What is depression? Why does depression occur? What are the symptoms of depression?
Introduction:
From time to time we all suffer from sadness, frustration and boredom. Usually these symptoms go away in a week or two and it doesn't make much difference in our lives. Sometimes this sadness starts for some reason and sometimes it starts without any reason. Usually we deal with this sadness on our own. Sometimes talking to friends cures this sadness and does not require any treatment. But medically sadness is called as depression when:
* The feeling of sadness lasts for many days and never ends
* The severity of depression is so great that the daily routine of life began to be affected by it.
How does depression feel?
The severity of depression is much deeper and more painful than the general depression we all experience from time to time. Its duration is much longer than normal sadness and lasts for months. The following symptoms indicate depression. Not all patients have all the symptoms, but if you have at least four of them, you may be suffering from depression.
۔ Being sad and depressed all the time or most of the time
۔ Don't be fond of things and things you are already interested in, don't enjoy anything
۔ Feeling physically or mentally weak, feeling very tired
۔ Not being able to concentrate on daily tasks or things
۔ Feeling we have 'Run out of gas' emotionally
۔ Keep blaming yourself for the little things of the past, think of yourself as useless and useless.
۔ Frustration with the future
۔ Suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide
۔ Sleep deprivation
۔ Loss of appetite
Why does depression occur?
Some people may or may not have a specific cause for depression. Many people who are depressed and suffer from depression do not understand the cause of their depression. Nevertheless, their depression sometimes becomes so severe that they need help and treatment.
* Matters of life
It is normal to feel sad for a while after a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or loss of a job. For the next few weeks we keep thinking and talking about it. Then after a while we realize this fact and come back to our daily life. But some people get out of this sadness. They can't get out and suffer from depression.
• Circumstances and events
If we are lonely, have no friends around us, we suffer from depression, or we suffer from extreme physical fatigue, then the risk of developing depression increases.
* Physical illnesses
Physically ill people have an increased risk of developing depression. These diseases can be life-threatening, such as cancer or heart disease, or they can be very long-lasting and painful, such as joint pain or respiratory diseases. Young people are more likely to develop viral infections such as depression after the flu.
• Personality
Depression can happen to anyone at any time, but some people have a higher risk of developing depression than others. This may be due to our personality and also the circumstances and experiences of childhood.
Drinking alcohol
Most of the people who drink a lot of alcohol get depression. They drink a lot of alcohol and have a higher risk of suicide than the average person.
• Sex
Women are more likely to have depression than men.
Heredity
Depression is more common in some families. For example, if one of your parents suffers from depression, you are eight times more likely to develop depression than other people.
What is Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder?
About 10% of people who suffer from severe depression also have seizures when they are overjoyed for no apparent reason and are doing more than normal. This rapid seizure is called mania and the disease is called bipolar disorder. The rate of this disease is equal in men and women and this disease is more prevalent in some families.
Is Depression Another Name for Personal Weakness?
Just as diabetes is a disease and high blood pressure is a disease, so is depression. This disease can affect any person, no matter how strong they are inside. Just as patients with other illnesses deserve empathy and treatment, so do patients with depression who deserve empathy and treatment, not to be criticized and ridiculed.
How can you help yourself to depression?
* Don't keep your emotional state a secret.
If you've heard any bad news, share it with someone close to you and let them know how you're feeling inside. Often the words of grief are repeated in front of a close person, crying and talking about it lightens the burden of the heart.
Do physical work.
Keep exercising, even if it's just a half-hour walk every day. Exercise also improves a person's physical health and sleep. Keep yourself busy with some chores, even housework.
This keeps the human mind away from painful thoughts.
* Eat good food.
It is very important to eat a balanced diet even if your heart does not want to eat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most beneficial. In depression, people skip meals, which leads to deficiency of vitamins in the body and makes the condition worse.
* Stay away from alcohol.
Some people find that drinking alcohol reduces the severity of their depression. In fact, drinking can make depression worse. It may be temporarily beneficial for a few hours but later you will feel more depressed. Drinking too much alcohol makes your problems worse, you don't get the right help and your physical health starts to deteriorate.
Sleep
Don't worry about not getting enough sleep. Even if you can't sleep, lying down comfortably watching TV or listening to the radio will give you peace of mind and reduce your anxiety.
* Try to eliminate the cause of depression.
If you think you know the cause of your depression, writing it down and considering how to deal with it can help reduce depression.
Don't be discouraged.
Remind yourself that:
Other people have gone through the same experience as you.
One day you will get rid of your depression even if you don't feel like it yet.
How can depression be treated?
Depression can be treated with psychotherapy, antidepressants and both at the same time. Depending on the nature of your depressive symptoms, their severity and your condition, it may be advisable to use medication or psychotherapy. The use of psychotherapy in mild to moderate depression can cure the condition but if the depression is more severe then it is necessary to give medicine.
Verbal therapy (psychotherapy)
Most people with depression feel better when they share their feelings with a trusted person. Sometimes it is difficult to share your feelings with relatives or friends. In this case, it is easier to talk to a psychologist. Treatment with psychotherapy takes time. You usually see a psychiatrist for one hour each week and this can last from 3 weeks to 6 weeks.
Antidepressants.
If your depression is severe or has been going on for a long time, your doctor may prescribe you antidepressant medication. These medications reduce depression, make life better and improve your ability to cope. Keep in mind that the benefits of antidepressant medications do not start to show immediately after starting the medication but may take 3 to 4 weeks. Some people feel that they fall asleep within a few days after starting the medication. It gets better and the anxiety subsides but it takes several weeks for depression to subside.
How do antidepressants work?
The human brain contains a number of chemicals that transmit signals from one cell to another. Depression is thought to be caused by a deficiency of two special chemicals called serotonin and norepinephrine. Antidepressants help increase the amount of these chemicals in the brain.
Side effects of antidepressant drugs.
Like all other antidepressants, antidepressants have side effects, but they are usually not severe and go away in a short period of time. SSRI antidepressants cause nausea and anxiety in some patients in the early days. Dry mouth and constipation can occur in the first few weeks after taking tricyclic antidepressant medication. If these side effects are not severe, it is likely that your doctor will tell you to continue the medication, as in most patients the effect is reduced or eliminated by continuing the medication.
Some antidepressants can cause drowsiness, so they are recommended to be taken before going to bed at night. Avoid driving and using heavy machinery when drowsy. Some medications may interact with other medications, so consult your doctor about any medications you are using. If you continue to drink alcohol while taking antidepressant medication, you will get a lot of sleep and will not get the full benefit of the medication.
See your doctor regularly after starting the medication to see if you are benefiting from the medication and whether it is having side effects. Anti-depressants This has to be continued for at least another six months or else there is a risk of recurrence of the disease. Antidepressants are gradually discontinued. Do not stop taking medicine on your own suddenly without your doctor's advice.
Most people worry before they start taking antidepressants that they will become addicted to them and then they will have to take these medicines for the rest of their lives. This is not true. People do not become addicted to antidepressants in the same way that people become addicted to sleeping pills such as valium, alcohol or nicotine. There is no need to increase the quantity and there is no strong demand for them.
However, if you stop taking antidepressant drugs suddenly, there may be complaints of anxiety, diarrhea and nightmares. These complaints are rare if the drugs are stopped slowly.
Do I need to see a psychiatrist?
Many patients with depression recover with treatment from their family doctor. If your condition does not improve, you may need to see a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are doctors and have since been trained in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
What happens if I don't get treatment?
The good news is that 80% of patients with depression recover without treatment, but this can take four to six months or more. The reason is that the remaining 20% of patients will be depressed for the next two years without treatment and it is not possible to predict who will recover and who will not recover. If nature can improve then why man has been suffering so much for many months. Some people become so depressed that they commit suicide. So if your depressive symptoms have intensified and are not diminishing, your depression has begun to affect your work, interests, and relationships with relatives and friends, or you Thoughts are beginning to emerge that there is no point in living and that it is better for other people to die, so you should see your doctor or psychiatrist for immediate treatment.
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