How to understand that you have depression that requires going to a specialist. How to understand that you have depression? Signs and Symptoms

Most people tend to think that depression has spread among society relatively recently. This opinion is erroneous, since back in antiquity people suffered from similar symptoms. The only difference is that they called the disease not depression, but melancholy.

It is very important to notice and recognize depression in time, as this disease can lead to a severe mental disorder. How to understand that you have depression, because it can sometimes be confused with or poor health? Often depression occurs in people due to extreme or prolonged stress, excessive emotionality and excitement. Still, by what symptoms can depression be recognized?

Symptoms of Depression

First of all, the occurrence of depression is associated with human emotions. In all, they can manifest individually. Some tend to experience a sense of anxiety, completely joyful emotions disappear, pessimistic views on any event occur. In this state, some people tend to feel deep despair and low self-esteem.

How to understand that a person has depression, according to his behavior? The concentration of attention is lost, motor retardation, isolation and lack of communication are observed. There is a love of loneliness, alcohol, and in some cases addiction to drugs.

Another symptom of depression can be called a change in human thinking. Any interest in life and previous activities is lost, often thoughts of his own uselessness appear, that he is superfluous, that he burdens his relatives with his presence.

How to understand that depression begins according to physiological manifestations? This is manifested in sleep disturbances and the occurrence of insomnia, the normal rhythm of life is lost. A person does not want to sleep when it is needed, that is, at night, or a dream comes to him very late. Ultimately, fatigue quickly appears, both during mental and physical exertion, even insignificant.

The main factors and forms of depression

The main factor in which depression may occur is excessive brain load due to extreme stress. At its core, for example, there may be any psychosocial factors. The resulting depression against this background is called reactive depression. How to understand that you are depressed? If a person has two or more symptoms of depression within at least two weeks, then this is already a reason for contacting a specialist.

Depression is distinguished by its main forms, depending on the severity and duration of the disease. Resistant depression is a form of depression in which after two treatment courses of antidepressants do not fully recover or the clinical effect is partially achieved.

It is manifested not only by the main symptoms, but also accompanied by an increase in body weight, great drowsiness, the so-called "brutal" appetite and emotional reactivity. Postnatal depression can occur in women after childbirth. The transient recurrence form is named for its duration. With such depression, people experience the symptoms inherent in this disease about once or twice a month, they can last about a week or less.

Female form of depression

Very often you may come across information that the female body is more likely to be depressed than the male. In addition, in men and women you can observe different symptoms of the ailment. The question is how to understand that you have depression, many women are tormented. It is only necessary to analyze the symptoms that have appeared. The fairer sex can often manifest seasonal depression. During this period of time, light therapy, massage, etc. will be useful for them. Women also tend to experience symptoms such as digestive disorders, hormonal changes, anxiety and fears of exacerbation of chronic pain.

Male uniform

In men, the symptoms of depression can be completely different. "How do I know if I have depression?" they are interested. Firstly, it appears spontaneously and rather sharply, a depressed emotional position can arise for those around for no apparent reason, thereby clearly lowering self-esteem. As a result, a craving for alcohol or some psychotropic drugs may appear.

Signs of deep and chronic depression

Some patients may show symptoms. So how do you know if you have depression? Such people feel completely useless and unnecessary, they lose their vital interest, they always experience overwhelming longing. But all this, fortunately, is treated with therapy, drugs. If deep depression is not eliminated in time, it can develop into a chronic one. Signs of such a disease can manifest themselves over several years:

the emergence of a feeling of sadness, a pessimistic mood for life;
manifestations of sleep disturbances, and sometimes its partial or complete absence;
headaches that do not stop after taking painkillers;
frequent pain in joints and muscles, a feeling of weakness;
deterioration of the entire digestive system.

Chronic depression should be treated with medication in combination with a special diet that can increase blood serotonin levels to desired levels. This hormone is also called the hormone of joy.

But even worse than chronic depression can be a latent form. And how to recognize her, how to understand that you have depression? As a rule, not all patients immediately seek help from a doctor, thinking that they are simply tired. But later all the same symptoms inherent in depression are clarified (pain in various parts of the body, loss of appetite and body weight, sleep disturbance and decreased libido). A person with a hidden form of the disease can feel constant headaches, muscle or bone, he always looks restless and nervous, etc. The most popular way to treat hidden depression is medication.

Signs of Teenage Depression

Unfortunately, even adolescents can suffer from a disease like depression, and there can be many reasons. This is his lack of friends, indifference and misunderstanding of his own parents, sometimes reaching psychological abuse of a child. The cause of teenage depression can even be hormonal changes or low self-esteem due to low school performance or an aversion to one's own body.

How to understand what and what he needs help? Firstly, the appetite disappears, a breakdown appears, which is accompanied by headaches and weakened immunity. A teenager begins to suffer from drowsiness or lack of sleep. It can constantly cry, talk about its own uselessness, take everything to heart, begins to lead a closed, unsociable lifestyle.

Depression Treatment

To save a child from depression, you need the help of a child psychotherapist. He will help to find its causes, strengthen self-esteem. For the treatment of mild forms of depression, only calming herbs and the elimination of the cause of the disease may be needed. Parents, in turn, should improve their relationships, both with the child and with each other.

Antidepressants are prescribed for children to treat depression in rare cases. They are more commonly prescribed to adults. Adults may be given pharmacotherapy in combination with psychotherapy to treat severe forms of depression. Exercise in some cases of treatment can have a positive effect. In individual cases, depression is treated with music therapy, dance therapy, aromatherapy, magnetotherapy, etc.

Depressive disorder is one of the most common psycho-emotional disorders in the world. According to various sources, from 10 to 12% of the world's population suffers from depression. More and more people, in particular, residents of megacities, are wondering - “ Do i have depression? " Every year, "a lady in black," as K.G. called her Jung is visited by about 250 million people. In addition to its direct impact on quality of life, depression carries a host of other dangers. So, it is a factor that increases the risk of anxiety and neurotic disorders, somatic diseases, as well as various kinds of addictions.

Depression is a fairly common psychoemotional disorder.

It is not always possible to detect depression immediately. It does not have obvious symptoms, like other diseases. Having become infected with the flu, a person determines its presence without difficulty. The person who is experiencing serious mental suffering looks physically healthy. How to bring this unsolicited guest to fresh water? One of the most reliable ways to answer the question "Do I have depression" is an online test. On the Internet there are a large number of techniques to identify it even without a visit to a psychologist. After evaluating the results, you can understand the severity of the disease, develop a strategy to improve your condition.

It should be borne in mind that when working with any technique, the main condition for effectiveness is honest answers to questions. Only then can we determine with accuracy that depression is the cause of problems with mood or well-being. An online determination test is the first step you can take to improve your condition. In principle, the procedure will not differ from filling in the methodology in the psychologist’s office.

Causes. Medications and emotional disturbances

Researchers currently believe that the problem may be related to a general genetic predisposition. Depending on the environment, it is implemented in different ways. Decadent disorders can occur when taking anticonvulsant drugs, corticosteroids, antipsychotics. Given these factors, it is logical to ask a question: how depression is recognized through an online test? The fact is that modern tests reveal not only psychological disorders, but also are aimed at identifying failures in the body that are caused by depression. Therefore, psychological diagnosis is necessary even when taking many drugs that are not directly related to the activity of the nervous system. This will help to correct side effects in time.

The cause of depression may even be a genetic predisposition

The role of neurotransmitters in the functioning of the nervous system

It is known that with an ailment, the production of substances important for the coordinated work of the nervous system and the body as a whole is disrupted - neurotransmitters (neurotransmitters). Since depression can be recognized by identifying symptoms of a deficiency or excess of these substances, you should pay close attention to those signals that the body gives.

Symptoms of Underproduction of Serotonin

Serotonin is a hormone that is produced in the pineal gland and digestive tract.. It is he who provides the optimal interaction of neurons in the nervous system. A high concentration of this neurotransmitter provokes an experience of emotional uplift and euphoria. It also affects the ability to remember information, concentration of attention. Often, violations in the production of serotonin appear due to a lack of sunlight in the autumn-winter period. Because of this, seasonal depression. Determination test Serotonin is carried out in medical practice only if malignancy is suspected. Therefore, you can identify a lack of this hormone only by the following symptoms:

Increased anxiety
Sweating, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes
Reduced performance
Distraction, constant forgetfulness
Decreased libido
Digestive disorders

How to understand that you have depression associated with a lack of this hormone? First of all, you should pay attention to well-being and mood swings in the autumn. If these symptoms become relevant with shortened daylight hours, you can solve the problem by contacting a psychiatrist. The specialist will prescribe the necessary doses of antidepressants, which will help adjust the emotional background.

Noradrenaline deficiency

Another neurotransmitter, the development of which has a significant effect on the psychoemotional sphere of a person, is norepinephrine. It, like serotonin, is important for remembering information and concentration. Norepinephrine is responsible for the reaction of the body in a stressful situation - it helps to increase pressure, accelerates metabolic processes, increases the pulse. The body may have both increased and insufficient amounts of this hormone, which can significantly affect the level of depression. .

Lack of norepinephrine in the body can also cause depression

Symptoms of a lack of norepinephrine:

decreased performance and motivation;
motor inhibition;
impaired memory and attention;
fatigue;
low speed of thought processes.

An excess of norepinephrine is indicated by:

Hyperactivity
High blood pressure;
Feeling of fear and anxiety;
Irritability;
Alertness, increased reaction to signals from the outside world;
Trouble falling asleep.

Violations associated with the production of norepinephrine often occur with prolonged or repeated stress. Being in a tense situation, the body begins to produce an increased amount of this neurotransmitter, which manifests itself in the form of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. How to understand that you have depression caused by an excess of norepinephrine? In addition to the listed symptoms, this hormone causes excessive emotional reactions to traumatic events.

Therefore, if a person is thrown into tears from any trifle, this is a serious sign that requires immediate psychotherapeutic intervention.

Signs of dopamine deficiency

Dopamine is the hormone responsible for good mood and positive reinforcement.. This neurotransmitter is produced by eating delicious food, having sex - that is, with any activity that brings pleasure. With a lack of dopamine, it can be difficult for a person to control his emotions. It has been proven that substances such as nicotine, alcohol, heroin and other drugs cause increased dopamine production. When various types of addictions are formed, the body loses its ability to independently produce dopamine. Since it is also important to detect depression for the prevention of addictive behavior, it is especially worth paying attention to the following signs of dopamine deficiency:

Low motivation for achievement, lack of interest in activities that previously seemed fascinating;
Fatigue, chronic fatigue;
Low ability to concentrate, impaired memory;
Constant self-incrimination;
Auto-aggression (self-destruction);
Tendency to procrastination;
Inability to have fun.

You can increase dopamine levels with exercise.

You can increase dopamine levels with regular physical exercises, diet restrictions (you need to reduce sugar and caffeine intake, make up for magnesium deficiency), and abandon addictions, if any. How to identify depression due to dopamine deficiency in ordinary people who do not burden their bodies with alcohol or smoking?

Symptoms of a lower level of this hormone will be the same as for addiction-prone.

As a solution, you can try to engage in motivating activities, if possible reward yourself even for small achievements. So the brain will be able to learn again to produce this hormone in the required quantities, and the symptoms of depression will be reduced.

The presence and level of depression can be determined using special tests.

Definition of the disease - methods of domestic scientists

Of the developments of domestic scientists in the field of diagnosis of the disease, the following tests are popular.

« Methods for determining the level of depression", Developed in 1988 by V.A. Zhmurov. The test consists of 44 points, each of which is aimed at diagnosing certain symptoms. The technique has been successfully used in work by many Russian psychologists and is characterized by the simplicity of data processing - to recognize depression levelwith her help everyone can;
« Depressive Questionnaire", Or ODS, was developed at the Research Institute. Ankylosing spondylitis under the direction of researcher I.G. Bespalko in 1995. The technique is intended for the timely detection of one of the types - endogenous or neurotic. It must be remembered that the treatment of endogenous depression, as well as other disorders of this kind, are within the competence of psychiatrists. Unlike neurotic, this type requires medical treatment prescribed by a specialist. Therefore, this depression test most often used by clinical and medical psychologists. The UDF includes 67 statements for which a positive or negative answer is required.
In the diagnosis of psychoemotional state, the test "also occupies a special place" Neuropsychic resistance"Or NPU, which allows you to determine both the level of psychological endurance and the degree of physiological health of the body. The technique was developed at the Military Medical Academy of St. Petersburg. How to understand that you have depression? Test "NPU", despite the fact that it is not directly aimed at diagnosis, can effectively complement other methods. This questionnaire was designed to select employees for work in emergency situations, and today it has been successfully used by many psychotherapists as well as for independent psychodiagnostics of psychological resistance to stressful circumstances.

Foreign questionnaires to determine

Methods of European and American experts are also effective in the diagnosis. The most famous of them are:

Test " Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale", Developed by foreign scientists A.S. Sigmond and R.P. Snate. The advantage of the method is ease of use and processing of results. The scale is often used in hospitals to identify signs \u003d in somatic patients who do not even ask themselves, “Do I have depression?” Meanwhile, those who are prone to the disease, visit a cardiologist 6 times more often than ordinary people. 2 times more often they become patients of a neuropathologist, ENT specialist and urologist.
« Tsung Scale"- a test that has proven reliability and is most suitable for the independent detection of depression. The test was created by the researcher William Tsung, T.N. adapted in domestic practice. Balashova at the Research Institute of Ankylosing Spondylitis. How to understand that you have depression with the Tsung scale? To do this, answer twenty test questions. They measure several indicators. For example, mood changes, the presence or absence of feelings of emotional emptiness, irritability or indecision - in short, those signs that make it possible to accurately identify depression. The condition of the test person is considered normal if he scores up to 49 points on this scale.
« Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale", Or ESHPD. The phenomenon of postpartum depression has long been known. Is it possible to quickly determine depression in women in childbirth? The ESD test, developed in 1987 by researchers Edinburgh and Livingston, is designed specifically for new parents. The method can be used not only by women in labor, but also to determine emotional disorders in fathers. Of the convenience of the test - a relatively short time (test takes about 5 minutes), a high level of reliability indicators.
« Beck Depression Scale"Was developed back in 1961 by US researcher Aaron Beck. How to recognize psycho-emotional disorders in time, how to determine depression at an early stage? The Beck Depression Scale test will be useful even to those who consider themselves psychologically healthy. Test questions suggest an assessment of psychological characteristics, as well as physiological parameters - sleep, appetite. Aaron Beck is known for his developments in cognitive psychotherapy, but he was most interested in depression. The online test for this disorder, like many other methods, is now publicly available. Over the long time of its use, it has been repeatedly revised and adapted to modern conditions. Therefore, the Beck scale is one of the most effective tests for self-diagnosis. The Beck definition of depression today consists of 21 statements - this is a simplified version that measures the most important indicators.
« Hamilton Scale for Depression". This technique is recommended for those with chronic depression. The test helps determine the dynamics of treatment. With its help, you can identify how effective this or that method turned out to be. The questions in this test are aimed at identifying symptoms of psychoemotional disorders not only at the current moment, but also a few days before testing.

Do not underestimate the danger of depression!

You need to remember: depression is not as harmless a violation as it might seem at first glance. It is believed that about 80% of visitors to a regular clinic suffer from it in one form or another. In order to learn how to work with your condition and improve it, sometimes radical measures are necessary - visiting a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, changing your living conditions. And sometimes you just need to take a test to get started. “Do I have depression or not?” - everyone should answer for themselves independently. Indeed, not only his health and well-being, but also the emotional state of loved ones depends on the state of an adult.

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Every eighth of us at least once in a life has experienced clinical depression, and absolutely every now and then they feel the symptoms of a mild depressive state. How to know when to sound the alarm? And is it possible to get out of depression if it still happened? And what are the symptoms of depression? Psychotherapists Derek Draper and Cecilia D’Felice are one of the most common ailments of our century.

Depression slows down thoughts and movements, takes away dreams, coloring everything black. Life seems hopeless. You feel immense loneliness, as if you were on a desert island - no one can hear you, much less help. You are cut off from friends, do not feel interest in the job, you are not pleased with hobbies and hobbies, although they may still be present in your life. If you are familiar with this condition, you may have come under the influence of one of the worst epidemics of the 21st century. Here are a few symptoms that can help you recognize depression and distinguish it from depressive experiences - a short-term condition that can be dealt with on your own, without the help of a specialist.

Apathy and powerlessness

Lack of strength is one of the symptoms of depression. It’s hard for people who haven’t passed through it to believe that sometimes apathy reaches such proportions that it takes a huge effort for a person to just get dressed, brush his teeth and put himself in order. Depression brings with it a decrease in energy levels, extreme fatigue.

Negative thoughts

Studies of cognitive-behavioral psychologists show that depression is based on persistent negative beliefs about oneself or relationships with others. These may include guilt and a sense of worthlessness. Many talk about unrealistic negative beliefs about themselves, feel guilty or worry about what happened in the past, endlessly reflect on their own mistakes and mistakes.

Impaired sleep and appetite

Depression penetrates into all areas, undermining the foundations of life, so any changes in diet, sleep and rest can help make a diagnosis. Insomnia or early awakening is an alarming, although not the only, symptom. Lack of appetite and refusal to eat are often a symbolic expression of refusal to live, just as excessive drowsiness can sometimes be a way to distance oneself from an unsatisfying reality.

Loss of attention

Being depressed reduces our ability to concentrate. For some people, reading books becomes an impossible task - they instantly lose the thread of what is happening, often being distracted by their negative thoughts. Many also complain that they find it difficult to make even the simplest decisions.

Thoughts of Suicide

From time to time, we think about what life outcome awaits us, and thoughts of suicide visit everyone at least once. But if they are accompanied by apathy, reluctance to get out of bed and go out and / or you are considering a specific plan of action to leave life - this is a serious reason to seek help.

If you find yourself with two or more of the above symptoms, you may need specialist help. Depression responds quite successfully to therapy, if taken on time.

In addition, it is worth remembering: no matter how lonely and lost you feel, you are not alone. You have friends, family, acquaintances who are able to support in difficult times and even something more valuable - a healthy, strong and cheerful part of your personality that is not affected by depression. Even if it’s very difficult to realize right now, your task is to remember it and let it manifest. The more often it makes itself felt, the sooner it will help you get out of depression.

“For most of my life I lived with a manic-depressive disorder - I suffered from it, but did not know that it was a disease. Once, 11 years ago, a crisis happened. I just started playing in a new theatrical production and immediately received angry reviews from critics. After three performances, I left the play. Early the next morning I went to my garage, shut the door with a duvet and got into the car. I sat there for two hours. When you physically feel that you can no longer, these are not just words, but reality. I would kill myself if I did not have the opportunity to disappear for a while. I saw no other way.

When I'm depressed, my self-esteem drops to zero. I hear my inner voice, which inspires me that I am worthless and mediocre. Such periods of self-abasement and stupor happen to me 3-4 times a year and last from a week to 10 days. Nevertheless, I often rely on my manic part, which helps me to feel a taste for life and adventure, and I think that the best that is in me is a consequence and an integral part of the mood swings. ”

Sometimes a person has a bad mood for a long time, he is not interested in life, does not communicate with friends. How to understand that you have depression, and not just a bad mood? It is necessary to carefully analyze the behavior and compare its features with the symptoms of a depressed state. If the situation is serious, you should seek help from a doctor.

Depression is a mental disorder, a pathology of emotions. People suffering from this ailment have an inadequate pessimistic view of what is happening around them. The disease is also characterized by impaired thinking and motor inhibition. People who become depressed, lower their self-esteem, lose their taste for life and interest in their work. A person begins to abuse alcohol, take drugs.

Depression is often perceived as a manifestation of laziness, an evil character, prolonged pessimism, or even selfishness. In fact, this is a serious psychosomatic illness requiring treatment. The disease manifests itself in different ways, it all depends on the severity of the disease.

Emotional signs of depression:

depressed mood, sorrow;
causeless suffering, sadness and longing;
dissatisfaction with their appearance, life, work;
apathy;
irritability;
self-flagellation due to illness or death of a loved one;
constant oppressive fear.

Physiological symptoms of the disease:

trouble sleeping;
sexual dysfunction;
loss of appetite or, conversely, a feeling of constant hunger;
gastrointestinal problems;
weakness, fatigue.

Behavioral symptoms:

refusal of any entertainment;
propensity for solitude;
lack of motivation;
social passivity;
alcoholism, drug use.

Signs of depression associated with the thought process:

the prevalence of gloomy, negative thoughts;
difficulty concentrating;
loss of attention;
thoughts of suicide;
difficulties in making important decisions.

Important! If many signs persist over a long period of time, then a person has depression. The disease can be detected independently if you carefully analyze your condition. It’s important to understand that you have depression and get out of it as soon as possible.

Thoughts and feelings

To understand that you have depression, you should dig a bit into yourself. People very often feel depressed. They are constantly sad, any life troubles bring them out of balance, there is not enough strength to get out of their stupor, to do something new. In emotional terms - complete stagnation. They do not feel joy from any activity, they are not interested in communicating with friends, they are not amused by anything, they have only negative thoughts in their minds, they perceive everything that is happening in black. A person can be haunted for a long time by guilt for the death or illness of a close relative.

In a depressed state, they often break loose over trifles, shout at others, constantly conflict with someone and argue. A sharp surge of emotions is replaced by a feeling of apathy and powerlessness. The patient does not play sports, gets tired of any physical exertion. If you need to make some important decision for yourself, he hesitates. For a long time, a person cannot gather his thoughts and understand what he should do, what is the best way to act.

People with depression no longer communicate with friends. They try to isolate themselves from everyone, do not attend public events and public institutions, do not go to concerts, go to theaters, and do not like to visit restaurants and cafes. In addition to voluntary isolation, suicidal thoughts often come to mind. It seems to them that they are at an impasse and there is no way to change their life.

Important! If all these thoughts and actions seem familiar, then this is depression. An urgent need to seek help from a specialist.

A sign of depression can be a violation of sleep and appetite, while a person quickly loses weight. Sometimes a protracted illness leads to a constant feeling of hunger, in which case the patient eats a lot and is gaining excess weight. A sure sign of the disease is a change in appearance.

The patient can sharply engage in extreme sports. He ceases to fear for his life, he is attracted to danger, and only in it does he see the purpose of his existence. At this time, a person can go wild on the road, abuse alcohol, make dubious acquaintances, have erratic sexual relations.

A person wants to cry constantly, even if there is no reason. He sheds tears on a broken cup if he watches a sad film, and sometimes he simply lies on the bed thinking and crying about something. Tearfulness is often accompanied by a desire to drink alcohol, lie on the sofa and take cover with a blanket. Women are especially vulnerable, they can weep if the husband does not understand.

During depression, people experience pain in the heart (describe their condition with the words “stone on the heart”, “the heart is pinched”), liver or stomach. These feelings can be symptoms of various chronic diseases and only increase a person’s painful state. You should not only identify symptoms similar to your life situation, but also find out what is the cause of depression. The factors that led to the disease must be taken into account and try to overcome them.

Causes of Depression

Many people perceive depression as a synonym for bad mood. In fact, this is a serious illness. It may be reactive or endogenous. The reason for the appearance of the reactive form is some kind of difficult situation in which the person is, or a sad event traumatic to the psyche. Heavy blows of fate incapacitate a completely healthy person.

Reactive Reasons:

death of a child or loved one;
loss of earnings;
trial;
divorce;
deterioration of health.

With the endogenous origin of the disease in humans, a gloomy mood, slow motion, mental retardation are noted. Emotional upset can be caused genetically. The trigger for the development of an endogenous state can be psychological trauma, illness of internal organs, medication or neurological diseases.

Many people are interested in how to understand the cause of the disease, because not only sad life situations can lead a person into a state of despondency and complete indifference to everything that happens. Sometimes the cause of the disease becomes such a joyful event as the birth of a child. After the birth, the mother may experience mood swings, sometimes she wants to kill herself and her baby, hallucinations appear. This condition is associated with hormonal disorders after childbirth. What to do if postpartum depression has begun? In this case, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Important! The patient may have suicidal thoughts. In this case, a person needs not only treatment, but also the help of relatives and friends.

Signs of deep and chronic depression

Deep depression is a severe mental disorder in a person when the usual symptoms take on a chronic form. The causes may be psychological, endogenous or somatic in nature.

Psychological reasons include difficult situations, for example, the death of a loved one, a prison, a fire. With endogenous disease, the patient does not fully produce the necessary hormones. The somatic form of the disease is characteristic of people suffering from a severe, often incurable disease: AIDS, cancer, diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis.

Signs of a deep depression:

sad mood for a long period of time;
lack of interest in life;
weakness and fatigue.

A person suffers from low self-esteem, he becomes indecisive, he is visited by thoughts of suicide. He sleeps poorly, wakes up too early. Some people who are in a chronic depressed state cannot cope with their professional tasks, they cannot think logically and speak correctly.

Signs of Teenage Depression

During puberty, children behave aggressively, conflict with others, often become isolated and depressed. They may experience teenage depression. This condition is associated with hormonal changes.

How to understand that a teenager is depressed? You need to carefully look at his behavior. If a teenager withdraws into himself, does not communicate with friends, is too aggressive, quickly annoyed by any trifles, constantly tired - this is an occasion to seek help from a specialist.

How to treat depression

You must consult a doctor, undergo an examination and find out your diagnosis. Psychotherapists or psychiatrists are involved in the treatment of depressive conditions. Depending on the cause of the disease and the severity of the condition, the doctor prescribes drugs.

It is important to talk with the therapist and tell him about your problems. It is difficult to cope with the disease yourself. Positive changes do not always occur instantly, not only time is necessary, but also the patient’s desire to recover. You can understand that depression is retreating if the following symptoms appear: a person is no longer tormented by sad thoughts, he has no desire to retire, he wants to work, have fun and chat with friends.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. In today's world, many people are prone to this ailment. Constant stress, anxiety and worry about the future in an unstable political and economic environment, family troubles, problems at work, bad habits and sleep disturbances can cause depression. However, this ailment is often confused with a bad mood, and then a person may wonder: do I have depression? Let's see how to distinguish real depression from simple blues.

The term "depression" comes from the Latin word "deprimo", which means "crush", "suppress". This name quite accurately characterizes this disease. A person suffering from depression feels depressed, depressed. He has a lowered mood, his ability to rejoice and enjoy various things is lost, and motor inhibition occurs - his movements become sluggish and slow.

Every person from time to time experiences a bad mood and a feeling of apathy. But after a while, these sensations disappear, and he again returns to normal. In the case of depression, this condition does not go away for a long time - several weeks, months, or even years. And especially severe patients suffer from depression throughout their lives.

Causes of depression

There are several causes of depressive disorder. The main reasons can be divided into three groups: biological, psychological and sociocultural.

Biological reasons. Depression often occurs under the influence of biological factors, such as heredity or a genetic predisposition. As a rule, relatives of depressed patients also often suffer from this disease. Another cause of the disease is a metabolic disorder in the body. A vivid example is postpartum depression, which occurs under the influence of hormonal failure in a woman’s body after the birth of a child. Clinical analyzes indicate that in depressed patients the level of activity of serotonin, norepinephrine, melatonin is reduced.
Psychological reasons. In most cases, the trigger for the development of depression is the stress experienced by a person. A particularly hard blow is the death of a loved one or another tragedy. Divorce, dismissal from work, ruin can lead to a depressed mood, turning into a real depression. Chronic stress factors (failures at work, in the family, financial difficulties, loneliness, dissatisfaction with life) can also give impetus to the development of the disease.
Sociocultural reasons. Such reasons are a low social status in society, causing a person to be dissatisfied with himself, or an unexpected transition from a high social status to a lower one. In addition, different cultures have their own traditions and rules, the mismatch of which can lead to condemnation of society and lead a person to a depressive state.

How to understand that you have depression?

In order to diagnose depression, you need to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist. The specialist offers patients special clinical tests that detect a depressive disorder. Tests are a set of questions that the patient must answer as honestly as possible. Such questionnaires can be found in the literature on psychology or on psychological assistance sites. It is very convenient to take tests online. No need to record answers on paper and then count them. It is only necessary to choose answers from the proposed options and click on them. After passing the test, the result appears.

Beck Depression Test;
Zung depression test;
Shihan anxiety scale;
Depression Scale Scientific Research Institute named after Ankylosing spondylitis;
Hospital scale of anxiety and depression;
Spielberger Alarm Scale;
Depression Scale DEPS;
Depression Scale SCL-90.

In addition to tests for depression, you can recognize the disease by a number of signs. Consider them.

Signs of Depression

Depression is characterized not only by reduced mood and depression, but also by many other symptoms that can be used to diagnose it. This disease affects not only the emotional sphere, but also the whole organism, including the physical plane.

Emotional manifestations

A depressed person experiences constant anguish, suffering, depression and despair. It seems to him that life has lost its meaning, he feels miserable and useless to anyone. The patient begins to experience anxiety and anxiety, he is often haunted by a sense of impending disaster. He cannot relax, his body and brain are in constant tension.

During depression, a person becomes very irritable: any little thing can drive him crazy or bring him to tears. A sense of guilt grows in him, he begins to blame himself for all the troubles that happen to himself or to his relatives.

Depression causes constant dissatisfaction with life. In humans, self-esteem is significantly reduced. It begins to seem to him that he is absolutely not capable of anything, either in the family or at work. He is tormented by self-doubt. Lost motivation and desire to work and generally do any business.

Things that used to give a person pleasure (hobbies, hobbies) become uninteresting. He loses the joy of those activities that he used to love. Patients with severe depression lose their ability to experience any emotions (positive and negative).

Physiological manifestations

One of the common symptoms of depression is sleep disturbance. The patient can not fall asleep for a long time, often wakes up, and in the morning he gets up not enough sleep and is broken. In some people, on the contrary, there is constant drowsiness. A person can sleep for many hours a day, but sleep does not bring him satisfaction. The desire to sleep all the time indicates that the human consciousness is trying to distance itself from reality, to escape from problems, to go to sleep.

The disease is reflected in the patient's appetite. Often patients complain of a decrease or lack of appetite, the food seems to them tasteless. In some patients, on the contrary, the appetite increases significantly, and they begin to eat everything in a row. Sometimes hunger wakes them even in the middle of the night and drives them to the refrigerator. Often in patients with depression, constipation is observed.

The disease often causes unpleasant sensations in the body - heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, pain in the abdomen, back, muscles, joints, dizziness and headaches. These symptoms can easily be confused with other diseases, but an experienced psychotherapist will quickly recognize depression.

During depression, a person experiences a breakdown, quickly gets tired even from ordinary, everyday activities. What used to be easy was now a lot of work. The feeling of fatigue does not go away even after sleep. Movements become slow and inhibited. The patient has reduced sexual desire. In some cases, depression can cause complete indifference to sex.

Behavioral manifestations

Depression makes a person passive, takes away his motivation for activity. The patient is hardly involved in any business, it is difficult for him to concentrate on anything.

A person can become isolated in himself and not leave home. He is not interested in meeting friends, parties, or vacation trips. He does not want to see anyone, it is difficult for him to communicate with people. Due to reduced self-esteem, the patient feels awkward in society, it seems to him that others perceive him as a loser or laugh at him, so he tries to avoid people. Communication becomes uninteresting for him.

A person with depression can sit or lie on the couch for a long time without doing anything. He does not want to get up, he has no strength and desire. Often a painful, melancholy state leads to the fact that the patient begins to get involved in alcohol, drugs or psychoactive substances. By this, he tries to alleviate his condition, but such methods give a temporary effect, after which the depressive state only intensifies.

Mental manifestations

Depression affects memory and concentration. The patient cannot concentrate on anything, any mental activity is given to him with difficulty. He becomes forgetful and absent-minded, retardation of thought processes is observed.

It is difficult for a person to make decisions: he thinks for a long time, hesitates, delaying this moment. He is constantly harassed by gloomy thoughts about himself, his life and the world as a whole. It seems to him that the colors of life have faded and there will be nothing good ahead. Even if the patient understands that negative thoughts are caused by the disease, he cannot get rid of them.

The most severe symptom of depression is suicidal thoughts. In especially severe cases, a person makes attempts to take his own life. That is why with severe forms of depression, doctors insist on hospitalization, and also recommend that the patient’s relatives carefully monitor him and not leave him unattended until the acute stage of the disease passes.

Types of Depression

Doctors distinguish different types of this disease. Consider the most common.

Endogenous. This type of depression is caused by biological factors or various disorders in the functioning of the nervous system and may not be associated with any unpleasant situations in human life. The patient becomes apathetic, withdrawn, loses interest in life.
Reactive. It arises as a reaction to a traumatic event. If a tragedy has occurred in a person’s life - the loss of a relative, divorce, separation from a loved one - he can get depression. Reactive depression is very easy to diagnose, because the patient knows about its causes.
Disguised (hidden). This kind of disease is not in vain received such a name. The fact is that such depression has the peculiarity of disguising itself as other diseases. Patients often complain of heart problems, pain in the stomach and intestines, headaches, menstrual irregularities in women, sexual disorders and other problems. All of these can be symptoms of depression. Sometimes a disease is masked so cleverly that not every doctor can recognize it.
SeasonalThis type of disease is directly related to the change of seasons. Many people suffer from seasonal depression, sometimes not even paying attention to it and thinking that they are just in a bad mood. The disease manifests itself in the autumn-winter period and is characterized by drowsiness, lethargy, loss of strength and decreased mood.
Alarming. This disease causes the patient a sense of fear, anxiety and anxiety. He becomes aggressive and unbalanced. Anxiety depression is dangerous because patients suffering from it are prone to suicidal behavior.
Dysthymia. Dysthymia is a chronic depression. Its symptoms are similar to the acute form of the disease, however, they are observed for a long time (from two years). The patient experiences a constant feeling of longing and depression, his worldview becomes pessimistic.
Bipolar. This type of disease is characterized by transitions from a state of excessive arousal, mania to depression and depression. In addition to mood swings, in such patients confusion of thoughts and impaired perception are observed. This disease requires treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Depressive stupor. This type of disease is considered one of the most severe. Patients all the time lie in one position, looking aimlessly into the void, refuse food and do not make contact with others. This condition requires treatment in a hospital.

Depression is a serious illness that requires timely, competent treatment. Untreated depression can lead to sad consequences, therefore, having discovered its symptoms, you should seek the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist.