contrast to the waking state, does not exhibit any patterns of rapid arousal, but, depending on the depth of sleep, is characterized by more or less slow waves on the EEG. The second type of sleep is the so-called “paradoxical sleep,” which, according to the pattern of brain biocurrents, is close to the state of wakefulness, although the sleeper did not wake up and did not change his posture. Previously, dreams were attributed to this phase of sleep, also commonly called the REM phase.

EEG recordings made during depression show a reduction in the period of slow-wave sleep, and especially its deep phase, and in parallel a large number of periods of wakefulness appear. These findings reflect, in the language of electroencephalography, the precise sensation of shallow, interrupted sleep in depressed patients. Even more revealing are the changes in “paradoxical sleep.” On the one hand, this type of sleep, which is close to the waking state, occurs more often in people who are depressed. However, it is distributed over time differently than in healthy people. The first stage of REM sleep usually occurs approximately 70-110 minutes after falling asleep. In people who are depressed, this time is sharply reduced and ranges from 20 to 60 minutes. This phenomenon is observed so frequently that it is actually a reliable indicator of depression. In contrast, this phenomenon does not occur in people who, without being depressed, suffer from insomnia or only show mild depressive mood changes for a short time.

And so, as a result of studies conducted using an electroencephalogram, it was found that a healthy person sleeps deeply at the beginning of the night, and REM sleep appears no earlier than an hour and a half later. And the predominant part of REM sleep occurs in the second half of the night, when sleep becomes more superficial. In a depressed person, on the contrary, REM sleep begins within half an hour after falling asleep and lasts for a long time. There is no deep sleep for most of the night. Hormonal secretion in a person in a state of depression is significantly altered: the increase in cortisol secretion in depression is earlier than in a healthy person, while growth hormone, which in a healthy person is secreted mainly at the beginning of the night, is sharply reduced. In conclusion, it can be noted that rhythm disturbances undoubtedly remain one of the main biological signs of people in a state of depression. Due to the lack of deep sleep, the load on the body as a whole increases, since a person in a depressed state is forced to stay awake longer, and thus is knocked out of the usual rhythm of life. Such an overwhelming load, in people who are depressed, leads to an increased release of the stress hormone cortisol.