Depression is a psychiatric illness that is prominent with regard to incidence throughout the world (Marchand, 2012). This is a painful condition of despair, which is accompanied by dullness of thought and slow movements. A person feels deeply unhappy and completely unable to experience pleasure, has lost the purpose and meaning of life. There are also other symptoms such as disturbed appetite (overeating or malnutrition), problems with sleep - early waking up at 4-5 in the morning or oversleeping. However, the main criterion of depression is suicidal thoughts.
Depression usually worsens overall health and wellbeing. Depression is often accompanied by other mental disorders, particularly neurosis. In addition, depression and neurosis can also cause psychosomatic diseases. Depression changes a person's thinking; there is emotional and physical lethargy, loss of meaning of life. However, it is not very easy to diagnose this illness and it can do only a psychiatrist.
Depressive disorder can occur at any age, but most often in adolescence and old age. Moreover, women suffer more often than men due to the nature of the endocrine and nervous systems. Today we can speak about the real epidemic of depression, because according to statistics, at least 15-20 % of the population worldwide have experienced this state on their own (Greden, Riba, & McInnis, 2011).
There are many clinical types of depression, and as feelings of depression are occasionally absent, even in the severe states, it is more explicit to refer to depressive ’’illness’’ or ’’reaction’’ and to reserve ’’depressive mood’’ for the feeling of misery which is but one symptom (Pollitt, 2013). There are the following types of depression:
acquired;
seasonal;
hereditary (genetically determined);
postpartum depression.
Acquired depression as a mental condition is a protective reaction of the brain to stress and only common human condition will allow you to overcome depression, when the stress and factors of its occurrence will end. Stress is a normal reaction to a negative situation; however the increased stress load can lead to depression or depressive state. The most common view of life stress emphasizes its role in the onset, or etiology, of an episode of the disorder (Becker & Kleinman, 2013)
Regarding mood, depression refers to a transitional state, characterized by feeling of sadness, loneliness and unhappiness. As a symptom, depression refers to complaints, often accompanying a group of bio psychosocial problems. Usually depression is a transient period of sadness and fatigue that usually starts in response to identified stressful situations in a person's life.
The dependence of bad mood and depression to the season has also been observed a long time ago. The long and gloomy autumn and winter can cause seasonal depression. After all, there is a definite relationship between the intensity of sunlight and the occurrence of depression. This is a result of the intensity of sunlight, which is greatly reduced in autumn and winter and induces a small production of the neurotransmitter serotonin that is responsible for the good mood of a person.
Hereditary depressions are the special group of disorders, the level of what determines the statistics in 2-4 percent of the population. They are the subject to registration and medical intervention, especially in the acute phase. It is proved that the risk of depression in people with direct family members who suffer from affective (emotional) disorders, reaches 10-15%, while for others, overall this figure does not exceed 1-2%. It is important to note that the risk of developing the disease in immediate relatives decreases with age.
The development of depressive disorders may contribute to some chronical diseases. They complicate a man's life, require life style changes, require hospital stay to treat, prevent contact with people quite often cause physical pain. The list of such diseases include AIDS, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, bronchial asthma, heart disease, diabetes, viral hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, acute cerebrovascular disease (stroke), peptic ulcer disease etc.
Although depression is treatable, it is simply impossible to avoid some forms of depression. This happens because of the violation of chemical composition of the brain. Despite this, recent studies show that depression can alleviate or prevent, if you adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Proper nutrition, exercise, rest and relaxation, fixed working hours and the availability of time for Hobbies will help you avoid depression.
Depression can manifest itself in various forms: severe depression, depression of moderate severity, lightweight, destiny disorder, emotional disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal depression, depression caused by hormonal. Severe depression is characterized by a significant downturn of mood, loss of interest in life. The suffering lasts two weeks or more. It can have such symptoms:
decreased ability to concentrate and inability to take timely decision, attempts to defer action;
constant feeling of fatigue;
unusual excitement, motor concern (wringing hands, biting nails, lips, restlessness) or, on the contrary, motor retardation (inhibited speech and the reaction of "freezing" facial movements, decrease of General motor skills until the complete adynamia);
low self-esteem;
feelings of guilt, anguish, despair;
feelings of guilt and punishment for errors and sinful deeds in the past that you are the person that is causing the suffering of others;
loss of ability to experience pleasure;
changes in appetite and weight;
obsessive thoughts about death.
Medication is usually an integral part of the treatment of depression. Depression is treated with antidepressant drugs which have little side effects and are safe. It is very important that these drugs are not addictive. But it is always necessary to strictly comply with the doses prescribed by the doctor. In addition to medication, psychotherapy is also used. This method involves the active role of the patient in the treatment process. The specialist teaches patients to cope with their feelings without falling into depression.
Different types of psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy and others are used to treat depression. However, traditional medicine is also effective in treating depression. Its recipes can improve and strengthen the nervous system, but in the case of such self-medication you need to consult with your doctor.
References
Becker, J. & Kleinman, A. (2013). Psychosocial aspects of depression. Hillsdale, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates.
Greden, J., Riba, M., & McInnis, M. (2011). Treatment resistant depression. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
Marchand, W. (2012). Depression and bipolar disorder. Boulder, CO: Bull Pub. Co..
Pollitt, J. (2013). Depression and its treatment. Springfield, Ill.: C.C. Thomas.
