Depression is a psychological disorder characterized by persistent sadness and lack of interest in activities that were previously considered fun.
Although sadness is a normal emotion, in depression this sadness is so strong and lasts for so long that it ends up affecting the person’s entire life, potentially preventing basic tasks such as sleeping or eating and, in some cases, leading the person to wanting to die. Understand what the desire to die can mean and what to do.
Depression can be cured, but treatment takes time and may include psychotherapy, medication, convulsive therapy and some natural therapies.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling sad, anxious or “empty”;
- Having frequent feelings of lack of hope or pessimism;
- Become easily irritated;
- Not wanting to do activities that were previously fun;
- Feeling without energy and very tired;
- Sleeping few hours a night or sleeping for an excessive amount of time;
- Have difficulty concentrating and memory;
- Feeling more or less hungry than usual;
- Having suicidal thoughts.
People with depression typically experience several of these symptoms most of the day, almost every day of the week, and for more than two weeks at a time.
Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, depression can be divided into “adjustment disorder with depressed mood”, popularly known as mild depression, when the depressive episode causes some difficulty in continuing a simple task or social activity, “major depressive disorder” or “dysthymia”, when symptoms affect personal and social activities, such as work and family, in addition to daily tasks.
All types of depression must be correctly diagnosed and treated by a psychologist and/or psychiatrist.
Online depression test
To find out if there is a risk of having depression, answer the questions:
What causes depression
There is no specific cause for the onset of depression, but this disorder tends to be more frequent when there is a set of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors that make the person more predisposed to depression.
Some of the most important factors for depression are:
- Having cases of depression in the family;
- Having suffered a traumatic or very stressful episode, such as sexual abuse or the loss of a family member;
- Being going through a phase of great changes;
- Excessive use of alcohol or drugs;
- Have a serious or chronic illness, such as cancer;
- Use some types of medication.
Furthermore, some studies also indicate that depression can arise due to chemical imbalances in the brain, namely in the concentrations of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
Depression at different stages of life
Depression can appear at any time in life and affect people of all ages. However, it is more frequent in phases of life where there are a greater number of changes, such as:
Childhood depression
Although it is less common, childhood depression can occur in children who have experienced traumatic moments during their childhood, such as a parents’ problematic divorce or moments of verbal or physical violence.
Signs of depression in childhood can be more difficult to identify than at other stages of life, but they tend to include a sad face, lack of desire to play, easy tantrums, difficulty sleeping, lack of appetite and even difficulty holding pee. or the poop.
Depression in adolescence
Depression in adolescence is a little more common than childhood depression, as teenagers go through several physical and psychological changes that can facilitate the onset of depression. Furthermore, other factors also increase the risk of depression, such as drug use, being bullied at school or feeling pressure to achieve success.
The teenager himself can identify that he is becoming depressed, but depression can also be identified by parents, friends or teachers through signs such as constant tiredness, memory problems, frequent crying or lack of interest in going out with friends, for example.
Depression in pregnancy
After adolescence, pregnancy is another of the most important phases in a woman’s life and, therefore, depression during pregnancy is increasingly common. Depression at this stage is characterized by feelings of anxiety and sadness, which can result in a lack of interest in pregnancy and put the baby’s development at risk.
Although it can happen to any woman, due to rapid hormonal changes, depression is more common in pregnant women who lack emotional support, who did not want the pregnancy or who do not have any type of assistance during pregnancy.
Baby blues
Postpartum depression can happen up to 6 months after the baby is born and is usually caused by a woman’s fear of becoming a mother and new responsibilities. However, it can also happen due to other factors such as having little family support, having gone through stressful times during pregnancy or having a low socioeconomic status.
In addition to the classic symptoms of depression, women who suffer from postpartum depression tend to pay little attention to their baby and be unable to take care of themselves or their child.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for depression should always be guided by a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist, and may vary according to age and intensity of symptoms. In milder cases of depression, only psychotherapy is generally indicated, leaving medications and other therapies for situations with more serious symptoms.
The most used treatment options are:
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy consists of holding sessions in a psychiatrist’s or psychologist’s office, which aim to help people deal better with emotions and feelings, stimulating self-knowledge and the resolution of internal conflicts that may be the cause of depression.
Psychotherapy may be sufficient to treat cases of mild depression, but it is also essential in cases of severe depression, even if medication is already being used, as it helps to reorganize thoughts, feelings and emotions.
2. Antidepressant medications
The medicines used to treat depression are known as antidepressants and help regulate some chemicals in the brain, which allows you to better control emotions and stress.
The doctor may also recommend the use of other medications, such as anxiolytics or antipsychotics, depending on the symptoms presented.
3. Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy is normally used in the most severe cases, where the use of medication and psychotherapy is not enough to alleviate the symptoms of depression or when there is a tendency towards suicide. This type of therapy consists of applying small electrical impulses that act on the brain.
Despite seeming to be a dangerous therapy, electroconvulsive therapy is always carried out following a strict protocol that allows the health and integrity of each patient to be preserved, and a clinical study must be carried out on each person prior to treatment. However, there are some side effects such as headache, nausea, muscle pain and, in some cases, permanent mental blackouts.
4. Alternative therapies
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or meditation, can also be used to enhance the effects of medical treatment for depression, as they help to better deal with stress and anxiety.
Ideally, the use of this type of therapy should always be supervised by the doctor responsible for the treatment.
Natural treatment for depression
In addition to the treatments recommended by your doctor and the alternative therapies that can be used, there are also some natural ways to help alleviate symptoms. One of these ways is regular physical exercise, which should be done 3 to 5 times a week, for at least 30 minutes a day.
In addition, there are also some supplements and medicinal plants that can help, such as St. John’s wort, damiana or valerian. Ideally, the use of supplements and medicinal plants should only be done under the supervision of a doctor and a healthcare professional accustomed to the use of medicinal plants.
Does depression have a cure?
Depression is considered a chronic disease as it can persist for several months and even years, however, depression can be cured, especially in milder cases that receive treatment from the onset of symptoms. However, in more serious cases, treatment may need to be continued for several years.
Abandoning the use of medication, as well as psychotherapy, are the main attitudes that are responsible for the increase in treatment failure rates.
Emotional support from family, friends and loved ones is one of the most important pillars of depression treatment, which can help shorten treatment time.
Some attitudes that can help someone with depression include:
- Search for information about depression;
- Make the other person comfortable;
- Recommend the search for a therapist and encourage continued treatment;
- Participate in relaxation techniques with the person;
- Stimulate the positive effects of treatment.
Knowing how to act when faced with a person with depression can be difficult. Therefore, it is best to always meet with the doctor who is directing the treatment so that he or she can inform you how family and friends can help in each specific case.
