Severe depression: how to cure it?

Prolonged depression has become a real scourge of modern society. Exposure to constant stress, high pace of life, social and economic crises leads to the development of this disease, which affects all layers of society.

Most often it begins between the ages of 40 and 45, but there are cases of its development in adolescents. And among older people, the figure almost triples.

How to recognize depression?

Acute depression occurs in young and middle-aged people. Only recently a person was cheerful and active, and now he is losing interest in life, gets tired quickly, and does not show positive emotions.

Sometimes depression begins very early, in childhood or adolescence. In this case, even the person himself sometimes cannot identify this disease, and everyone around him considers this a feature of his character. Therefore, the patient does not consult a doctor, and the disease continues to progress slowly.

Symptoms of prolonged depression depend on the reason for which it develops, the most common of which are:

1. Often this condition accompanies a severe somatic illness (myocardial infarction, cancer, tuberculosis). All this time, the patient experiences enormous stress, especially when the illness is accompanied by severe pain. If the physical condition gradually deteriorates, then neuroticization of the personality occurs. In this case, depression resembles a hypochondriacal state (continuous fear for one’s life, fear of being a burden to others).
2. Alcoholism . Typically, certain personality traits lead to excessive alcohol consumption, which gradually worsen with the duration of alcoholism. In this case, depression worsens and suicide attempts occur.
3. There are often cases of prolonged depression in women after the birth of a baby. This condition is called postpartum depression, and manifests itself in the form of predominantly associative thinking, loss of a sense of reality, decrease or loss of tactile sensitivity.

What to do if you are depressed

If you don’t want to do anything and you are constantly fixated on the negative, you may have fallen into one of the most unpleasant mental states - depression. This article will help you understand yourself and get out of this mental hell.

How do you know if you are depressed?

During a depressive period, a person seems to turn into some kind of machine, producing only negative thoughts and emotions. Anything can provoke a disorder: dissatisfaction with a career, lack of mutual understanding with a partner, financial instability. You can fall into depression easily and unnoticed even by yourself, but it’s not always possible to get out.

The depressive phase is divided into 3 stages:

1. inability to experience feelings of joy;
2. destructive thinking - negative judgments, apathy, pessimism;
3. inhibition of motor functions.

Pay attention! Depression is a difficult condition; it often provokes heart pathologies and impotence.

Depression in men is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

• Lack of hunger. Appetite suddenly disappears.
• Decreased libido and sexual desire.
• Loss of interest in activities that you previously enjoyed.
• Indifference to everything that happens. And if something bad happens, it only aggravates your condition.
• The desire to be alone. You don't want to engage in dialogue and share your thoughts. But keep in mind, the longer you are alone, the more widespread the disorder will become.
• A recurring feeling of hopelessness and despair.
• Increasing craving for alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
• Constant negative thoughts. There is simply no room in your head for pleasant ideas and emotions, so you always feel bad.

You begin to believe that no one can bring you out of such a depressing state. And you're right, only your brain, which you control, can do this. After all, depression is nothing more than a state of your mind. Only you know what you are going through and what you are feeling.

No one can really feel your mental state and give competent advice. But this is logical and fair, because this is not someone else’s problem, but yours, and it will not haunt you constantly. Depression is a current state from which you will definitely get out.

What you need to know about the disorder?

You must understand that depression:

• It's a state of mind. Yes, everyone has negative thoughts from time to time, but people with depression have them periodically and in large quantities.
• Depressed people are not mentally ill. They are simply going through an unfavorable psychological phase.
• The thoughts seem damn real. A depressed person cannot understand the difference between his thoughts and reality.

And believe me, this is not forever.

Ways to get rid of depression

The first thing you need to realize is that the cause of your disorder doesn’t matter, you just have to take responsibility for your current state. Don't blame anyone for this, not even yourself, the culprit is your brain, and your body will help reboot it.

Physical actions are as effective as possible. When you do something physically, your subconscious mind notices it. There is a realization that your actions contradict your negative thoughts. This will gradually change your perception of yourself.

Understand! Depression does not indicate your emotional weakness or lack of masculinity. Every person experiences mood swings and an unwillingness to live.

When you think in a negative way, it affects your body. When the body and mind are filled with negativity, there is no room for good. Start controlling your thoughts now. Yes, it won't be easy right away, but your body will help you, use it to tame your brain.

These methods will help you overcome severe depression:

• Do something that will engage your mind. This will distract the mind from depressing thoughts, and gradually it will begin to emerge from the “autopilot” state. The more often you do this, the less your brain will tend to fall back on old ways of thinking.
• Start doing simple exercises in the morning. Physical activity releases endorphins in brain cells.
• Try to be surrounded by people. Don't sit alone.
• Do not take antidepressants (unless your doctor has prescribed them for you). These drugs have negative effects on the body. Vitamin C has also been shown to effectively reduce levels of cortisol, the main stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands.
• Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep causes and worsens depression. Go to bed when you really want to, and for deeper sleep it is recommended to eat 3-4 yolks a day. Egg yolks contain vitamin B6, which promotes the biosynthesis of melatonin (for deeper sleep).
• Get enough sunlight. Sunlight dispels negativity and synthesizes vitamin D, which is necessary for the production of hormones that support your mental health.
• Take a cold shower. It has a powerful antidepressant effect.

And also pay attention to your breathing, it is directly related to your state of mind. If the brain is excited, the breathing rate will be fast. Therefore, consciously observe your consciousness: you can calm your mind simply by slowing down your breathing rhythm.

Follow the described tips daily, and your mind will gradually lose power over you. The main thing is patience. Understand that you are not your brain, it should not control you, but you should control it. When this happens, you will be able to solve those mental problems that make you think negatively.

Need to understand

The advice in this article will naturally not help people with genetically induced depression (whose brains naturally produce low levels of dopamine).

In such cases, consultation with a psychiatrist and competent pharmacological treatment are required. But these tips will be useful for those who have briefly fallen into mental negativity and cannot cope with it.

Try them, they really work.

Perhaps you missed:

• Symptoms of midlife crisis in men

Source: https://Statusmen.ru/lifestyle/depression

Common signs of depression

Despite the multiple reasons that can lead a person to prolonged depression, there are common symptoms of this pathology:

• sleep and appetite disturbances;
• lack of positive emotions, constant bad mood;
• a feeling of constant weakness, inability and unwillingness to fulfill one’s obligations;
• desire for solitude;
• decreased libido;
• distrust of people, refusal to accept help.

In order to understand whether a patient has prolonged depression, or whether it is simply a manifestation of certain character traits, one should carefully monitor him. Depression is diagnosed when most of the symptoms of this disorder are observed.

Myths about depression

Myth No. 1. “This is nothing - an everyday matter, a person is upset”; “There’s nothing to do, so he’s acting out”; “A person does not know how to control his emotions.” I will disappoint optimists, depression is a serious illness that requires the help of a specialist. Of course, with mild forms of depression - depressive states, a person can cope on his own, it’s like dealing with a cold. But if the condition lasts more than a month, there is a danger of becoming seriously ill. And the deeper a person goes into a state of depression, the more difficult it is to help him. It is depression that pushes to suicide.

Myth No. 2. A person with depression will be put in a mental hospital, and that’s it – life is over! No, that's not true. Even if treatment in a hospital is required, the person will not be registered, only if there are repeated attempts at suicide.

Myth No. 3. Depression is forever. No. With adequate treatment, a depressive episode may not recur.

Myth No. 4. Read advice in magazines and on the Internet on how to get rid of depression, dress brighter, play louder music, have more friends - and that’s it! Everything can be taken away as if by hand! NOT TRUE!!! To put all these tips into practice, you need energy to take potential action, and depression is a lack of vital energy.

What does depression lead to?

If measures are not taken, this condition has very negative consequences:

• Deterioration of health. Loss of interest in life leads to a person starting to use drugs and alcohol. Exercising, walking and eating a healthy diet greatly undermines your health and leads to the development of serious diseases.
• The accumulation of negativity can result in a nervous breakdown, in which there is no control . The patient may then commit fatal actions.
• Deterioration in appearance. A person suffering from depression is characterized by severe asthenia, or obesity, external unkemptness, sloppiness, and a dull look.

A long course leads to the development of mental disorders, which can only be treated by a psychiatrist.

Depression and friends

We must try to keep up with social life. You can find like-minded people, people who find themselves in a similar situation, for example, on social networks. If you find a friend who has a similar problem, then you will have a chance to become needed by someone, to help someone else.

Try to meet up with old friends and go to a movie, a cafe, a concert together, or just take a walk in the park, make a schedule for daily walks and stick to it.

It is important to start expanding your social circle. New acquaintances will provide new experiences. It happens that a chance acquaintance turns the whole way of thinking upside down, new ideas, activities, and depression are acquired - no matter what.

Help for depression

If the disease drags on for a long time, then the person is no longer able to cope with it on his own. At such a moment, specialists (psychologists, neurologists, psychotherapists) come to the rescue. Only a doctor knows how to treat protracted depression, since there is no single recipe for this pathology.

To provide assistance in this situation, an integrated approach is used. And it is very important that the patient has a sincere desire to get rid of his problem, otherwise any methods will be ineffective.

At the first stage, he recommends taking medications that are aimed at eliminating irritability, normalizing sleep, and eliminating the influence of negative factors.

After this, the psychologist helps the client gain self-confidence, see the positive sides of life, and understand their place in it. Work is carried out individually, or in the form of group classes.

A person suffering from such an illness must independently come to the conclusion that he needs to take steps towards recovery:

1. Switch to a balanced and healthy diet.
2. Ensure yourself a good night's rest.
3. Use herbal medicine in the form of soothing decoctions and baths for relaxation.
4. Do exercises every day. Physical exercise promotes the production of serotonin, which is so lacking in depression.
5. Take care of your appearance. Buy new clothes, change your hairstyle, makeup, think over your style.
6. Do yoga, meditation, self-development.

The main thing with this problem is to stop feeling excessive pity for yourself, not to get hung up on your condition, and not to sit idly by.

Only in this case is it possible to overcome depression and return to life as a full-fledged member of society.

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Severe depression: symptoms and treatment, how to get out, how to get rid of it yourself

Severe depression is a chronic mental disorder that threatens with dangerous consequences, including the destruction of physical health and the development of a suicidal state.

Symptoms of severe depression

Major depression has the following manifestations:

• apathy;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• depressed mood;
• lack of interest in people around you, work, hobbies, previous interests;
• increased anxiety, restlessness, internal tension;
• guilt, low self-esteem;
• memory impairment, decreased ability to concentrate;
• obsessive thoughts of suicide.

Prolonged depression entails not only mental disorders, but also health problems:

• sleep disturbance;
• sudden change in body weight;
• loss of appetite;
• anorexia or bulimia;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• muscle pain:
• disruption of the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• constipation;
• disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pain in the abdominal area;
• erectile dysfunction in men;
• menstrual disorder and anorgasmia in women;
• impairment of psychomotor functions (slow thinking, speech, motor coordination disorder).

Long-term depression often entails the development of alcoholism and drug addiction, which allow one to temporarily get rid of internal discomfort and depressing thoughts.

Severe depression is also manifested by a change in the patient’s behavioral model. A person strives for solitude, avoids communication with others, refuses walks and various types of entertainment, and his ability to work decreases.

Causes of deep depression

Psychotherapists identify several groups of factors that cause severe depression.

Psychological factors

This category includes:

• suffered stress;
• problems in the family, at work or at school;
• disorders in the functioning of the central nervous system;
• severe mental trauma (death of loved ones, disability, physical or sexual violence);
• violation of internal harmony;
• lack of life goals and aspirations;
• frustration - the discrepancy between life realities and a person’s hopes and ideas;
• personal conflicts;
• loss of meaning in life.

Biological factors

Severe depression can develop due to health problems and the following biological factors:

• hormonal imbalances;
• lack of regular, fulfilling sex life;
• unbalanced diet;
• alcohol abuse;
• drug overdose or prolonged use;
• severe physical, mental, psycho-emotional fatigue;
• prolonged and uncontrolled use of hormonal and psychotropic drugs;
• severe form of intoxication of the body;
• insufficient physical activity, sedentary lifestyle;
• traumatic brain injuries;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• disruption of cerebral circulation processes;
• Parkinson's disease;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

Social factors

Depression can be triggered by:

• destruction of family relationships (divorce, loss of parents);
• change in social status;
• protracted conflicts in the family or team;
• destruction and failure of previous life strategies;
• social isolation.

Stages of pathological syndrome formation

Severe depression does not occur suddenly, but develops gradually. Stages of pathological syndrome formation:

1. Negation. Outwardly, a person’s lifestyle does not change, but he experiences a severe internal conflict. The patient turns on psychological defense mechanisms based on denial of reality. It manifests itself as changes in eating behavior, psycho-emotional instability, and sudden mood swings.
2. Resentment and anger. At this stage, a person begins to look for those to blame for his serious condition. Signs such as attacks of uncontrolled aggression, tearfulness, increased anxiety, and irritability appear.
3. Stage 3. The patient experiences hormonal disruptions, and the production of serotonin, the pleasure hormone, decreases. A person begins to lose or rapidly gain weight, suffer from insomnia, headaches, and suffer from exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
4. Last stage. It is characterized by pathological processes that destroy the physical health and psyche of a person. The patient loses control over his own behavior, the ability for adequate, rational thinking, and becomes potentially dangerous both for himself and the people around him.

Psychotic signs of major depression

Major depression can be expressed psychotically:

• hallucinations;
• obsessive states;
• denial of life's realities;
• intolerance to other people's opinions;
• hypertrophied feeling of guilt;
• panic fear;
• expectation of something terrible (fatal illness, disaster, death of loved ones).

Somatic signs of prolonged depression

Prolonged depression has somatic signs:

• heart pain;
• disturbances of heart rhythm and palpitations;
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• pain in the hypochondrium;
• prostration;
• problems with the functioning of the digestive system.

Patients complain of various painful sensations and often convince themselves of the presence of severe pathologies, but medical studies and analyzes do not reveal any physiological abnormalities in a person.

Peculiarities of thinking of depressed individuals

The depressive personality type occurs in people who are especially prone to developing depression. In most cases, they are pessimists and see the world in “black terms”.

Personalities of this type are not satisfied with themselves and those around them, no matter how much success they achieve in the social sphere. Most often, such people are introverts, reserved, difficult to make contact, and prefer solitude.

They are characterized by excessive feelings of guilt, self-doubt, fear of failure, panic states that arise during any changes, changes, or life difficulties.

Consequences of a severe pathological condition

In the absence of timely treatment, prolonged depression can lead to:

• to the loss of social status (people's relationships with friends and relatives collapse, they lose their jobs, professionalism);
• to a lack of desire to live;
• to severe mental illness;
• to suicide attempts;
• to the development of pathological addictions;
• to social isolation.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of depressive syndrome begins with a consultation with a psychotherapist. While talking with the patient, the doctor evaluates his speech, speed of reactions, and cognitive functions. Conducts an analysis of concomitant symptoms and the results of the collected anamnesis.

To make an accurate diagnosis and determine the stage of depression, a pathopsychological examination, differential diagnosis, and psychological tests are performed.

Patients are prescribed laboratory tests, an ECG, a consultation with a narcologist and a therapist in order to exclude Parkinson's disease, hypothyroidism, drug or alcohol addiction, and oncology.

Treatment of severe depression

The treatment of severe depressive syndrome should be approached comprehensively and very seriously. The following methods of therapy are most effective:

• use of antidepressants;
• diet therapy;
• psychotherapy;
• insulin;
• electroconvulsive.

Medications allow you to relieve the physiological and somatic manifestations of depression, and sessions with a psychologist help you find a purpose in life and find a way out of the current difficult situation.

To achieve a positive result, it is important to provide the patient with a balanced and fortified diet, good rest, walks in the fresh air, physical activity, and protect him as much as possible from stress factors.

The task of a person in this state is to make his life as harmonious and easy as possible: positive emotions, joyful meetings with pleasant people, improving skills in his favorite hobby.

Which specialist should I contact?

Diagnosis and treatment of severe depressive conditions are carried out by specialists such as neurologists, psychologists, and psychotherapists. In especially advanced cases, you will need the help of a psychiatrist who will help you choose the right medications and methods of psychotherapeutic correction.

Drug treatment

The following medications are used to relieve the syndrome:

• atypical antidepressants;
• drugs that promote serotonin reuptake;
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors;
• tricyclic antidepressants.

Drug therapy also involves the use of tranquilizers, which eliminate the feeling of anxiety and have pronounced sedative properties.

Nootropic drugs help improve blood circulation and normalize brain functions.

Immunomodulating agents, vitamin-mineral complexes, and sleeping pills are also prescribed.

Psychologist's advice

The patient needs individual psychological consultations using methods of occupational, Gestalt and art therapy. Classes in self-help groups give good results.

To eliminate a depressive state, you should pay attention to the advice of a psychologist:

• do not engage in self-flagellation;
• reduce the load and give the body proper rest;
• spend more time in nature, take walks in the fresh air;
• get a good night's sleep;
• lead a regular intimate life.

It is important not to be ashamed of your emotions and not to hide them, to find the meaning of life and a sense of significance by caring for children, animals, and performing social tasks. A person needs to reconsider his life, evaluate his own successes and make plans for the future, without setting unattainable goals.

You should not withdraw into yourself, you need to go out to people, communicate even in the absence of such a desire.

How to get out of deep depression on your own?

Getting out of deep depression on your own is an extremely difficult task. First of all, a person needs to realize that there is a problem and get support from family and friends.

The following recommendations will help you overcome depressive syndrome:

1. Positive thinking. It is difficult to think optimistically while in such a state, but you should control your thoughts and promptly replace negative language with positive one.
2. Keeping a diary and doing creative work are methods that allow you to throw out your negative experiences and analyze your own thinking.
3. Physical activity. In case of depression, you should play sports and give your body regular, feasible physical activity.
4. Improving quality of life. A person needs to try to bring as many positive emotions into his life as possible. To do this, you should try to make your old dream come true, to do those things that previously brought pleasure and joy.

Disease prevention

The following preventive measures will help prevent the development of this disease:

• adherence to daily routine;
• adequate sleep (at least 8 hours throughout the day);
• spending time together with family members and friends;
• healthy lifestyle, giving up cigarettes and alcohol abuse;
• regular physical activity;
• proper, balanced nutrition;
• reducing stress levels in life to a minimum.

Even with a busy schedule, it is important to find time for self-development, entertainment, doing what you love, and communicating with interesting, pleasant people. Making plans for the future and defining clear life goals will also reduce the risk of developing depression.

Source: https://StressX.ru/depressiya/tyazhelaya-priznaki-i-lechenie

Depression is a disease of the 21st century

How much do we know about this word? At first glance, that's enough. We know approximately the state of a depressed person. Dejection, melancholy, don’t want anything, don’t raise your hands for anything, no goals in life, work doesn’t make you happy, those around you are annoying, tired of everything, dead end... All our thoughts and feelings are subject to the desire to be alone with ourselves, turn off the phone, no one not to see, and to think, think, think. “I wish I could go somewhere into the forest, into the mountains. To a place where no one will be. Just me.

Find some hut, light a fire, look at it, and think, think, think.” Thinking about it is probably useful. But it depends on what. The main thing is that it’s not like in that very work “Woe from Wit.” Thinking is being alone with yourself, asking yourself questions and answering them. Your Self, as deep as the great blue sea. Only you can truly dive into this sea. No matter how well those around you know you, they only think that they know you. Whatever you say about yourself to others is just words, and you are the master of your word.

Our deep, blue self

In a noisy city with an underground metro, you will never see it anywhere. Invisible to the eye, along an uninhabited path, entangled in silt, behind a mountain hill. Neither an animal, nor a hunter, nor a prodigal fellow traveler, He will be seen behind the mountain hill, Only mountain birds can circle there, Perch on a roof overgrown with moss. It is covered with thorny branches, and river banks wind through ravines. Not a cry, not a trace, only I, since I was little, have access from God to get there. Closed windows, boarded doors, Neither a thief, nor a friend, nor a fierce beast can see the hut with an overgrown roof, Only I have been commanded from above to pray there.

Some kind of our “I”. And blue-deep, and hidden from all human eyes. And what is there in this “I” of ours - only we ourselves know, remaining alone with ourselves. Without “masks”, “patronymics”, “ties”, without everything. And we begin to dive into this blue “I”. Actually blue. Not cloudy, not black. We paint our sea black and try to plunge deeper and deeper into it. We are trying to reach the very bottom, that is, to find the very healing power that spreads our wings. Some unthinkable truth. Unthinkable because it is not on the surface, and we cannot seem to grasp and comprehend it. And we find no answers.

But life, real and earthly, does not stand still. The planet rotates, civilization is equipped, modernized, consumed. Success rules the world. “What do I care about this success and all this fuss? For what? I'm tired. Tired of living in a constant desire to get the best and survive. Always be taller than others, better than others, faster than others, stronger than others, smarter than others. I need some rest. I want to dive into my deep, blue sea.”

Let me congratulate you!
You are already up to your neck in your blue and deep sea. What do we do? Should I dive further? Or is it time to throw yourself a life preserver? Psychologist Vera Anatolyevna Maslennikova