Depression in the morning. Morning depression: how to overcome yourself. Decreased energy, activity, increased fatigue

Doctors often refer to hypertension as the "silent killer" and with good reason. By itself, it may not have pronounced symptoms, but it dramatically increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disorders.

Indicators blood pressure consist of two numbers. The first (upper) - systolic shows with what force the blood presses on the walls of the vessels at the time of the heartbeat. The second (lower) - diastolic shows the blood pressure at the time of rest of the heart between beats. Our vessels are quite elastic, but too strong pressure they are not always able to contain, and if the vessel is torn, disaster cannot be avoided.

At risk for developing hypertension are people over 65 years of age, overweight patients with diabetes, menopausal women, smokers, and people who do not eat well and consume too much salt.

A blood pressure of 120/80 is considered normal. More recently high blood pressure started at 140/90, but recently dropped to 130/80. If you see such numbers on the tonometer, you should already think about it. Important: even if you feel good with high blood pressure, this does not mean that there is no problem.

Signs of hypertension can be not only high blood pressure. You should be alerted by frequent headaches, fatigue and lethargy, redness of the face, swelling of the arms and legs, heavy sweating and memory problems.

If the pressure rises regularly, it is necessary to visit a therapist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and examinations and, if necessary, prescribe treatment that will help normalize the pressure. But if an attack suddenly overtook you, you have not yet reached the doctor, and there are no medicines at hand, then there are several simple ways that will help alleviate your condition with high blood pressure.

Start breathing deeply

Several studies have shown that deep breathing is quite effective in lowering blood pressure. Take a comfortable position, relax and close your eyes, take a deep breath. Place your hand on your stomach and feel it rise as you inhale. Exhalation should also be slow.

A similar breathing rhythm for 3-5 minutes will improve blood flow to tissues and organs, this will help reduce blood pressure on the vessels.

Brew mint infusion

Pour boiling water over a few mint leaves, cool the drink and drink in small sips. It is in this form that mint is very useful for normalizing pressure.

Take a hot foot bath

Pour water into a bathtub or basin at a temperature of about 45 degrees and lower your arms or legs there for 10 minutes. Hot water will expand the vessels in the limbs, blood will begin to flow to them and the pressure will drop.

Hold your hands under cold water

The reverse procedure will also help. Holding your hands under cold (but not icy) water will lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

Make an apple cider vinegar compress

Soak a gauze or towel in apple cider vinegar and apply the wrung out cloth to the feet for 10-15 minutes. It has been proven that apple cider vinegar contains substances that help lower blood pressure.

Have a drink of valerian

Valerian or preparations based on it is a strong sedative that relieves the body of stress. The heart normalizes its rhythm and the pressure will decrease.

Prepare a drink of honey and mineral water

In a glass of mineral water, add a tablespoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon. Mix and drink in one go. The pressure should drop after 20-30 minutes.

Important: The methods listed above are emergency measures, which will help reduce pressure in the absence of a doctor and medicines at hand. If nothing works and you don't get better, call ambulance. After normalizing the condition, be sure to find an opportunity to visit a doctor, and if the pressure rises not for the first time, always carry drugs that lower it with you.

But to reduce pressure and get rid of hypertension, not only drug therapy is important, but also lifestyle changes. Experts have compiled a list of items to start with first.

• If you are suffering from excess weight, you need to lose weight (each kilogram dropped will reduce your pressure by 1 point).
• Review your diet and reduce your salt intake ( daily rate for an adult, no more than 5-6 g per day). Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Limit the amount of caffeine in your diet (remember that it is present not only in coffee, but also in tea).
• Go in for sports (this can be walking, running, cycling, dancing or swimming).
• Limit the amount of alcohol in your life.
• Quit smoking.
• Monitor the quality of your sleep. bad dream and heavy snoring can increase blood pressure at night.
• Learn to be less nervous and avoid stress.
• Monitor your blood pressure regularly.

All about ectopic pregnancy

In 95% of cases, the egg is fixed in the fallopian tube, much less often it can be in the ovaries, cervix or abdominal cavity. For the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy, there are certain physiological prerequisites. Among them:

• Adhesions in the fallopian tubes (occur against the background of endometriosis and inflammation)
• Abnormal contractility of the fallopian tubes
• Inflammatory process
• Too narrow fallopian tubes
• An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.

Types of ectopic pregnancy

Depending on the location of the fetal egg, there are several types of ectopic pregnancy.

Trubnaya. The embryo is attached in the fallopian tube, which most often leads to its rupture.

Abdominal. In this case, the fetal egg is fixed in the abdominal cavity, so the main symptom is usually pain in the lower abdomen.

Ovarian. The development of the embryo begins in the ovary itself. Most often, this type of pregnancy develops in women after 40 years.

Cervical. The embryo is attached to the cervix itself.

Important: after the first ectopic pregnancy, there is a 15% risk of recurrence.

Symptoms

The onset of an ectopic pregnancy is completely similar to a normal one, so it is extremely difficult to suspect it in the early stages. Delayed menstruation and two stripes on the test are the most joyful signs in life for many, but they are not always so. The first symptoms may appear for a period of 4-6 weeks. Among them:

• Stomach ache
• Uterine bleeding
• Spotting spotting
• Pain in the lower back and back
• Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
• Pain in the ovaries
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Subfebrile fever
• Fainting, dizziness
• General malaise.

Diagnostics

At home, it is impossible to determine an ectopic pregnancy, therefore, if alarming symptoms appear against the background of a positive express test, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. The gynecologist will be able to suspect something was wrong after examining the chair and performing an ultrasound (it is better if it is transvaginal).

An analysis of the hCG hormone, which is produced by a fertilized egg, will also be useful in diagnosis. HCG consists of alpha and beta units, and it is the latter that are indicative of an ectopic pregnancy. As a rule, they are detected in the blood within 6-8 days after fertilization.

Signs of ectopic pregnancy can be similar to other diseases, so it is very important to differentiate them. It can be inflammation of the ovaries, appendicitis, ovarian cyst rupture.

Complications

Do not underestimate the situation with an ectopic pregnancy, it can be quite dangerous not only for health, but also for the life of a woman. The most common complications it can lead to: rupture fallopian tube, intra-abdominal bleeding, loss of ovaries and fallopian tubes, infertility and even death.

Treatment

Ectopic pregnancy is treated exclusively surgically so hospitalization is required.

Depending on the time, location of the egg and the patient's well-being, the intervention can be laparoscopic (through several punctures) or laparotomy (with an incision in the anterior abdominal wall). At short periods, only the egg can be removed, while maintaining the integrity of the tube. But most often, the embryo is removed along with the fallopian tube, which significantly reduces the woman's chances of a subsequent pregnancy.

After the operation, the woman needs rehabilitation and recovery period. Usually it consists in physiotherapy, restoration of hormonal levels and menstrual cycle and preparation for the next pregnancy. Gynecologists are allowed to start planning no earlier than 6 months after the surgery.

Subsequent pregnancies

Of course, after an ectopic pregnancy, a woman retains the chances of another healthy pregnancy, provided that at least one fallopian tube is preserved. But planning the next pregnancy should be approached extremely responsibly, after complete examination. It is important to understand what caused the egg to attach in the tube in order to rule out a problem in the future. This may require a variety of examinations and tests.

It is rather difficult to talk about the timing of the next pregnancy. Ovulation usually occurs in one of the two ovaries. If ovulation occurs from an intact tube, this significantly increases the chances of success, otherwise planning will be delayed. Important: in the event of a second pregnancy, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible in order to track the attachment of a fertilized egg in time. Usually an ultrasound is enough for this.

Prevention

There are no specific ones for the prevention of ectopic pregnancy, but it is in the power of every woman to take a responsible approach to her health and childbearing issues.

• It is necessary to treat any diseases in a timely manner genitourinary system, especially those that are provoked by STIs.
• Avoid casual sex or use a condom.
• Carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene.
• Try not to have abortions and diagnostic curettage.
• Visit at least twice a year preventive examinations at the gynecologist.
• Carefully approach the planning of pregnancy and go through all the necessary examinations in advance.

Hiccups are an involuntary breath against the background of a closed glottis, which is provoked by a contraction of the diaphragm and is rhythmically repeated. Often hiccups appear for no apparent reason and after a while it goes away on its own.

In science, there are quite a few theories about the occurrence of hiccups in humans. Some believe that this is a kind of reminder that before a person could breathe only with the help of gills, others refer to the sucking reflex of an infant. There is a version that hiccups are one of the variants of a nervous tic or can be caused by psychological problems. In young children, hiccups often occur after prolonged laughter.

To quickly deal with hiccups, you can try some of the common ways.

• Press your finger on the root of your tongue as if you were trying to make yourself vomit. The spasm of the esophagus will relieve the spasm of the diaphragm and the hiccups will pass.
• Drink a glass of water slowly and in small sips.
• Place a slice of lemon on your tongue and suck on it.
• Chew a little crushed ice or a stale crust of bread.
• Grasp your tongue with two fingers and pull it down and out.
• Take two or three breaths, and then hold your breath for a while.
• Start push-ups and pump the press.

At least one of the methods we have listed should definitely help you, so you can start with those that are more pleasant and accessible for you. If nothing works, try to relax and take your mind off the hiccups, in such a situation it will pass much faster.

Important: if hiccups persist for more than an hour or occur regularly several times a day, you should consult a doctor. The accompanying symptoms that accompany regular hiccups - heartburn, chest pain and problems with swallowing - should also alert.

“I absolutely do not want to get out of bed in the morning. I don’t want to go to work, I’m in a bad mood, I don’t want to communicate with anyone”

“I don’t want to eat anything, I’ve lost weight, I think all the time that I’m a loser. Colleagues say that I am appreciated at work, but I am sure that I am about to be fired. ”

“Often my head hurts, everything became completely uninteresting. I began to sleep badly.
I can't figure out what's wrong with me"

What unites these people? All of them suffer from depression in one form or another. Now this word can be heard very often, but what is depression really?

What is depression?

First of all, depression is a disease. But how do you distinguish depression from just a bad mood?

In a state of depression, a person’s mood decreases for a long time, what used to be pleasurable and interesting ceases to be such. Physical weakness appears, sleep is often disturbed and appetite disappears, weight decreases. Ideas of guilt arise, the future looks bleak, self-esteem and self-confidence are reduced.

Not all mood swings are depression. To make a diagnosis, this condition must last at least 2 weeks. At chronic course periods of depression can last for 6 months or more. Depression varies greatly in severity, from low mood to severe depression, in which a person cannot get out of bed. Depression is often combined with anxiety, this is the so-called anxious depression.

Sometimes a person does not feel a depressed mood at all, but instead complains of bodily symptoms - heart pain, migraines, skin and gastrointestinal tract diseases. This happens when a person does not know how to respond to a situation with their emotions.

What is the cause of depression?

“It all started for me for no reason, like everything in my life was normal, and suddenly depression”

In fact, depression does not happen without a cause. It’s just that in some cases the reasons for it are obvious - some kind of serious life shock (divorce, loss of a loved one, loss of a job), while in others depression occurs without visible external cause. But even in this case, there are reasons.

Scientists now believe that depression is caused by a combination of several factors. In some patients with depression, genetic factors play a role, ie. predisposition to depression can be inherited. But it is not depression itself that is transmitted, but only a predisposition. If you have a predisposition to depression, it means that it can manifest itself only under certain unfavorable circumstances. An important role in the development of depression is played by psychological factors, in particular upbringing, family environment, severe stress during childhood (for example, separation from parents).

A major factor in the development of depression is a particular style of thinking that contributes to depression.

Thinking patterns that contribute to depression

“I've been with the company for 3 years now. He rose to the rank of department head. But I feel like a complete loser, because I set myself the goal of becoming a deputy director ... "

“I failed the interview. I feel like people like me don't get hired."

Let's take a closer look at some of the features of thinking that can lead to depression.

• Perfectionism. You are sure that you should achieve only the best result in everything. Depressed people are rarely satisfied with what they do because they set very high standards for themselves. Perfectionism makes them work with overexertion, which causes severe exhaustion and constant anxiety about the result.
• Black and white thinking. You think on the principle of "all or nothing" - "If I did something halfway, then I did nothing", "Either I won or I lost." This way of thinking is very dangerous, because it does not allow a person to see intermediate options for the development of events.
• Catastrophization. When some minor trouble happens, it seems to you that a catastrophe has occurred. “If my child got a deuce at school, then this means that he will not be able to study!” Catastrophic thinking causes great anxiety and takes a lot of energy.
• "I should". You constantly tell yourself that you should: be a good husband/wife, parent, employee, always get things done, don't get mad at other people… The list is endless. The so-called "tyranny of duty" does not allow a person to enjoy life and take time for himself.

These are far from all the thoughts that contribute to the development of depression. Any person has many of them, but in patients with depression they take up most of the time. Psychotherapy can help you combat these thoughts and learn to think more realistically.

How to treat depression?

If you suffer from depression, the first thing you should do is contact a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, very often in our country people are accustomed to turning to psychics and fortune-tellers rather than to medical specialists. Only a psychiatrist can properly diagnose you and decide if you suffer from depression.

Depression is treated with the help of psychotropic drugs - antidepressants prescribed by a doctor, and with the help of psychotherapy (it can be carried out by a psychotherapist or clinical psychologist). In severe depression, treatment with antidepressants is absolutely necessary, because. in this state, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are not uncommon. It is best when antidepressant treatment is accompanied by psychotherapy. In milder forms, psychotherapy alone can be dispensed with.

“The doctor prescribed me antidepressants, but I am very afraid to take them, I heard that they are addicted to drugs, and they also make you very fat”

Antidepressants are medicines for depression. Now there are many types of antidepressants. Modern antidepressants are much easier to tolerate by patients and have fewer side effects. Only a psychiatrist should prescribe and cancel antidepressants. He will also tell you about the features of taking and the effects of these drugs.

The notion that antidepressants cause addiction is a big misconception. At proper treatment under the supervision of a psychiatrist, this does not happen. It is very important that you are in constant and regular contact with your doctor. Don't be afraid to ask questions about your treatment, how the drug works, and about side effects. Various side effects antidepressants are quite easily eliminated and reversible.

“I started taking antidepressants, I drank for three days with no result - I quit”
“When I got better, I stopped the pills and everything started again,” - this is often heard from patients. The fact is that antidepressants begin to act gradually, accumulating in the body and the full effect appears after about 2 weeks. You can not cancel antidepressants on your own and change the dose on your own.

Do not think that you will have to take these medicines for the rest of your life. With proper treatment, after a while you will be able to do without them. But at the same time, you should tune in to a long process of treatment. It is also important to understand that there can be some ups and downs in the treatment of depression. If you feel worse for a while despite taking antidepressants and psychotherapy, do not despair. Such periods are associated with both external circumstances and the individual action of the antidepressant. Contact your doctor so that he can change the treatment regimen if necessary. If you are undergoing psychotherapy, do not be afraid to tell the therapist about the deterioration in order to develop further strategies.

What is psychotherapy?

What is psychotherapy? Simply put, psychotherapy is a treatment with a word. A psychotherapist helps a person to independently understand what dictates his feelings and actions. Precisely on their own, because many people have a misconception about a psychotherapist as a person who will give specific instructions on how to live correctly. In fact, many people can give advice, but they rarely make life easier, since they are most often based on the adviser's experience. And the role of a psychotherapist is completely different - he creates conditions in which a person makes decisions himself, begins to better understand what is actually behind his problems.

The most recognized and widespread throughout the world are two types of psychotherapy - psychoanalytic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the oldest form of psychotherapy currently in use. One of the main ideas of this type of psychotherapy is the existence of an unconscious sphere of the psyche. Thoughts and desires that are unacceptable to us are often not realized by us. For example, you cannot understand why, for no apparent reason, you have a strong dislike for someone. This person may remind you of someone significant to you, but this similarity is not realized. Until you remember who you are really angry with, it will be quite difficult to get rid of irritation.

Relationships are another important target of psychoanalytic therapy. Often they are built on the basis of the experience of previous relationships (early childhood experience plays a particularly important role). Most often, in adults, memories of childhood are greatly distorted and their connection with current relationships is not obvious. Moreover, it is very difficult to recognize some recurring stereotypes in adult relationships. For example, some women constantly enter into close relationships with men who suffer from alcoholism. During psychotherapy, these stereotypes are realized and their connection with past experience is established.

Psychoanalytic Therapy- lengthy procedure. It can last for several years with a frequency of two to five times a week. There are relatively short-term forms - 1-2 classes per week for several months to a year.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- a younger trend in psychotherapy. The main idea of ​​CBT is the dependence of a person's emotions and behavior on his thoughts.

All people have so-called automatic thoughts. These are thoughts that come to our mind automatically and are not challenged by us. For example, a patient says that her mood deteriorated greatly after her boss looked at her. After analyzing this situation, it turned out that an automatic thought flashed through her: “If the boss looked at me, then he is not pleased with me!”, And it was she who spoiled the woman’s mood.

If you learn to capture these thoughts, check their correctness (“What does it say that my boss is unhappy with me?”), And challenge them, then you can get a powerful means of regulating your own emotional state. Behind automatic thoughts are deep beliefs about yourself, about people, about the world around you, which are formed in childhood and are often not realized. You can also work with them, realizing and changing, if necessary. In CBT, a system of homework and behavioral exercises is widely used. CBT is shorter term than psychoanalytic therapy (20-40 sessions once a week).

What happens if depression is not treated?

“Bad mood, you’ll think that now it’s being treated for every trifle”, “You’re a man, pull yourself together, what are you up to?”,- this can be heard all the time. Many people suffering from depression do not seek help because they feel it is embarrassing to deal with problems on their own. This is a very big mistake. Why?

• Firstly, it is difficult to cope with depression on your own, and advice to pull yourself together will not help here. Asking for help is not weakness, on the contrary, it takes a lot of courage to admit your problems and fight them. Seeing a specialist is your first step on the road to recovery. Turning to a specialist, you make a conscious choice in favor of health.
• Secondly, depression without treatment leads to serious consequences:
  • People who do not receive treatment for depression for many years may lose their jobs, lose friends. They also often have family problems, up to the destruction of the family.
  • If a person has suffered from depression for many years without receiving any help, their treatment may be more difficult and lengthy.
  • A dangerous consequence of depression without treatment can be alcoholism. According to some reports, up to half of people suffering from alcoholism are diagnosed with depression, but have never received appropriate treatment. Alcohol has a short-term antidepressant effect. But over time, it only increases depression, not to mention the emergence of dependence on alcohol.
  • Finally, the most dangerous consequence of depression without treatment is suicide attempts. If you have suicidal thoughts, see a psychiatrist immediately.

Can you work while being treated for depression?

“The doctors diagnosed me with depression. I decided not to work, because overexertion, stress at work is harmful to me. I have been sitting at home for two years, mortal longing "

“I decided to fight depression. I thought that if I work more, there will be no time to think about nonsense. I loaded myself with work, but I realized that I couldn’t cope”

So after all, what is more correct - to work or not? In fact, for a person suffering from depression, moderate activity is simply necessary.

It is very important to try to entertain yourself, go to the store, go for a walk, meet friends, even if it does not bring the former pleasure. The following paradoxical principle is important here - "For some time I will have to live with depression." This means that you do not have to wait until you are fully recovered in order to start doing something. Many patients say: “When I feel that I have recovered, then I will move mountains, but now I am not capable of anything.” It is not right. You need to start trying to do some things while in a state of depression.

If you are being treated for mild or moderate depression, you may well be able to work. But it is very important to adjust your work schedule. Avoid unrealistic deadlines and rush jobs. Try not to work overtime. Do not try to cope with depression by loading yourself with a large number of cases. This can lead to rapid exhaustion and worsen your condition. It is important to understand that depression is not a time for big changes and decisions. Give yourself permission to take small steps.

If you are undergoing treatment for severe depression and are unable to work, do not despair. Let your treatment become your work for a while.

In any case, discuss work-related issues with your doctor or psychotherapist.

Can you help yourself?

As mentioned above, depression is a disease treated by specialists. And your first task is to find those who will help you qualified assistance. But you must understand that without your efforts, the results of treatment will be much worse or appear more slowly. So what can you do to help treat depression?

1. Follow the routine of the day
   • It sounds trite, but in fact, the correct sleep and rest regimen is very important for improving your condition. Try to go to bed and get up in the morning at the same time.
   • Avoid self-administration sleeping pills(without the recommendation of the attending physician). Although sleeping pills help you fall asleep quickly, this sleep is different and less beneficial for you. If you take sleeping pills uncontrollably, increasing the dosage, after a while you will not be able to do without them.
   • Don't go to bed too early. If you have been going to bed at one in the morning all your life, do not try to fall asleep at 22.00.
   • Try not to sleep during the day for more than 20 minutes, so as not to disturb the night's sleep.
2. Go about your daily business

   Often people in a state of depression completely stop doing everyday activities, to the point that they stop taking care of themselves. And the longer they stay away from their day-to-day activities, the less confidence they have that they can handle life. As already mentioned, start taking small steps, without waiting for the depression to end.

   • Start doing things that bring you pleasure - read magazines, go for walks, do your own hobbies. An important principle is to do it even if you don't enjoy it as much as before.
   • Take care of yourself. Take a shower, do at least a minimal exercise. Try to cook your own food at least once in a while. Even if you have severe depression, doing your daily activities will help you feel that you are able to cope with them. An important principle is not to demand too much of yourself.
3. Keep in touch

   Yes, when a person is depressed, it can be difficult to communicate. However, if you maintain relationships with people, the process of your recovery will go faster. You will feel that you are not alone and you will be able to find someone who understands you.

   • Do not hide from loved ones that you suffer from depression. Try contacting them for support. The constant mask of good mood and the fear of appearing weak take away your strength and increase your depression.
   • Try to keep in touch with your friends. The principle already mentioned is also important here - do it, even if it does not yet bring former pleasure. Try to take an interest in their life, this will help you break away from the constant fixation of your own problems.
4. Avoid alcohol, drugs and stimulants

   As already mentioned, alcohol brings temporary relief, but subsequently only increases depression and ruins your life. The same, only in more refers to drugs. It is also important to limit your caffeine intake as overstimulation nervous system may cause further depression.

One well-known psychotherapist asked a patient "Who recovers from depression?" He answered: “The one who is treated recovers.” Remember this principle, and you can return to normal life.

Kochetkov Ya.A., Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry
Scientific and methodological center of psychoendocrinology
psyend.ru/pub-depress.shtml

: in the morning, after a person wakes up, he feels very bad, he feels hopelessness, depression, anxiety, shame; in the evening, these feelings subside slightly and he becomes more vigorous. Why is that? Depression is a state of mind that is based on the belief that I am bad, vicious, worthless and that I will not succeed. Another belief follows from this belief: everything was bad and everything will be bad (after all, I am worthless and incapable of anything, I can’t fix, make better what I now think is “bad”). Hence the constant anxiety and sadness generated by thoughts of a bad future that awaits me.

As soon as I wake up in the morning, all black thoughts about the future and about my viciousness immediately come over me in a wave, and there is a day ahead in which I need to complete many things that require strength. But what forces, if everything goes badly and I am a lost man? This is where depression kicks in. Gradually, in the process of carrying out daily activities, I one way or another pass into the “here now” mode of being, that is, into the most productive and only possible segment of my life, in this moment. And in it there are no fears just because they are all drawn by my imagination, which seeks to predict the future. There is no future in the "here and now" simply because we have not yet created it! the future has not yet manifested itself in our own actions. Therefore, fear recedes, anxiety subsides, hopelessness fades.

By the time I go to bed, I painfully want to completely get rid of my depression and therefore I “hide” in sleep, hide in it from the black thoughts that have been with me to one degree or another during the day. If I manage to fall asleep, I seem to interrupt their course, and again, during sleep, depression recedes. And then the morning starts and everything repeats.

This vicious circle of feelings is especially noticeable when a person takes antidepressants. In this case, he completely refuses to even in the slightest degree deal with his feelings, he just waits. And, accordingly, it swings on a depressive swing of emotions without any restrictions.

What needs to be done to break this vicious circle? First of all, I need to admit to myself and others my feelings, to admit that I experience grief, pain, loneliness, anger and resentment towards myself because of specific reasons. Due to the loss of a job, property, loved ones, prospects, etc. Then you need to gradually start taking care of yourself, doing small or big pleasant things for yourself, that is, learning to love yourself, even one that can be sad, angry, have no job, home or love. And start looking for things you can do to show love to yourself, like making new friends, new job, a new type of sport, a new hobby. To do this, you need to set goals for yourself, break them down into small, achievable subgoals in the near future and move towards them. And thank yourself for achieving them.

Then the old worn-out DVDs in my head, on which only one thing is written: nothing will work out for me, I'm bad, everything will be even worse, will gradually become silent. The way out of depression is to destroy the mechanism of how we ourselves create our depression.

Is it true that with depression there can be no good mood at all?

No, it's not exactly there. Sometimes bright and joyful events (a party with friends, a date, a holiday, a trip) give an experience of elation and pleasure, but when the event passes, everything returns to normal. First of all, the fact that the depressed mood persists is significant. about most of the time - days, weeks, months.

In addition, experts argue that short-term mood swings occur with atypical depression. So pay attention, first of all, to the depth of the experience of longing and depression.

I often feel better in the evenings. I feel in good shape and have time to do a lot. Does this mean that I am not depressed, but simply lazy and weak-willed?

It is impossible to make a diagnosis in absentia, as well as to refute it. But for depression evening improvement is very characteristic. For two or three hours, a person seems to return to normal, and in the morning he again experiences despondency and fatigue. If we are talking about an anxiety-depressive disorder, the opposite picture can be observed - an improvement in the morning.

My relatives often tell me that if I did hard physical labor, I would quickly recover. That all my depressions come from thinking too much. This is true?

There is no evidence that hard physical work cures depression, just as the habit of "thinking a lot" provokes it. Depression is treated with psychotherapy and antidepressants, and nothing else. But in the process of treatment feasible physical exercise going to the gym (or walking outside) really improves the condition.

Sometimes I feel like there just isn't enough joy in my life. If more good things happened to me, I wouldn't be depressed.

I don't know if you are really depressed (perhaps you are healthy and you actually lack positive emotions), but it is already known that a large number of stressful events predispose to this disease. And then a vicious circle turns out: the lost ability to rejoice leads to the avoidance of familiar and favorite forms of activity, which in turn increases longing.

When I read about the symptoms of depression, it seems to me that everything is not so bad with me. But in fact, I am far from the norm - the mood is not right, I don’t want anything. What happened with me?

Only a doctor can give a reasoned answer to your question after talking with you. I can only mention dysthymia, a sub-depressive condition in which low mood, low self-esteem and an inability to enjoy pleasure are observed for a long time. Dysthymia also requires treatment.

Is it true that antidepressants make you fat?

No, it's not.

Do they cause addiction?

If I start taking antidepressants, will I become a completely different person?

Antidepressants do not affect the personality in any way and, therefore, do not change anything in a person. But they effectively remove the symptoms and give strength for fruitful psychotherapy.

If I'm already diagnosed with depression and not treated, will it get worse?

According to available data, depression is often chronic, and each subsequent episode in the absence of treatment is more prolonged and severe. Russian psychiatrists also claim that once a depressive episode has begun, if it is not treated, in 40% of cases it does not go away even after a year.

Is it possible to cure depression to the end - so that it will never happen again?

Yes, you can. This requires not only antidepressants, but also a full-fledged psychotherapy, during which you will begin to understand and hear yourself much better than before, and in addition, learn how to help yourself. This means that even if individual symptoms of depression make themselves felt (and none of us are immune from difficult situations that provoke this disorder), you can quickly and effectively stop them at the very beginning, preventing the development of the disease.

How long and how often will I need to see a psychologist?

Each person is unique, and therefore it is impossible to predict in advance how much time it will take him to cope with depression. This will depend on many factors, including the severity of the disease, and its duration, and life history, and attitude towards psychotherapy, and readiness or unreadiness for independent work. But it is better to count on several months of therapy with one visit per week.

Is depression always accompanied by weight loss?

No. With depression, both weight gain and no change in this indicator can also be observed.

Why do some people gain weight when depressed?

There are a few possible causes. For example, atypical depression causes increased cravings for fast carbohydrates. More this disorder usually accompanied by a decrease in activity, including motor activity - a person sits at home more, refuses to walk and play sports. Improvement in the evening hours can provoke late dinners. In addition, for many people with depression, food remains almost the only source of pleasure - no wonder that you want to eat more than usual.

I read that people with depression sleep little and wake up early. But I want to sleep constantly and I am ready to do it 12 hours a day. Why is it so?

Sleep disturbance in depression is not always insomnia and early awakenings. Rather, it is more appropriate to say that sleep habits are changing. For example, there is an increased need for sleep, often combined with the feeling of "no matter how much I sleep, I still don't get enough sleep." Scientists cannot yet give an exact answer why this is so, but it can be said with certainty that as you recover, you will return to your norm.

When I look back, I see a continuous series of failures. It seems to me that I will never get out of this state, no matter how much you treat me.

Depression is insidious in that it forms a very unpleasant and painful vision. own life- its past, present and future. It is important to understand this point and consciously refrain from any assessments until the disorder has receded. Now the most important task for you is to be as active as possible in the search for specialists who will help you, and active cooperation with them. And you will think about your past later, when you recover.

What cognitive psychotherapy depression?

Cognitive psychotherapy is a scientific approach that has been proven to be highly effective in treating illness in a matter of months. It is based on working with thoughts and beliefs, which, as experts have found out, have a huge impact on our feelings and actions. This approach is recommended for those who are determined to quickly fight depression and to cooperate with a psychologist "on an equal footing", since it implies the most active position of the patient himself.

If you did not find the answer to your question, you can write to me by mail or at the reception.©

Everyone is very fond of the word "depression" these days. Some even know exactly what it is, but knowledge alone is not enough to make such a diagnosis.

This article is a kind of test of whether you have depression and whether you need to seek help with this problem. As you read the text, mark on the sheet the points for the symptoms that you noted in yourself, then calculate the total points and read the interpretation of the results at the end of the article.

30 symptoms of real depression

We divide all the symptoms into three groups. The first - "cost" of 3 points, that is, the most indicative symptoms, the second - 2 points, the third - 1 point.

"Three-point" symptoms

Symptom #1: Loss of enjoyment of life, anhedonia. Previously, the patient's favorite activities that brought him pleasure now seem meaningless and may even cause disgust.
Symptom #2: Depersonalization is the loss of an adequate perception of oneself. The patient begins to perceive his own "I", his body as something sharply negative.
Symptom No. 3: Derealization is a change in the perception of the world. In the case of depression, reality appears grey, cold: "I'm in my cold little hell."
Symptom #4: Self-aggression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Symptom No. 5: The future is presented to the patient only in gloomy colors, he does not see prospects, life seems to be over.
Symptom #6: There may be a pronounced anxiety syndrome. This is groundless, irrational (as psychiatrists sometimes jokingly say - "existential") anxiety, from which the patient cannot find a place for himself. A person rushes about restlessly, reflexively presses his hands to his chest or throat, groans.
Symptom #7: The condition worsens in the morning and improves in the evening.

Symptom No. 8: The patient stops responding to events that previously caused him a vivid emotional response. For example, a mother may stop worrying if her son stays longer than usual with friends, although she used to go crazy with anxiety.
Symptom #9: A depressed person constantly engages in self-deprecation, feels guilty, even if it is unfounded.
Symptom No. 10: Patients often look out the window or at a light source when talking - this is very feature depression, which is the first thing that catches the eye on examination.
Symptom No. 11: Patients with depression are characterized by a special posture, the so-called “submission posture”, a kind of gesture directed towards themselves, lowered corners of the mouth and a specific sweetness. upper eyelid hanging at the outer corners of the eyes.
Symptom No. 12: Both subjective and objective impairment of mental activity, pseudo-dementia. Patients often feel that they are beginning to develop something like Alzheimer's disease. This is facilitated by the availability of information resources on the Internet and some similarities between the clinic of severe depression and this pathology.

"Two-Point" Symptoms

Symptom #13: Difficulty concentrating, subjective feeling of difficulty remembering.
Symptom #14: Decreased appetite, especially in the morning. By the evening appetite can be normalized. At the same time, patients often refuse their usual food and eat only sweet or other high-calorie carbohydrate foods.
Symptom #15: Weight loss, which is sometimes significant. On the other hand, this is not persistent symptom, because it happens the other way around if the patient eats a lot of carbohydrate food, more often in the evening, when the condition improves and appetite is restored.
Symptom No. 16: From the moment the disease debuts, patients begin to wake up several hours earlier than usual, but, as a rule, do not get up, waiting for the morning in bed.
Symptom #17: There may be insomnia or even a feeling that the desire for sleep does not appear at all. Unlike a similar symptom in manic disorders, here insomnia is very burdensome for the patient.
Symptom No. 18: Hypochondria appears - thoughts about the diseases existing in the patient. Even if they are not present, the patient will find their symptoms, and, in the end, they may well actually appear. Senestopathy is also characteristic - non-existent discomfort in the internal organs.
Symptom #19: Depressed patients often speak slowly, they can turn any conversation to their own problems, memories from the past.
Symptom #20: Quiet voice, long pauses between words. The voice loses all directiveness (ordering intonation).

Symptom No. 21: The patient cannot immediately, clearly and clearly formulate his idea. In the worst case, he generally says that no ideas have crossed his mind for a long time.
Symptom No. 22: Self-esteem drops sharply, self-confidence disappears, even if there are no objective reasons for this.
Symptom No. 23: There may be a very painful feeling for the patient of inferiority, of his own inferiority. This feeling is directly related to the ideas of self-blame that are so characteristic of any depression.
Symptom No. 24: Lethargy, the desire to remain alone, if possible.

"Single point" symptoms

Symptom #25: Decreased sex drive. This symptom does not occur in all patients, since another option is also possible - sexual satisfaction sometimes alleviates anxiety somewhat, in which case libido remains normal or even increases (this, of course, is not typical for severe depression).
Symptom No. 26: Sometimes self-hatred can develop in patients into aggression towards others. This symptom is most common in adolescence.
Symptom No. 27: Dark, nightmarish dreams that patients remember well and then can scroll through their thoughts over and over again.
Symptom No. 28: Time seems endless, any expectation is very difficult for patients.
Symptom No. 29: Patients with great difficulty force themselves to get out of bed in the morning. In severe depression, a person may even simply not do this, not paying attention to the fact that they need to do some business.
Symptom No. 30: Patients stop caring for themselves, pay less attention to themselves than before.

Interpretation of results

Calculate the total number of points and determine which of the four groups you belong to.

A. Group 1, 50-66 points or at least 3 signs worth 3 points: you have a serious affective disorder, which is unlikely to have a post-stress nature or connection with a life event. You are absolutely shown the earliest possible appeal to a psychiatrist to correct your condition. In your case, treatment with the appropriate group of antidepressants, sedatives, normalization of the lifestyle and, of course, individual psychotherapy is necessary.

B. Group 2, 30-49 points: you have many signs of depression, and this is most likely it. Also, your condition may be a manifestation of dysthymia if it lasts more than a month, but, in this case, dysthymia is severe. You should definitely contact a psychiatrist, who has the additional specialization of a psychotherapist, in order to comprehensively correct your condition with the help of psychotherapy and medications.

C. Group 3, 11-29 points: perhaps you are just a very impressionable person and overreact to any adverse circumstances. Your condition can hardly be called depression, maximum hypothymia, but you can contact a psychotherapist or medical psychologist, who will definitely help you get rid of your problem.
D. Group 4, 0-10 points: You are most likely not depressed at all and should not be worried.

Many people in last years morning depression. Quite often it becomes hard to wake up in the morning, even a cup of coffee cannot help get out of the state of somnambulism, life seems gray and boring, work is simply terrible, and personal life is once and for all failed.

And such a negative state of mind should be fought without fail, because otherwise the whole day may go down the drain, and then these days will become habitual, and soon a person may forget that he once felt peace and joy.

Traditionally, such a state of mind is aggravated in autumn and spring. And autumn and winter weather in itself evokes sad thoughts and is associated with boredom, emptiness and death.

Such a diagnosis as depression denotes a mental disorder, which is characterized by a feeling of longing, a decrease in mood, a feeling that life is over.

In some cases, this condition is characterized by inhibition of movements, slow thinking, in some cases, excessive excitement. Appetite may be disturbed, libido may decrease, sleep disturbance may be observed.

It should be remembered that in some cases, initial stage, depression can be beaten by adopting some good habits.

You need to remember that right now you are the center of the universe, and it depends on you what your life will become.

First of all, in order to have a great mood and well-being in the morning, you should get as much sleep as possible. At the same time, you should sleep for at least eight hours in a row. Since healthy sleep mental and physical health begins.

Try to be positive in the morning. You should stretch, then yawn, pull your hands and feet back and forth, and then they need to be rotated.

The next step in awakening the body is to massage and blink. You need to blink with effort, quickly. Then the palm should be circled around the hips, chest, stomach. It is also necessary to massage the head a little in a circular motion, as well as the ears, in which there are almost all nerve endings.

Then you should go to the window, open it and breathe in fresh air. In this case, you need to exhale through the mouth, inhale through the nose. You need to breathe deeply so that the air is in the lower parts of the lungs.
Such breathing exercises allows the brain and heart to get enough oxygen - and depression will recede.

The shower should be cool, but should not be taken immediately ice water because it will be stressful for the body. Water should be gradually made colder.

Also, a good auto-training will be the opportunity to express your concerns. To do this, you can take a regular sheet of paper and write down all your negative thoughts. Then you need to think about what was written, remember the moments of happiness and joy in the past, realize that life itself is beautiful.

In addition, one can imagine a situation that is much worse than the current one, and thus it is possible to realize that many problems can actually be solved.

Depression is a mental disorder that is accompanied by a feeling of melancholy, apathy, and a negative mood. Morning depression occurs in many people. This may be due to the change of seasons, for example, autumn or spring melancholy occurs very often. A person can mope and return to normal mental balance, or he can fall into a deep depression. There can be many reasons for this. If after a week or two a person does not return to his normal life, then he needs professional help.

Clinical picture

It is important to remember that depression is serious illness that requires treatment.

Like any disease, depression has its own symptoms. The main signs of depression are:

In addition to emotional symptoms, there are also physical signs of depression that can appear. a wide range symptoms. Depression can cause many somatic diseases. Insomnia, loss of appetite, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, headaches, decreased libido, nervousness, malfunctions of cardio-vascular system and many other pathologies may indicate the development of a depressive state in a person.

Treatment for depression

The approach to getting rid of depression should be comprehensive. The patient can independently try to restore peace of mind with the help of all the means known to him that brought him joy. If such therapy is not long time bring results, it is better for the patient to start taking drugs, the choice of which should be carried out by the doctor. Self-selection drugs are prohibited, tk. There are many contraindications and side effects. Treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist.

Prevention

Morning depression can occur simply as a sign of systematic sleep deprivation. Busy working day, constant stressful situations, malnutrition and deficiency also contribute to the development of mental disorders.

The first method of dealing with depression in the morning should be sound sleep, which is at least 8 hours. After waking up, the patient will benefit from a contrast invigorating shower. The contrast should not be too sharp, it is better to start with slightly cool or warm water.

A nutritious, balanced diet will help you feel better. A lack of vitamins can significantly reduce performance. Physical activity will be helpful. For example, regular gymnastics in the morning or a morning jog will help improve blood circulation, metabolism and develop all essential hormones. A fulfilling sex life is also an integral part of the prevention of depression.

It is important that a sick person has the opportunity to do what he loves, which gives him joy. The support of loved ones and loved ones significantly contributes to the patient's recovery. It is desirable that communication brings positive emotions to the patient.

Finally

It should be remembered that there is no universal cure for depression. Some patients cannot get rid of depression for years. It is important that the patient himself realizes the need for treatment and makes efforts. A quick recovery from depression is almost impossible, so the patient and his family should prepare for a long recovery period.

With any kind of depression, sleep is disturbed: an oppressed psyche causes a sleep disorder, and vice versa, chronic lack of sleep leads to a depressed state.

By According to statistics, sleep goes wrong in 83% - 100% of people prone to this disease. Patients reasonably complain about the duration of which is not much less than that of healthy people, but its structure is thoroughly disordered.

Common features of sleep in depression:

• falling asleep is difficult and tiring,
• nocturnal awakenings are more frequent and prolonged than in a normal healthy state,
• light sleep stages predominate over deep sleep stages,
• rapid eye movements in REM sleep are more frequent,
• the fourth stage of the slow phase of sleep is half as long as usual,
• fast (paradoxical) sleep is replaced by drowsiness,
• electroencephalogram in REM sleep registers sleep spindles, and in wakefulness - delta waves inherent in deep sleep,
• waking up earlier in the morning.

Depression, depending on the cause of occurrence, is divided into endogenous and reactive:

• Reactive - provoked by a traumatic situation,
• Endogenous - internal causes.

With endogenous depression

a person falls asleep safely, but suddenly wakes up at night and spends the rest of it in a gloomy state, tormented by a vague and very heavy feeling of fear, guilt, longing and hopelessness. This mood can cause suicidal thoughts.

Patients complain about the lack of normal rest, the head is constantly occupied with thoughts. Apparently these thoughts are the “thoughts” of superficial sleep. Normal falling asleep gradually also goes wrong and the patient has to use.

Their wakefulness is replaced by a prolonged drowsiness with frequent awakenings, or immediately by a fast sleep. In the morning they doze or stay awake, while healthy people sleep fast and dream.

In depression, the sleep picture demonstrates increased activity of awakening mechanisms and suppression of the fourth phase of non-REM sleep. With a severe degree of the disease, paradoxical sleep occurs more often than usual, but due to repeated awakenings, it cannot be fully realized.

After treatment, he returns to normal, but the fourth stage often does not return and sleep remains superficial.

It should be noted that endogenous is the most severe of the 59 types of depression. This is due to hereditary factors and metabolic disorders.

Latent depression

Hidden or masked (bodily) depression is often undiagnosed. However, early morning awakenings, a "broken dream", a decrease in vitality and expressions of active emotions serve characteristic symptoms even in the absence of a painful mood.

The main complaint with this form of the disease is. The name is fully justified - depression is masked by physical ailments, often severe.

seasonal depression

This type of disease has a seasonal orientation: it manifests itself with a reduction in daylight hours in autumn and winter in people prone to this, more often in women. Seasonal depression affects 5% of the world's population.

Typical symptoms:

• increased morning and daytime sleepiness,
• overeating, desire for sweets. The result is an increase in body weight.
• the duration of sleep, compared with the summer period, is increased by 1.5 hours,
• night sleep is incomplete and does not bring rest.

Sleep pattern in various depressive syndromes

dreary depression characterized by:

• a breakdown at the end of the day (feelings akin to a hangover),
• difficult falling asleep, lasting about an hour, accompanied by painful thoughts and bitter reflections,
• sensitive sleep, control over the outside world does not weaken, which does not give a feeling of rest,
• very early awakening (2-3 hours earlier than usual),
• unwillingness to get up after waking up, the patient lies for a long time with his eyes closed,
• broken state after lifting.

Such an abnormal dream increases the feeling of hopelessness and oppressive pain, it does not bring a feeling of freshness and relaxation. As a result, wakefulness proceeds sluggishly, often with headaches.

Apathetic depression:

• waking up 2-3 hours later than usual
• constant sleepiness - morning and afternoon,
• the boundaries between wakefulness and sleep are blurred.

Patients are ready to spend the whole day lying in bed, calling drowsiness laziness. Sleep does not bring good rest, but this is not considered a problem.

Anxious depression:

• drowsiness is reduced
• disturbing thoughts cause long falling asleep,
• shallow sleep, restless dreams,
• frequent awakenings, sudden awakenings are possible, accompanied by sweating and shortness of breath from an unpleasant dream.
• Early awakenings (1 hour -1.5 earlier than usual).

Most patients complain that sleep does not bring rest.

The nature of dreams in various depressions

With any type of depression, REM sleep, which is responsible for dreams, is disturbed. This affects the character and plots:

dreary state- rare dreams are painful, gloomy and monotonous, filled with stories about an unsuccessful past life.

Apathetic state- rare, isolated dreams are poorly remembered and emotionally scarce.

anxiety state - plots change frequently, events are fleeting, directed to the future. Dreams are filled with catastrophic events, threats and persecution.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSES OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES
(proposed A.M. Wayne, an outstanding Russian somnologist, and K. Hecht, a German scientist)

1. Psychophysiological.
2. Insomnia in neuroses.
3. With endogenous mental diseases.
4. With abuse of psychotropic drugs and alcohol.
5. When exposed to toxic factors.
6. In diseases of the endocrine system ( diabetes, for example).
7. Organic diseases of the brain.
8. Diseases of the internal organs.
9. As a consequence of syndromes that occur during sleep (sleep apnea).
10. As a consequence of the disruption of the wake-sleep cycle (suffering of owls and larks, shift workers).
11. Shortened sleep, constitutionally determined (Napoleon and other short-sleeping personalities. However, it is a stretch to classify them as suffering from lack of sleep).

The materials of the book by A.M. Wayne "Three Thirds of Life".

For relaxation, I propose to see how beautiful our Earth is.

Elena Valve for the Sleepy Cantata project.

Depression worsens the quality of a person's life, negatively affects relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and reduces a person's efficiency at work.
It should be noted that if earlier the intellectual and economic elite of society, who are aware of the importance of a full-fledged active life, turned to a psychotherapist for help, in recent years the number of people among all segments of the population who prefer to use professional psychotherapeutic help has increased.

How to understand that you or your loved ones are not easy Bad mood, and depression, with which you need to seek help from a psychotherapist?

Any consists of three components - mood disorders, autonomic disorders and fatigue.

The first component of depression has to do with mood changes - sad depressed mood lasts more than two weeks. With depression, a dull perception of the world around appears, everything around seems gray and uninteresting. There are mood swings during the day - in the morning the mood can be good, but worsen in the evening. Or the mood is bad in the morning, and is somewhat dispelled by the evening. Some people may not have diurnal mood swings - it is constantly sad, sad, depressed and tearful.

Depressed mood comes in different shades. Sometimes it is a depressed mood with a hint of longing, with a hint of anxiety, with a hint of despair, as well as indifference or irritability. Sometimes a person may not be aware of his sad mood, but feel the so-called bodily manifestations of depression. With depression, there may be a feeling of intense heat in the chest, "a heavy pressure stone on the heart." Less often, depression manifests itself as a chronic sensation of pain in any part of the body, while doctors of other specialties do not find it. organic causes for pain.

Very often, a person reacts to a situation of prolonged stress with depression with a touch of anxiety. People feel anxiety in different ways. It can also manifest itself in the fear of falling asleep, nightmares, and in the constant fear and imagination that something terrible will happen to loved ones and relatives. Sometimes a person describes anxiety as nervousness and the inability to sit in one place. A constant feeling of anxiety makes it impossible to relax, for example, a person cannot sit still on a chair for more than two or three minutes - “fidgets in a chair, then jumps up and starts walking around the room.”

Very strong anxiety (57 points on the Sheehan scale or more) occurs against the background of an extended depression, and manifests itself in the form of panic attacks (feeling short of breath, palpitations, trembling in the body, sensations of heat). If there is a strong anxiety, this indicates that a huge underwater part of the iceberg of depression has formed in a person, and anxiety disorder is the tip of this iceberg of depression.

If with anxious depression a person cannot sit still, then with other forms of depression, on the contrary, it becomes more difficult for him to move. If a person sleeps for 12-14 hours a day, he does not have a feeling of cheerfulness in the morning, and ordinary actions - cooking soup, cleaning the apartment with a vacuum cleaner - seem overwhelming or meaningless to him, this may be a manifestation of apathetic depression.

The processes of inhibition during depression cover the entire body - it becomes more difficult for a person to think, his memory and attention deteriorate significantly, which significantly affects his working capacity. Difficulties with concentration are manifested in the fact that a person gets tired of watching TV for a short time or reading a few pages of an interesting book. Or, for example, a person can sit in front of a computer for a long time, but is unable to concentrate on work.

The second component of depression includes autonomic disorders (manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia). If the cardiologist and the therapist have ruled out the relevant organic diseases, then frequent urination, false urges, headaches, dizziness, fluctuations in blood pressure and temperature are interpreted as additional vegetative signs of depression.

On the gastrointestinal tract depression affects as follows: a person loses his appetite, constipation is noted for 4-5 days. Much less frequently, atypical form depression, the person has increased appetite, diarrhea or false urges.

Depression does not bypass reproductive system organism. As a result of developing depression in men and women, sensations in the sexual sphere are dulled. Much less often, depression manifests itself in the form of compulsive masturbation, or in the form of flight into numerous promiscuous relationships. Men often have problems with potency. In women with depression, there may be a regular delay in menstruation for 10-14 days, for six months or more.

The third component of depression is asthenic, which includes fatigue, sensitivity to weather changes, and irritability. Irritation is caused by loud noises, bright lights and sudden touches by strangers (for example, when a person is accidentally pushed on the subway or on the street). Sometimes, after a flash of internal irritation, tears appear.

In depression, there are various disorders sleep: difficulty falling asleep, superficial restless sleep with frequent awakenings, or early awakenings with a simultaneous desire and inability to sleep.

Depression has its own laws of development. There are signs that indicate the severity of depression. Reflections on the meaninglessness of life and even suicide are a sign of a significant increase in depression. Thus, a general feeling of unwillingness to live, thoughts about the meaninglessness or aimlessness of life, as well as more pronounced suicidal thoughts, intentions or plans appear sequentially in severe depression. The appearance of these symptoms in you or your loved ones is an indication for an urgent appeal to a psychotherapist. In this state, it is important to start as soon as possible medicinal treatment depression in an adequate dose.

Drug treatment for depression is prescribed if the level of depression on the Zung scale equals or exceeds 48 points. The effect is due to the effect of the drug on the serotonin system (the hormone of happiness and pleasure), norepinephrine, etc. Against the background of a stable mood, it is much easier to solve psychological problems and resolve conflict situations.

Many people are afraid to take antidepressants because they believe that allegedly these drugs develop addiction (dependence on the drug). But this is not at all the case; addiction to antidepressants (drug dependence) does not develop at all. Addiction is caused by strong sedatives and sleeping pills from the group of tranquilizers (benzodiazepines). Depression is treated with fundamentally different drugs - antidepressants.

Depending on the shade of depressed mood, the psychotherapist prescribes different antidepressants. There are antidepressants that treat anxiety-tinged depression. There are drugs to treat depression with a touch of apathy, indifference, and so on. With the right dosage of drugs, depression begins to reverse development after three to four weeks - suicidal thoughts and anxiety disappear, a desire to act actively appears, mood stabilizes.

Antidepressants begin to act at the end of the second or third week. Feeling the improvement, most people stop taking the antidepressant by the fourth week, and, as a result, depression returns after a few weeks. To fully cure depression, it is very important to endure the entire course of depression treatment prescribed by a psychotherapist.

The duration of the course of treatment with antidepressants is determined by the psychotherapist individually in each case. But, as a rule, the course of treatment with antidepressants lasts from 4 months to a year, sometimes longer. Sometimes a psychotherapist after the main course of treatment may prescribe a course of maintenance treatment to consolidate the effect of depression treatment. Depression lasting less than six months is the easiest to treat. If a person postpones treatment for two to three years, or even eight to ten years, then the course of treatment increases significantly, and can reach one and a half years with one and a half years of maintenance therapy.

Depression in psychotherapy should be treated like high fever in the practice of general illness. A high temperature is not a diagnosis, it indicates bodily trouble. When a person has heat, he goes to the doctor, and the specialist understands - is it the flu, appendicitis or something else. So depression says that a person’s soul is bad, and he needs psychological help. A psychotherapist prescribes an "antipyretic" - an antidepressant, and then, using psychotherapy methods, helps a person to deal with the problem that caused the depression.