Deep depression: signs and treatment

Mental disorders often have devastating consequences for a person. One of such dangerous diseases is deep depression.

The illness changes the consciousness of the patient, prevents him from living, working, communicating with people. And if in the early stages of depression you can get rid of yourself, then a deep form should be treated only with the help of a psychiatrist.

Causes

The disease can develop for many reasons. They are divided into three groups:

1. Psychological - these are situations that greatly injure a person's consciousness. They can arise abruptly, unexpectedly (death of loved ones, loss of big money or property, war, break with loved one, criminal punishment). The event that happened literally breaks down the life of a person and turns the entire structure upside down. The psychic is not ready for the changes that have happened. The destructive factor can cause a deep depression after some time of its action. The psyche of some people does not stand up to the stress with the exhausting schedule of work, care of the lying sick, constant poverty. Deep depression in men is most often caused by problems of a financial and career nature. Women - personal life and family troubles.
2. The endogenous causes of deep depression are not related to the outside world. They consist in a metabolic disorder, which is accompanied by an imbalance of dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline. These elements are the main mediators of the human nervous system. With a decrease in their content in the body, the person has an uncaused bad mood and an oppressed state. The peak of deep depressions caused by endogenous factors occurs in the autumn-spring period.
3. Symptomatic causes are the causes of the onset of a pathological condition. These include severe illnesses, injuries, medications.

Deep depression does not develop in all people. It depends on the stability of the psyche and the individual characteristics of man.

Manifestation

The development of the abnormal state is indicated by certain signs. Symptoms of deep depression are represented by such external manifestations:

• Loss of strength and fatigue, accompanied by insomnia;
• Indifference, lack of interest in their everyday lives and surrounding people;
• Constantly depressed mood.

If such signs are observed in a person more than two weeks and have an increasing character, then the doctor's help is required. The clinical picture with deep depression is supplemented by the following conditions:

• A sense of insecurity in oneself, the precariousness of one's position;
• Impossibility to concentrate, perform mental work at the same level;
• Memory impairment;
• Thoughts of suicide;
• A sense of guilt;
• Constant doubts;
• Weight loss;
• A decrease in sexual desire (sometimes complete frigidity and impotence are possible);
• Overexcitement or excessive inhibition;
• Lack of appetite;
• Bezemotsionalnostyu;
• Violation of the instinct of self-preservation.

Such manifestations of depression lead to the fact that a person loses the ability to normal socialization. He feels like a white crow in society. Understands that something is wrong with him.

Due to inhibition or excessive temper, the patient starts not to cope with work, inadequately behaves in the team. The pathological condition is aggravated by dismissal.

Psychotic signs

Often the symptoms of deep depression are supplemented by hallucinations. Disorders can be visual, auditory and even olfactory in nature. Often patients complain that they hear voices.

In addition, people in deep depression may suffer from delusional ideas. Most often the sick person tells that:

• Sick with a terrible, incurable disease;
• Is a terrible sinner;
• Impoverished;
• Is guilty of far-fetched crimes;
• Feels that a misfortune will happen to him.

Psychotic symptoms are also characteristic of other disorders of consciousness. Therefore, to determine the disease, it is important to know the whole clinical picture as a whole.

What should I fear?

With a deep form of depression, a person is constantly depressed. The quality of life is significantly reduced, and the ability to fully work and rest - disappears. The inhibition of the intellect and the motor system interferes with interacting with other people. Emotional emptiness does not provide an opportunity to really look at oneself from the outside and assess the state.

Since it is almost impossible to get out of deep depression independently, during this period the patient needs urgent medical assistance. In its absence, the ailment can develop into schizophrenia. Some people develop a manic-depressive psychosis.

Against the background of depression can develop:

• hepatitis;
• Gastrointestinal disorders;
• Thyroid dysfunction;
• cardiac ischemia;
• Joint pain;
• Osteochondrosis.

What else is the danger of deep depression? A person may develop suicidal tendencies. The vision of the whole world in a distorted form, self-flagellation, lack of desire to find a way out, devastation give rise to thoughts about reducing accounts with life.

Deep depression: what to do?

People who are in such a state are emotionally closed, so even relatives can not immediately understand that something is wrong with a member of their family. However, if a shock occurs in a person's life or strange behavior is observed, it is better not to wait for severe manifestations and visit a psychiatrist. Only a specialist will be able, after understanding the reasons, to determine how to deduce from a deep depression a patient who is in this condition.

In no case can you do self-medication, drink phyto-tea, tranquilizers and walk on fortune-tellers. Only a psychiatrist will be able to understand whether there really is a disease and how to cure it.

Diagnostics

The doctor determines the presence of deep depression by questioning (using special tests) and monitoring the patient. Symptoms and treatment of deep depression are inextricably linked.

If a specialist is confused by any atypical manifestations of the disease, he directs the patient to additional examinations to other doctors:

• To a cardiologist - to confirm or exclude diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• To the neurologist - for examination of the brain (in this case, the passage of a cardiogram or MRI).

Pharmacotherapy

The most effective method used to treat deep depression is the use of medications. For this, antidepressants are used. The choice of medicines depends on the condition and age of the patient, as well as manifestations of the disease.

Most often used antidepressant drugs:

• With noradrenergic action ("Mianserin");
• Inhibitors, the action of which is based on the reverse capture of serotonin (Fluvoxamine, Sertraline);
• Tetracyclic series ("Imipramine", "Amitriptyline").

If deep depression is accompanied by an anxious condition, a parallel tranquilizer is prescribed. Psychosomatic symptoms are removed by neuroleptics.

At the discretion of the physician, the therapy is performed in an outpatient setting or at home. In the presence of suicidal symptoms, treatment is carried out only in a hospital.

Psychotherapy

Treatment of deep depression in women and men is not limited to taking medications only. With the patient, doctors and psychotherapists conduct conversations. In individual sessions, various methods are used:

• Cognitive-behavioral correction;
• suggestion;
• conviction.

Psychotherapy is aimed at changing the attitude of the patient to a problem that caused a deep depression. The patient must learn to live with what has happened, to cope with the situation.

In the final stages of treatment, group and family therapy are good results. After recovery, the doctor advises the patient about the sessions by auto-training. They should be used by the patient throughout life.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Patients with deep depression are not always amenable to therapeutic treatment. In this case, doctors use a more radical remedy - electroconvulsive therapy. It consists in the impact on the patient of electrical discharges.

The procedure is as follows:

1. The patient is injected with an anesthetic.
2. Electrodes are brought to the temples.
3. The current causes a seizure, lasting up to one minute.

To avoid complications, a complete examination of the patient is performed before the procedure. The course lasts from ten to sixteen sessions. Positive changes begin after the first of them.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

From deep depression, the patient can be excreted by applying a magnetic field to the cerebral cortex. The procedure helps to restore the processes of interaction of neurons.

The method of transcranial magnetic stimulation is completely painless. It does not require anesthesia. The number of sessions can be up to thirty.

Physical exercises

When the patient starts to leave the state of deep depression, it is very useful to take an independent part in the recovery process. For this, the doctor prescribes physical exercises.

Active movements affect the tone of muscles, cause the body to produce endorphins. These substances act in the same way as antidepressants. In addition, the patient begins to feel control over his body. This makes it possible to regain self-confidence.

Exercise should be done regularly. Ideally - every day for fifteen minutes.

Additional measures

In the treatment of deep depression it is important not only to take all the medicines prescribed by the doctor exactly, but also to implement other of its recommendations. These include:

• Full rest (sleep not less than eight hours a day);
• Balanced nutrition at the same time;
• Daily walks along the street, trips to nature;
• Charging, swimming, game sports.

It is necessary to monitor the amount of sweets eaten. During a deep depression, their number goes off scale, and this can cause the development of diabetes mellitus.

It is necessary to completely eliminate alcohol from the diet. Its use is strictly forbidden during the intake of antidepressants, since their combination can give the strongest side effects. In addition, alcoholic beverages greatly aggravate the condition of the patient. Against the background of a hangover syndrome, depression only strengthens and develops faster and stronger.

It is very good, if during the progression of the disease next to the patient there will be a close person who makes decisions for him. After a deep depression, the patient becomes apathetic, he is not able to prioritize and determine important moments for himself in life.

Prevention

After exiting the pathological condition, it is necessary to take all measures to ensure that emotional stability is maintained. For this you need:

• To exclude from the circle of communication unpleasant people, causing a negative;
• Develop supportive relationships;
• To lead a socially-active way of life ;
• To observe a mode of a dream;
• Master the technique of relaxation;
• To establish relations with loved ones and relatives;
• To struggle with attacks of negative thinking;
• Avoid stress, frustration, hysterical fits;
• lead a healthy lifestyle;
• take care of yourself;
• To have an animal;
• walk;
• Find a hobby.

If, despite compliance with all the recommendations, the pathological condition returns, do not hesitate to contact specialists. The need for help does not mean weakness or worthlessness. Different situations in life cause severe damage to the psyche, and the body can not always cope with severe depression the first time. Provision of timely medical assistance will help get rid of the abnormal condition and return to normal normal life.