Depression – Diagnosis and Treatment

The problem of depression

According to statistics data, by 2015 depression will come on the first place among all mankind diseases, ahead of cardiovascular disorders and oncology.

Diagnosis of Depression

Did you know that depression - it is not only bad mood, causeless sadness and tearfulness. First and foremost it is the lack of enjoyment of life, which seems to have lost all its colors, leaving us with only one gray color. There is nothing left, except heavy duty, suffering and disease. When you have insomnia, worries, or lost sexual desire and have no strength even for the usual household chores, a psychologist can help you.

14 reasons not to put off a visit to psychologist:

1. Bleak, depression, depressed mood;
2. Loss of vital interests;
3. Inability to make decisions, compulsive return to the same issues;
4. Fear inner restlessness, anxiety;
5. Fatigue, lack of energy;
6. Insomnia, somnolence;
7. Increased irritability;
8. Loss of appetite, weight loss or the contrary overeating;
9. Lack of sexual interest;
10. Feeling of pressure, heaviness or pain in the abdomen, chest and other body parts;
11. Vegetative symptoms (dry mouth, constipation, sweating, etc.);
12. Inability to concentrate, impaired memory;
13. Frequent alcoholism or substance abuse, giving temporary relief
14. Thoughts of suicide (in severe cases);

Depression – it is a mental disorder, the main symptoms are persistent long-term depressed mood, feeling of sadness, and sensation of total futility. This condition may be accompanied excitement, slow thinking, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, insomnia (early morning awakening), breach of appetite, decreased libido.

Depression is often masked under somatic (bodily) diseases. In this case, a person will complain first on the loss of efficiency, weakness, weight loss, high blood pressure, heart rate, abdominal pain, arthralgia, back pain, etc. The person is talking about poor general state of health, loss of strength, etc. To understand the true cause of these disorders is required detailed psychodiagnostics.

Severe depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts may be a manifestation of a manic-depressive psychosis, schizophrenia, a consequence long-term alcoholization or acute psychological trauma. Such people urgently need professional psychotherapeutic care and hospitalization.

How to prevent the development of depression?

• Do not impose yourself too high requirements;
• Do not blame yourself for failure, not “hung up” on it, but first of all, calm down, gather your thoughts and carefully analyze what was your mistake, and then to try to find a fresh solution;
• Make yourself a daily routine plan and try to strictly follow it;
• Sometimes reward yourself for any personal achievements (e.g., buy new cloths, a ticket to the spa, a movie or theater, etc.);
• Make daily stretching and actively participate in sports, fitness-club (at least 2 times a week);
• Periodically relax as you like: alone or in company with your family;
• Frequently communicate with family and friends;
• If you already have experienced depression, to prevent its recurrence you should periodically consult your doctor, therapist, and attend special psychological training sessions.

What if depression affects people close to you?

• You should not ignore the “unnecessary” requests and complaints of patients with depression;
• Avoid to trite comforting words or slight encouragement, not to arouse a false suspicion of indifference to his condition;
• Encourage the person and strongly hope for a speedy recovery;
• Do not allow the patient to feel a helpless person, or experience an acute sense of guilt;
• Release the depressed patients from having to take serious decisions;
• Behave yourself quietly, smoothly and confidently as if nothing has happened in your life;
• Try to maintain patient’s everyday habits;
• Show your compassion and understanding and support his inner struggle with depression;
• Make sure that he keep the regular regime of the day;
• Do not allow him to lie around in bed in the morning or too early to lay down, don’t let him a alone during the day for a long time;
• Make sure that the patient continued to take care of himself;
• Avoid feigned cheerfulness;
• Do not make to him sharp reproaches and remarks;
• Do not self-prescribe and don’t seek assistance from dubious persons as extrasensory individuals, sorcerers and healers;
• Remember that for the depressed patients is characteristic the unwillingness to seek medical help, so try yourself to arrange a visit to the doctor and be sure to accompany the patient.