Depression: causes, symptoms and treatment prognosis

Quite often, situations arise in people’s lives that unsettle them, when everything doesn’t go according to plan and doesn’t go well. A person becomes upset, he feels sad, sad, and believes that he is depressed. However, in most cases this is absolutely not the case. Only a doctor can diagnose depressive disorder.

What is depression, what are its causes, symptoms and treatment?

We will try to figure this out in our article.

What is depression?

Don't think it's just a bad mood or apathy.
If you have blues and despondency, this does not mean that there is depression. In fact, this is a disease that is characterized by serious changes in the biochemical processes of the human brain. Signs of the disease may persist for more than two weeks, while ordinary frustration or sadness disappears much sooner. In the absence of timely treatment for severe depression, the condition drags on for years and develops into an intractable chronic form. It often happens that a person does not even realize that he is sick. It is important to understand that treatment of neuroses and depression is necessary, this should be done by a specialist with extensive experience in this field. What is clinical depression , and why does it require treatment? The disease develops due to a disruption in the production of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which are responsible for receiving positive emotions. The disease makes a person apathetic, he is rarely in a good mood, and most often has a pessimistic attitude.

Depression scale

If a patient has doubts about the state of his health, and he is sufficiently informed in matters of mental disorders, it will not be difficult during self-diagnosis to determine the presence of a depressive episode.

The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory is used for this purpose. It contains several statements, in each of them you need to select only one option. This phrase should reflect the thoughts and feelings of a person at the current moment as accurately as possible.

You need to answer questions as truthfully as possible and be sincere with yourself. As a result, it is necessary to calculate the total number of points; the lower their number, the lower the likelihood of depression.

If you have alarming results on the Beck scale, you should contact a specialist; you can make an appointment at Dr. Isaev’s Clinic any day. This should be done immediately if you are experiencing panic attacks due to nervous exhaustion.

Causes and symptoms

The reasons for the development of this disease can be regular stress, psychological trauma, various unpleasant situations and events, problems in relationships with loved ones, the opposite sex, psychological violence in childhood or adulthood. However, such a deviation in the psycho-emotional state is not only a consequence of injuries, it is also various changes at the physical level. In particular, patients have a lack of vitamin D, iron and some other microelements and biologically active substances.

In addition, the development of the disease is largely influenced by hormonal disorders and diseases of the endocrine system. Quite rarely, the disorder occurs as a side effect of taking medications, but this is usually prescribed in the instructions. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a lack of sun; in the fall and spring, many people experience exacerbation of mental disorders.

Postpartum depression

After the pregnancy period has been successfully overcome and a woman gives birth to a child, she may experience a different range of feelings and sensations on the physical level. Postpartum depression is an atypical mental disorder that can be dangerous for the new mother and her environment.

It is important to understand that childbirth represents enormous stress for the psyche and a great test for the body. Psychological assistance is necessary for the patient in case of serious deviations from the norm. This condition occurs during the first 3 months after birth and can be mild or severe.

Among the provoking factors, experts identify:

• excessive physical exertion associated with caring for a newborn;
• the pregnancy was difficult or unwanted;
• inability to breastfeed;
• financial difficulties;
• dysfunction of the nervous system, which began even before birth;
• conflicts with a partner (separation, quarrels, infidelity);
• moral exhaustion of the body;
• unjustified expectations of a young mother;
• lack of help at home from close relatives.

This disorder can be distinguished from others by a number of specific signs. The doctor diagnoses and prescribes medications; self-medication in this case threatens to worsen the condition. Among the symptoms characteristic of women are:

• Regular complaints of excessive fatigue, lack of energy, loneliness. This is accompanied by mood swings, euphoria is often replaced by causeless sadness, and outbursts of anger occur that the woman is unable to control. She often cries, becomes hysterical, and does not respond to attempts to calm her down.
• Panic fear. Usually it concerns the health of the newborn, the mother has fears that he may suddenly die or something will happen to him. A gloomy vision of the future becomes dominant, the imagination draws terrible pictures of events that could happen in a few hours or days. Articles about accidents and illnesses read on the Internet are automatically “tried on” to oneself.
• The feeling of guilt does not leave a woman; even the smallest failure plunges her into a world of fear and self-flagellation.
• Provoking conflict. Often a young mother throws tantrums every day for any reason, she becomes grumpy, and she herself looks for reasons to quarrel with her husband or loved ones. People around them attribute these symptoms to whims and bad character, so they do not respond to them in a timely manner.

Will depression go away or is it forever?

If the disease lasts for a long time, many people begin to fear that they will never be able to get rid of it. Is it so? If the disease is mild, you can cope with it yourself. Sooner or later a person will experience a traumatic situation, reevaluate it, change his attitude towards the event and recover. In some cases, the use of medications leads to a bad mood, but after their withdrawal the condition returns to normal. Any psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist will tell you that treatment for depression is necessary. This will allow a person to get rid of obsessive thoughts and gain more positive thinking, which will increase the quality of life, and possibly its duration.

Without treatment for depression in women and men, the disease will progress, exacerbating the psycho-emotional state and causing the development of mental disorders, especially for older people. But even for young people the disease does not go away without a trace. You shouldn’t fight it alone, share your problems with loved ones and friends, look at them from the outside, listen to advice, consult a doctor for treatment of panic attacks, moderate and severe depression.

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Overcoming depression:

• Limit yourself. Don't expect to complete everything you were able to do before. Make a realistic work plan.
• Don't give too much importance to all your negative thoughts, such as self-blame or expecting failure. Such thoughts are part of depression. They will disappear as soon as you get rid of depression.
• Participate in activities that give you pleasure or give you a feeling of achieving a goal.
• Avoid making important decisions while depressed. If you need to make this decision, ask someone you trust to help you.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and drugs. Both make depression worse, and both can interact dangerously with the antidepressants you are taking.
• Physical activity appears to cause chemical reactions in the body that improve your mood. Exercising 4 to 6 times a week for at least 30 minutes is an excellent achievement. However, even less activity can be beneficial.
• Try not to be disappointed. It takes some time for you to be completely free from depression.

Types of disorder

With the right methods, medications and treatment plan, the disease can be stopped and cured, regardless of the stage and duration of development. If the disorder is caused by the absence or deficiency of certain vitamins and substances in the body, the person’s condition will normalize as soon as the balance is restored. When treating endogenous or psychogenic depression, special complex therapy is required. In the first case, the disease is caused by a malfunction of the psyche, in the second – by traumatic events.

For example, an elderly woman can take the death of her husband to heart; the loss of a person with whom she lived hand in hand is very traumatic, which can cause the development of not only neuroses, but also dementia. In this case, doctors advise treating depression in women in a clinic.

Treatment for postpartum depression, which is very important for a young mother, is no less dangerous. During pregnancy and after childbirth, a huge number of changes occur in a woman’s body. Not everyone gets used to the new role right away; some are afraid of the oncoming responsibility; others are not confident in the support of their spouse. The result is mental disorder, panic attacks, unreasonable fears, breakdowns.

Today, specialists quite often treat bipolar depression. This disease is getting younger every year, but it should not be confused with a number of other abnormalities. Bipolar disorder is often confused with increased emotionality. If you feel the symptoms of this disease, call the clinic; today it is possible to both treat depression in a hospital in Moscow and undergo therapy on an outpatient basis.

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Clinical picture of the disease: stages of depression

The disease occurs in several stages. Without proper treatment, it becomes chronic with periodic exacerbations.

initial stage

Characterized by a general deterioration in health. Typical:

• feelings of weakness, fatigue, powerlessness;
• sleep disturbances (usually very early awakenings);
• sentimentality, tearfulness;
• a general decrease in tone, accompanied by boredom, laziness, weakness, intolerance to physical activity, blues, and an almost constant feeling of discomfort;
• weakening of the urge to communicate, emotional contact;
• desire for solitude.

One of the first, “classic” symptoms of depression is the loss of the ability to rejoice, experience pleasant emotional sensations, and the lack of desire to engage in previously favorite activities and hobbies. A person is prone to a pessimistic assessment of his capabilities and prospects.

It is extremely difficult for an outsider to recognize changes in the patient’s behavior and mood at this stage of the disease, but such changes are noticeable to relatives and family members. At this stage, there are no indications for treatment of depression in a hospital, but you should contact a specialized specialist as soon as possible.

Cyclothymic stage

Accompanied by an increase and worsening of all signs of depression. Typically:

• noticeable deterioration in well-being (headaches, tachycardia, shortness of breath, a feeling of squeezing and heaviness in the abdomen, chest, other somatovegetative manifestations);
• stiffness of movements and speech, it seems that it is difficult for the patient to find words to express his emotions, which does not have the best effect on the quality of communication;
• the appearance of obvious melancholy, vague restlessness, anxiety, but such a feeling does not persist throughout the day, but occurs periodically, and lasts on average up to half an hour;
• a feeling of shame for one’s appearance, words, actions;
• obsessive thoughts about unsuitability for work, family relationships, communication with other people.

Melancholic stage

The frequency of attacks disappears. The patient is physically exhausted, he has no desire to do anything, emotions are either absent or very poorly expressed. The picture is classic for this stage of depression: shoulders are slumped, the back is hunched, arms hang limply along the body or lie on the knees. A person sits motionless in the same place for hours (and sometimes days) without feeling hunger or thirst.

Also characteristic:

• pallor of the skin (with a bluish or grayish tint);
• excessive dryness, flaking of the skin, impaired sweating;
• shallow breathing with periodic deep breaths;
• “dry” crying (without tears);
• lack of appetite.

The patient generally appears very aged. Brittle hair and nails, rapid appearance of new wrinkles, and weight loss are noted. Men are prone to constipation, and women are prone to menstrual irregularities. Speech is very poor - the patient simply and monosyllabically answers questions addressed to him, but is not the first to start a conversation.

Without timely help for depression, there is a high probability of progression of the disease and the development of severe affective psychoses and manic delirium.

Treatment of anxiety-depressive disorder without antidepressants

Many people do not want to see a doctor because they think that only drug treatment for depression with antidepressants is possible. They have heard about the side effects and high risk of developing drug addiction, as well as various myths about the dangers of these drugs. The dangers of antidepressants are greatly overestimated. Do not think that in modern medicine there are only drugs and pills for treating depression. Fearing often far-fetched consequences, people turn to homeopathy for help, which, naturally, will not give any result other than a placebo.

Today, there are completely different and varied methods of treating depression, and in many cases it is possible to do without medications. As a rule, pills are not even the basis of treatment, but maintenance therapy during psychotherapy. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin effective treatment for depression in Moscow, you can do without medications.

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Depression and how to deal with it

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What is depression and how to deal with it.
Depression is a mental disorder that leads to a depressed state and can persist for a long time. It can be one-time, repeated after a certain period of time, or permanent. The last option is the most dangerous; it can lead to serious mental disorders.

According to doctors, by 2021 the number of people with this diagnosis will exceed the number of cancer and cardiovascular patients.

Depression is already the cause of 60% of suicides.

Not so long ago, the peak of depression was between the ages of 30 and 40; today it has become sharply “younger” and affects people under 25 years of age.

People of any age are susceptible to depression, including preschool children. There are slightly more patients among older people. The risk of developing depression among single and divorced people is 2–4 times higher than among married people. At the same time, divorced and single men are at greater risk than divorced and single women.

Women develop depression twice as often as men. However, representatives of the stronger sex are much less likely than women to seek help from specialists, preferring to suppress symptoms with alcohol or throw themselves into work.

Apathy and bad mood can occur in completely healthy people. Depressive states are accompanied by motor and mental retardation, anxiety, the cause of which cannot be determined, and insomnia. At the same time, it is difficult for a person to concentrate and make decisions. A bad mood usually goes away within a day or two, but depression can last for months.

True, a state of depression, if it is caused by grief, the loss of a loved one, can also last a long time. But everyday life with its worries and worries about daily bread gradually smooths out the pain of loss.

Causes of depression

The disease can develop under the influence of internal and external factors. Reactive depression occurs as a consequence of a person’s internal experiences caused by serious stress, for example, the death of a loved one, loss of material values, divorce, etc. In these circumstances, a person is oppressed by a feeling of loss and a feeling of complete helplessness. Sometimes depression is a companion to atherosclerosis and hypertension. This condition can also occur in severe inflammatory diseases such as gangrene, when the body is intoxicated with tissue decay products.

Endogenous depression develops with complete external well-being - it is caused by mental illnesses, mainly hereditary, which lead to metabolic disorders.

Internal causes of depression:

• hormonal imbalances, in particular, decreased production of neurotransmitters, primarily serotonin, disruptions in the synthesis of norepinephrine, dopamine;
• hormonal changes in the body during certain periods of life (after childbirth, menopause, puberty);
• systematic use of medications, one of the side effects of which is depression;
• diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems (neurasthenia, hypothyroidism);
• deficiency of vitamins and minerals, especially affecting the nervous system; lack of B vitamins;
• dehydration of the body;
• anemia;
• infectious diseases;
• chronic pathologies;
• lack of sunlight (seasonal depression);
• lack of sufficient oxygen supply;
• alcoholism;
• addiction;
• abuse of sedative and hypnotic drugs.

Symptoms of depression

. To be diagnosed with depression, the following symptoms must be present for at least two weeks:

• loss of interest in the environment and life guidelines;
• constantly low emotional background, pessimism, complete concentration of thoughts on negative events and sensations;
• loss of performance;
• weakness;
• insomnia;
• increased irritability;
• low self-esteem, attacks of self-flagellation;
• loss of appetite;
• weight loss or, conversely, uncontrolled weight gain;
• unmotivated fear and panic attacks;
• decreased cognitive function of the brain (inability to concentrate);
• lethargy;
• excessive fatigue and loss of strength.

Patients suffering from depression are often bothered by headaches, dizziness, discomfort in the heart and abdomen, joint pain, constipation alternating with diarrhea, menstrual irregularities in women, loss of sexual desire, etc. Depression imitates and “mimics” any somatic (bodily) diseases. It is for this reason that doctors have coined the term “masked depression” - for cases when it is “hidden” under the guise of a somatic disorder. If depression occurs, it is very important to treat it like an illness. For example, in hypertension, the mechanism that regulates blood pressure is disrupted, and in depression, the mechanism that regulates mood is disrupted. We do not hesitate to consult a doctor about hypertension, and we should not delay a visit to him for depression.

Depending on the results of the examination, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants - drugs that improve mood, or tranquilizers - drugs that neutralize the effects of adverse external factors on the psyche. In a state of depression, the reaction to any negative situation becomes extremely aggravated and the slightest offense can drive a person crazy. With the help of tranquilizers, you can reduce this susceptibility, creating a kind of protective field, similar to that created by a cast applied to a broken arm.

How to deal with depression

Social causes play an important role in the occurrence of the disease: troubles in the family, at work. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, analyze it and try to simplify it as much as possible.

If you are having troubles at work, tell yourself: “Are my work achievements that important to me? In the end, I was born not for labor feats, but in order to be happy and give happiness to my loved ones.” Don't take on too much. Sometimes the proverb is right: “Work is not a wolf, it won’t run into the forest.” Sometimes allow yourself to give up on everything and fall asleep - but in the morning you will wake up in a good mood and be able to move mountains. A family conflict has arisen, don’t dwell on it, remember what a great worker you are, how valued you are in your service.

If you are experiencing grief, don’t go completely into it, look around and see that someone needs even more sympathy than you. Take care of him and your soul will feel better.

To cope with depression, doctors advise:

• think about good things;
• learn to distinguish failure from disaster;
• rest more often;
• exercise;
• change the situation;
• Praise yourself for any success.

Any physical activity helps lift your mood, not just because you take your mind off your problems. Muscle tone increases, the brain releases natural substances - endorphins, which in their effect on the body are close to antidepressants and antipsychotics. In addition, exercise makes you feel better about yourself, which is very important for further combating depression.

In a healthy body healthy mind. Play sports. Even regular morning exercises can work wonders, a good and proven way to combat impending depression. Just choose a set of exercises so that all muscle groups participate in the work. Jogging, swimming, cycling, horseback riding, and even walking help. And if you have regularly maintained good shape before, now try to exercise until you are completely physically exhausted. This is also a good way to relieve mental stress. Alternate mental work and physical activity. In this sense, moderate, enjoyable work on a summer cottage is a panacea for city dwellers. The sky is blue, the air is fresh, green sprouts are sprouting from the ground, and the muscles ache pleasantly from working with a shovel for half an hour. You definitely need to work, have a range of permanent responsibilities, and be part of a team. After all, with depression, there is often a desire to give up everything and lock yourself within four walls. Under no circumstances should you give in to this, otherwise you may become afraid of leaving the house.

Get enough sleep. As a rule, depression is accompanied by insomnia. Sleep is the best healer. When going to bed, ventilate the bedroom well and, if possible, leave the window open. This will provide a sufficient supply of fresh air, which means you will sleep longer and wake up more alert. For insomnia, if we are talking about mild depression, you can use herbal infusions: valerian, peony, motherwort. Sometimes taking them is enough to normalize the condition and improve sleep. You can put a gauze bag stuffed with crushed valerian roots under your pillow or hang above your bed: their smell has a slight hypnotic effect. Find someone with whom you can have a heart-to-heart talk and share your experiences with him. I do not have anyone to talk to? Cry into your pillow. Tears also bring relief from depression. Live for today. Don’t engage in soul-searching, don’t accumulate grievances, don’t reopen wounds, leave the past in the past. Don't be afraid of the future - most of the disasters you can imagine will never happen. Change your surroundings. Get out into the forest, into the village, walk around the city without any haste, look into places where you have never been before. Depression will not disappear if you close yourself within four walls and mope.

Don't forget about the healing effects of art. For depression, classical music has a beneficial effect.

Diet for depression

Before starting therapy, it is necessary to adjust the diet, enriching it with vitamins, amino acids, and microelements. A number of foods have natural antidepressant properties.

First of all, these include foods rich in the essential amino acid tryptophan, which helps increase the production of serotonin in the brain. The highest concentration of tryptophan is present in mushrooms, oats, bananas, soybeans, nuts, seeds, dried dates, dairy and fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, cheese, whole milk), dietary meat, chocolate, and freshly squeezed carrot juice.

Be sure to enrich your diet with foods containing B vitamins: bee pollen, bran, yeast, including brewer's yeast, whole grain bread, legumes, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, green vegetables, citrus fruits, eggs, liver and other offal, meat, fish, cheese, tofu, kefir, buckwheat, corn, spinach, seafood.

It is advisable to include foods rich in iron and vitamin C in the menu. Honey, especially buckwheat and sunflower honey, dried apricots, rose hips and sea buckthorn, a decoction of oat grains, prunes, raisins, and grapes should be eaten daily. We should not forget about foods rich in magnesium, on which the functioning of the heart and central nervous system directly depends. Supplement your diet with cauliflower, nuts, peas, lentils, peaches, avocados, cereals, coriander, basil, and sage.

An important point in the treatment of depression is maintaining a water regime (2 liters of water per day). Scientists have proven that dehydration causes excessive consumption of the amino acid tryptophan, which can reduce the production of “happiness hormones” in the brain.

How to fight depression on your own using folk remedies?

Valerian root . The infusion helps with increased excitability, convulsions, and insomnia. Crushed dry valerian root (2 tsp) is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused for 2 hours, filtered and taken three times a day, 15-20 ml.

Collection of herbs. Herbal tea helps you relax and optimize your mood. Mix hop cones, chamomile inflorescences, valerian root and whole dried lemon balm bushes in a ratio of 2:1:1:1 and grind the plants in a coffee grinder. Two tablespoons of the collection are brewed in a thermos with 0.4 liters of boiling water. The strained tea is consumed in small portions throughout the day, and a glass of infusion is drunk before bed.

Oats. An infusion of oat straw saturates the body with B vitamins and other nutrients for the nervous system. Pour three tablespoons of straw into 0.4 liters of boiling water, leave for 1.5 hours, filter. Take 50 ml 4 times a day.

St. John's wort. Traditional medicine doctors prescribe a decoction of St. John's wort as a proven antidepressant. A dessert spoon of dry raw materials is poured with a glass of hot water and simmered in a water bath for about 10 minutes. The strained broth is taken 3 times a day before meals, ½ cup.

Mint. A proven remedy for relieving attacks of irritability, normalizing sleep, and improving general condition. Boil a tablespoon of dry or fresh mint leaves over low heat for about 10 minutes and take ¾ cup in the morning after waking up and before bed. To enhance the healing properties of the drink, natural honey is added to it.

Soothing baths with a decoction of medicinal herbs. Mix the herbs of rosemary, wormwood and linden blossom in equal proportions. Pour 700 grams of the collection into 4 liters of cold water in an enamel pan, put on fire, bring to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. The filtered broth is poured into a warm bath. The procedure is carried out before bedtime 2-3 times a week for a quarter of an hour. Such baths help you relax and relieve anxiety symptoms, and also promote a quality night's rest.

Sea salt. Baths with sea salt (3-4 times a week) have proven effective against depression. You can also use salt rubdowns in the morning (a tablespoon of sea or table salt per 1 liter of warm water).

Aromatherapy. A number of essential oils have mild antidepressant properties, in particular, orange, lavender, frankincense, rosemary, clary sage. It is advisable to wear an aroma medallion with the addition of 1 drop of one or a mixture of oils, aromatize rooms, especially before bed, baths (3-4 drops of any of the proposed oils or their combination per 20 grams of the base, which is used as bath foam, cream, honey, salt), enrichment of cosmetics (2 drops per 10 ml of base).

Daily long walks (at least an hour), especially in a forest area, park, or square, play an important role in the treatment of depression. Sports, dancing, yoga, Pilates increase the body’s ability to produce “happiness hormones”, so you should choose the most acceptable and harmonious type of physical activity for yourself.

Healing from depression is a long and difficult path, but combining the methods of conservative and traditional medicine will help you overcome it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Be healthy!

Materials used:

1. AiF Health No. 48 dated November 25, 2010.
2. https://narod-lekar.ru/kak-borotsya-s-depressiey/#ixzz4dkx5Hztv

How dangerous are antidepressants for the human body?

Are antidepressants dangerous to your health? People are as afraid of these drugs as they are of antibiotics. There are many myths around these medications. How dangerous are antidepressants really? First of all, you should understand that no doctor will prescribe you a potent drug without indications for it.

Modern medicines have a rather gentle effect on the human body, bringing great benefits to patients and bringing them closer to recovery much faster. The drugs affect the production of necessary neurotransmitters and compensate for the lack of serotonin and endorphins. As a result, within a couple of weeks the patient begins to feel many times better than before the start of therapy.

However, the positive effect of the tablets does not occur immediately; over the course of several weeks, the human body adapts, which is why some side effects occur. They often cause patients to stop taking medications because they feel like their condition is only getting worse. However, you should be prepared for the fact that these are not magic pills that will help you get rid of a serious illness overnight. Most medications have a cumulative effect.

A competent specialist knows in what dosages a particular drug should be taken. Most often, the dose is increased gradually, as the body gets used to it, which is why at the beginning of taking it the expected effect will be absent. It is important for patients to stay in touch with their doctor to inform him of any changes. If your health condition worsens, tell your doctor. If you follow the recommendations, the medications will only bring benefits and a significant improvement in your well-being.

Depression in men

Constitutional differences between the male and female body lead to the fact that mental disorders have different manifestations. This condition in a man is often unnoticeable to those around him; the patient tries to appear joyful and cheerful, telling everyone about the absence of problems.

The depressive triad, characteristic of men, is expressed as follows:

• anhedonia – the ability to experience pleasure and joy is reduced or absent;
• changes in thinking processes - new, sometimes absurd, judgments arise, negativism and pessimism predominate;
• motor retardation, slowness.

One of the reasons for the development of the disease in the stronger sex is erectile dysfunction. Decreased libido, lack of attraction to the opposite sex, fear of being ridiculed by a partner causes a feeling of slight dissatisfaction with oneself, and then turns into a severe form, accompanied by a feeling of one’s own helplessness and insignificance, the man does not feel strong and self-confident.

Antidepressant addiction – myth or truth?

It is impossible to say unequivocally that drugs for depression are evil. But also the fact that they are absolutely harmless. Medicine does not stand still, just like pharmacology. Medicines are constantly being improved and improved. Today, those medications that caused drug addiction and posed a real threat to health due to side effects are long gone. The latest generation of drugs is much safer than their predecessors.

In some cases, patients have to take medications for years, not because they become dependent, but because the treatment plan and indications require it. However, most often, when contacting specialists at an early stage of the disease, the use of drugs is not required, or a short course of treatment is required. The dosage is gradually reduced, which prevents the development of drug dependence. A person gradually gets used to living without medications.

However, the truth is that while most of these pills are banned from over-the-counter sales, some people circumvent the law and purchase them illegally. Why is this being done? The fact is that some drugs, when overdosed and used for a long time, can still be addictive. Some of the most common over-the-counter drugs include Lyrica and Fluoxetine (Prozac). When used for other purposes, for recreational purposes, the drugs can cause addiction, which can only be gotten rid of with the help of a narcologist.

You should not self-medicate, increase the duration of use and dose, this can lead to undesirable consequences and side effects. If you feel you cannot stop taking the drug, call your doctor. He can help you get rid of your addiction.

Treatment of severe depression

It is advisable to begin treatment of severe depression with the weakening and relief of the main symptoms.

The use of antidepressants brings a noticeable improvement in condition and mood. In severe cases, drug treatment in a hospital is necessary. The most effective use of pharmacotherapy is in combination with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy can be carried out in group, individual and family forms.

New treatments such as biofeedback and transcranial magnetic stimulation are also effective for major depression.

In addition to the main treatment, restorative therapy is indicated: walks in nature, massage, etc. The approach to the patient plays a huge role. Patients often show irritation and anger. It is very important that a person with depression receives proper treatment from a doctor.

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Is it possible to get rid of depression once and for all?

Is it possible to cure anxiety-depressive disorder? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally in the affirmative. The disease can progress in different ways and have many concomitant diseases of varying severity. Each individual case should be considered individually. In most cases, depressive disorder can be treated, but the risk that the disease will return or remain permanently cannot be ruled out. It is very important to monitor any changes and, if necessary and if there is a visible deterioration in the condition, immediately contact a psychotherapist.

Following your doctor's recommendations and taking preventive measures will help you avoid relapse. You need to get into the habit of doing sports, physical education, or at least gymnastics in the morning. Remember that no one will take care of you except you. Forget about smoking and alcohol, bad habits only provoke the development of depression. It is also important to maintain a sleep schedule; sleep less than eight hours leads to negative processes in the central nervous system and has an undesirable effect on the psyche. Avoid stress as much as possible.

Depression in women

There are several factors that lead to the development of depression in women. Among them are the following categories:

• Biological

The disorder develops slowly and gradually under the influence of changes in the body. Increased nervous excitability, decreased levels of norepinephrine or serotonin, and hormonal imbalance lead to pathology. The situation is aggravated if the body lacks vitamins, microelements and other useful substances.

• Social

This group of factors is associated with frequent stress, bad habits, polluted environment, increased physical and emotional activity. The female body is weaker than the male; it is not able to withstand such loads for a long time. The psyche is depleted, various unfavorable states arise, including depressive ones.

• Interpersonal relationships

Psychotraumatic events that occur in a woman's life can cause this disorder. Among them are:

• death of a loved one;
• long-term separation or complete breakup of relationships;
• lack of understanding on the part of relatives;
• constant dissatisfaction with your appearance, excess weight or physical characteristics;
• professional dissatisfaction.

The combination of these factors threatens an increase in symptoms and a gradual deterioration in a woman’s health.

The lack of joy in life radically changes the patient’s character; he becomes melancholic, constantly dissatisfied with himself and his loved ones, and makes complaints about everyone, even if there is no reason for this.

How can the doctor help?

There is a huge mistrust of doctors in our country. The rather low level of medicine in the regions, lack of funding, low salaries of doctors, and with it a negligent attitude towards work also have an impact. Of course, there are good and bad doctors and clinics; if you do not trust budget institutions, contact a private center.

If you have symptoms of the disorder, you should immediately contact a psychotherapist. A specialist will be able to quickly recognize the disease, carry out diagnostics and take tests, examine the patient and draw up an individual psychopharmacological treatment plan. Clinical psychologists at our center can also make a diagnosis of depressive disorder. Quite often our patients experience alcoholic depression due to prolonged abuse of alcoholic beverages. “Center for Healthy Youth” has all the capabilities, experience and necessary resources to eliminate all symptoms of the disease and normalize the psycho-emotional state of the patient.

Many people are afraid of psychologists. “Am I crazy?” – can often be heard from patients. However, neuroses and depressive states do not mean that a person is mentally ill, and he will be admitted to a mental hospital and registered. When contacting a private center, people are treated completely anonymously. Even if you go to a public clinic, you will not be registered at the dispensary. Specialists do not have the right to disclose the diagnosis or provide information about the patient’s condition to third parties, since this is a medical confidentiality. A person can go through the treatment process completely calmly. Quite often, an experienced doctor will only need to conduct psychotherapy sessions in order to achieve stable remission. Personal communication with a doctor and following his recommendations is all that is needed for a speedy recovery. You should not prescribe medications yourself, it can end badly.

If you feel increasing symptoms of depression, you should not wait for a miracle and live with it for years, there is a way out, modern techniques and the latest drugs will help you cope with the disease. Doctors will help you regain the joy of life even with chronic pathology.

Normotimic drugs

Medicines in this group have an antidepressant effect only in cases where the depressive state is caused by chronic affective diseases, such as bipolar affective disorder (BD, manic-depressive psychosis), cyclothymia, dysthymia, schizoaffective disorder. Most commonly used medications:

• Carbamazepine (finlepsin)
• Depakine chrono
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
• Lithium carbonate