Why is depression bad in the morning? Depression or bad mood? Thinking patterns that contribute to depression

We all know the feeling of sadness that appears in the morning. Heaviness in the soul, irritation and Bad mood usually disappear after a few hours. But if this continues day after day, we begin to wonder what is wrong with us.

Fortunately, in most cases nothing bad happens. Certainly, a sharp decline mood at certain times of the day may be a sign of depression or anxiety disorder, but usually it occurs for other reasons: both physiological and psychological.

Physiological reasons

1. High level cortisol.

This hormone has a huge impact on how our brain works. Cortisol's "job" is to warn us of danger, and thanks to it, we tend to magnify small problems to the level of disaster. The next time the day feels like it's going to be dangerous and difficult to handle, remember that this is the body's natural response to increased cortisol.

2. Low level blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

No matter how positive you are, low glucose levels are closely related to your mood. Hungry people (like other mammals) rarely look “happy.” This is how our body works: searching for food is a priority for it. While you sleep, your blood sugar gradually drops. If your last meal was a few hours before bedtime, it means you haven’t eaten for quite some time.

Everything is relatively clear with physiology, but the question is: “Where do problems with glucose and cortisol go when we are on vacation?” Rarely does anyone experience “morning depression” while traveling or relaxing in the country. That is why the greatest attention should be paid to psychological reasons.

Unwillingness to deal with reality

Waking up in the morning, a person immediately becomes involved in a process that can be described in two words: “Who am I?” or “Where am I?”

When reality is too far from our dreams, all the things we don’t like fall down at once, like one snowball. Fear can make it difficult for the brain to think rationally, but there are things we can do to help it.

1. Before going to bed, decide what your first thought will be when you wake up.

It should be positive, but not “fictional.” Fantasies about “how everything is fine” will not help. But a reminder of your personal abilities (even small ones) will give you a good mood. Even simply stating the fact that you can dance well or make delicious tea activates the part of the brain that releases dopamine. Put out the fire that cortisol is fueling by throwing a bucket of dopamine at it.

2. As soon as you get out of bed, think about what you are doing every minute: “I get up, put on my slippers, make the bed, go to the bathroom...”

Add adjectives: “The slippers are soft and comfortable, the soap is fragrant...”

Resist the urge to use “unprintable” words or negative characteristics, such as “the floor is cold” or “the coffee is not good.” If things are really bad and it’s impossible to find anything pleasant, just state the fact: “I brush my teeth, wash my face, drink coffee.” The main thing is to focus on the present moment and not think about your feelings. You can’t lie in bed and let your brain “wander through the labyrinth of unfulfilled hopes.”

You can choose other methods: self-talk or a morning ritual that resonates most with your inner self. As a last resort, remind yourself that a bad mood in the morning is a natural state, and in an hour or two it will end anyway.

Very soon, these actions will become a habit, and you will be able to automatically stop the cycle of morning anxiety.

Doctors often call hypertension the “silent killer,” and with good reason. By itself, it may not have pronounced symptoms, but it sharply increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disorders.

Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers. The first (upper) systolic shows the force with which the blood presses on the walls of blood vessels at the moment the heart beats. The second (lower) – diastolic shows the blood pressure at the moment the heart rests between beats. Our blood vessels are quite elastic, but too strong pressure they are not always able to contain it, and if the vessel ruptures, disaster cannot be avoided.

The risk group for developing hypertension includes people over 65 years of age, patients with excess body weight and diabetes mellitus, women during menopause, smokers and people who eat poorly and consume too much salt.

A blood pressure of 120/80 is considered normal. More recently high blood pressure started at 140/90, but not long ago they were lowered to 130/80. If you see such numbers on the tonometer, you should think twice. Important: even if you feel well even with high blood pressure, this does not mean that there is no problem.

Signs of hypertension can include more than just high blood pressure. You should be alert to frequent headaches, fatigue and lethargy, redness of the face, swelling of the arms and legs, heavy sweating and memory problems.

If your blood pressure rises regularly, you should definitely visit a therapist. The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests and examinations and, if necessary, prescribe treatment that will help normalize blood pressure. But if the attack overtook you suddenly, you have not yet reached the doctor, and there are no medications 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 exactly deep breathing It 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 blood pressure.

Take a hot foot bath

Pour water at a temperature of about 45 degrees into a bathtub or basin and soak your hands or feet in it for 10 minutes. Hot water will dilate the vessels in the limbs, blood will begin to flow to them and the pressure will drop.

Run your hands under cold water

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

Make a compress with apple cider vinegar

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

Drink valerian

Valerian or drugs based on it are a strong sedative that relieves the body of stress. The heart will normalize its rhythm and the pressure will decrease.

Prepare a drink from honey and mineral water

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

Important: the methods listed above are emergency measures, which will help reduce blood pressure in the absence of a doctor and medications at hand. If nothing works and you don't feel better, call ambulance. After your condition returns to normal, be sure to find the opportunity to visit a doctor, and if your blood pressure is not rising for the first time, always carry blood-lowering medications with you.

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

• If you are suffering from excess weight, you need to lose weight (every kilogram you lose will reduce your blood pressure by 1 point).
• Review your diet and reduce your salt intake ( daily norm 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).
• Exercise (this could be walking, running, cycling, dancing or swimming).
• Limit the amount of alcohol in your life.
• Stop 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 implanted in the fallopian tube, much less often it can end up in the ovaries, cervix or abdominal cavity. There are certain physiological prerequisites for the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy. 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
• Imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.

Types of ectopic pregnancy

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

Pipe. The embryo attaches to the fallopian tube, which most often leads to its rupture.

Abdominal. In this case, the fertilized 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 of age.

Cervical. The embryo attaches to the cervix itself.

Important: after the first ectopic pregnancy, the risk of recurrence remains at 15%.

Symptoms

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

• Stomach ache
• Uterine bleeding
• Spotting and spotting
• Pain in the lower back and back
• Feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
• Pain in the ovarian area
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Low-grade fever
• Fainting, dizziness
• General malaise.

Diagnostics

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

An analysis for 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 detecting an ectopic pregnancy. As a rule, they are detected in the blood within 6-8 days after fertilization.

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

Complications

Do not underestimate the situation with an ectopic pregnancy; it can be quite dangerous not only for a woman’s health, but also for her life. 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 will be required.

Depending on the period, location of the egg and the patient’s well-being, the intervention can be laparoscopic (through several punctures) or laparotomic (with an incision on the anterior abdominal wall). In the short term, 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 a woman’s chances of having another pregnancy.

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

Subsequent pregnancies

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

It is quite difficult to talk about the timing of the next pregnancy. Ovulation usually occurs in one of the two ovaries. If ovulation occurs on the side of the undamaged tube, this significantly increases the chances of success, otherwise planning will be delayed. Important: if you become pregnant again, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to timely track the attachment of the fertilized egg. Usually an ultrasound is enough for this.

Prevention

There are no specific guidelines for the prevention of ectopic pregnancy, but every woman has the power to take a responsible approach to her health and issues of childbirth.

• It is necessary to promptly treat any diseases genitourinary system, especially those caused by STIs.
• Avoid casual sex or use a condom.
• Carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene.
• Try not to have abortions or diagnostic curettages.
• Visit at least twice a year preventive examinations from a gynecologist.
• Carefully plan your pregnancy and undergo all necessary examinations in advance.

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

In science, there are quite a few theories about the occurrence of hiccups in humans. Some believe that this is some kind of reminder that previously 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 psychological problems. In young children, hiccups often occur after prolonged laughter.

To get rid of hiccups quickly, you can try some of the common methods.

• Press your finger on the root of your tongue as if you are trying to make yourself vomit. The spasm of the esophagus will relieve the spasm of the diaphragm and the hiccups will go away.
• Drink a glass of water slowly and in small sips.
• Place a piece of lemon on your tongue and suck on it.
• Chew a little crushed ice or a stale crust of bread.
• Take 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 doing push-ups and pumping your abs.

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 to you. If nothing works, try to relax and take your mind off the hiccups, in this situation it will go away much faster.

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

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

And such a negative state of mind must be fought without fail, since 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, this mental state worsens in the fall and spring. And autumn and winter weather itself evokes sad reflections and causes associations with boredom, emptiness and death.

A diagnosis of depression means mental disorder, which are characterized by a feeling of melancholy, low mood, and a feeling that life is over.

In some cases, this condition is characterized by retardation of movements, slow thinking, and in some cases excessive excitement. Appetite may be affected, libido may decrease, and sleep disturbance may occur.

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

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

First of all, in order to have a great mood and well-being in the morning, you should get as much sleep as possible. In this case, you should sleep for at least eight hours in a row. It is with healthy sleep mental and physical health begins.

In the morning, try to be positive. You should stretch, then yawn, stretch your hands and feet back and forth, and then you need to rotate them.

The next step to awaken the body is to massage and blink. You need to blink with effort, quickly. Then you need to circle your palm over your thighs, chest, and stomach. It is also necessary to massage the head a little in a circular motion, as well as the ears, which contain almost all the nerve endings.

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

Showering should be cool, but don't do it right away ice water, since it will be stressful for the body. The water should be gradually made colder.

Also, a good auto-training would 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 you have written, remember the moments of happiness and joy in the past, and 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 in fact be solved.

They would be happy to rejoice, but depression hinders them. Let's cure depression - and they will no longer be in a depressed state, and the patient's good state of mind is the key to the success of any therapeutic treatment.

MAIN SYMPTOMS

Body system

Disease

Endocrine system

Diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease

Cardiovascular and respiratory systems

Cardiac ischemia, bronchial asthma, chronic failure blood circulation, chronic cardiopulmonary failure

Digestive system

Gastric ulcer and duodenum, enterocolitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholelithiasis

Joints and connective tissue

Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma

Pernicious anemia

Oncological diseases

Cancer, sarcoma, disseminated carcinomatosis

The immune system

Gynecological pathology

Uterine fibroids

Genitourinary system

Chronic pyelonephritis

Organs of vision

Glaucoma

Those who are not given the opportunity to be deeply mistaken are content with trifles.

L. L. Krainov-Rytoe

To be wise is to know what not to pay attention to.

William James

DEPRESSION

Symptoms of depression are divided into “core” and “additional”. What is their difference? The core symptoms of depression affect everyone who suffers from depression, although to varying degrees. Additional symptoms They only complement, diversify, and color the picture of the disease - in each specific case, some of them are present, and some are not. We will, of course, start with the main symptoms of depression. However, first a small disclaimer. Doctors, by common agreement and understanding, make a diagnosis of depression only if the following symptoms are observed in a person for more than two weeks in a row.

So, obligatory symptoms of depression these are:

low mood, feelings of despondency, depression, melancholy;

loss of interest, ability to experience pleasure;

decreased energy, activity, increased fatigue.

Let's study them in order.

The main sign of depression is low mood; by and large, there is no mood at all. The world seems gray and empty, and the feeling of the meaninglessness of what is happening makes you so sad that you might as well climb into a noose. A person’s sleep is disturbed, his appetite decreases (often to the point of complete aversion to food), he loses weight and literally melts before our eyes. Internal tension can be unbearable, or complete apathy can begin. Former joys seem fast, pleasure - something mysterious and unattainable. A person suffering from depression either unsuccessfully tries to occupy himself with something, hoping to somehow get rid of painful thoughts, or goes to bed and does not want to do anything. He may become embittered and irritable, he may cry for days on end, or he may not cry at all, but this makes him even worse. Thoughts swarm in the head, revolving around one topic - failures in life, disappointment in work or family, some begin to experience various physical ailments. This is depression in close-up.

Decreased mood, feeling of despondency, depression, melancholy

Mild depression. If we have depression that has developed against the background of acute or chronic stress, that is, neurotic depression, then our mood, as a rule, decreases moderately. We begin to look at life pessimistically, we do not experience the former feeling of joy, and more and more fatigue. More often in this case, the mood decreases in the evening, when all the work has already been done and the person, without being distracted by anything, surrenders himself to the power of depressive reasoning about how bad, unlucky, stupid, etc. everything is.

As a rule, with such depression a person experiences anxiety, it is difficult for him to relax, and stupid thoughts about some future troubles constantly creep into his head. Somewhere V deep down in his soul he still believes that everything will end well, that the problems will be resolved, but his statements on this matter will be very stingy.

Average depression. If V when depressive genes come into play, our mood decreases quite significantly, especially at night and in the morning (some improvement occurs in the afternoon, but it can also be difficult in the evening). Tearfulness may appear in attacks, and attempts to cope with it are not always successful.

A person in such a state begins to feel burdened by life, does not want to get better, does not believe in the possibility of improvement, and often thinks that the only way out or the right step is to commit suicide. Anxiety here, as a rule, is very high, strong internal tension does not give a person peace, despite the fact that there seems to be no strength. It is almost impossible to cheer up such a person; he ignores any optimistic remark from others, sometimes, however, with an ironic smile.

Severe depression. If our depression, God forbid, came out of nowhere, without serious stress, for no reason, as if by itself, most likely it is depression of a genetic nature. A decrease in mood in this case is manifested, as a rule, by depression; melancholy is felt literally as physical pain. At the same time, the person himself often does not consider his mood to be low, he simply does not think that this can have any significance against the background of the general hopelessness and meaninglessness of his existence.

Anxiety may not be felt at all, but may seem overwhelming; sometimes such patients say that they feel as if they are being squeezed in some kind of vice and either they themselves will be crushed, or the vice will not withstand. They have an expression of sorrow on their face, the corners of their mouth are downturned, upper eyelid broken at an angle in the area of ​​the inner third, a characteristic fold on the forehead, hunched posture, head down. Suicidal intentions are quite clear.

The worst thing is to consider yourself an addition to your own furniture.

V. O. Klyuchevsky

Literary evidence:

“The circle of my powerlessness has closed...”

These words end the story “Ruth” from the book “The Fall” by the amazing modern writer Lilia Kim about a young, suddenly widowed woman. The state of her heroine perfectly reflects the mental turmoil of a person, when his anxiety becomes depression, and depression becomes anxiety:

“My life ended with Hileon’s last breath. I hung between that light and this one, unable to find myself in either of them. Life had never been more meaningless, but I still didn’t have the courage to commit suicide, perhaps partly because Hileon’s last words were: “Please live happily.” He loved to ask me for some unimaginably difficult little thing.

Don’t worry so much, you’re still young, you don’t have children. You will still get married. I made repairs in your room

here. It will be necessary to agree to transport things - my mother is making plans for my life.

I only heard: “You don’t have children” and burst into tears. My mother began to calm me down, but her face showed annoyance that I didn’t understand how well she came up with everything and arranged it.

But I don’t want to live! I don't want to live anymore! Mother! Do you hear? I, your daughter, don’t want to live! - the scream resounds inside me, continuing with a hysterical echo, directed into the black hole left from my soul, into which I am sinking more and more.”

To clean one thing, you have to dirty something else; but you can get anything dirty and not clean anything.

Lawrence J. Peter

Loss of interest, ability to experience pleasure

Scientifically, this symptom is called “anhedonia” (loss of the sense of pleasure), in simple terms it is when you don’t want to do anything, you only have the strength to lie down and look at the wall. The processes of inhibition in the brain have prevailed over the processes of excitation: a person suffering from depression is not only not happy with anything, but is also not impressed. What used to bring pleasure now seems insipid, empty, stupid. However, the severity of depression and the severity of this symptom varies greatly.

Mild depression. In the case of depressive neurosis, we, of course, can become interested in something, although the range of our interests will be significantly reduced, and even the interest that arises will quickly fade away. The feeling of pleasure seems to smooth out and fade away earlier than usual. This is especially clearly realized in the sexual sphere - there is no desire, there is no desire, there is no attraction. But if you take a closer look, you will notice that there are no interesting programs on television, and fascinating books have disappeared, and work is a yoke, and rest is a whirlpool. There are still some pleasures, of course, but there is little pleasure in them, not enough. Characteristic- loss of interest of the patient in his appearance; women, for example, stop using cosmetics or do it completely automatically, that is, out of habit, and not out of a desire to please and impress.

Average depression. If a person has mixed depression - from stress and from genes, then all his interest is limited to the topic of painful experiences. If he is worried about the situation at work, then he will fixate on some of its nuances - relationships with his boss, with partners, and co-workers. Moreover, it is painful to fixate, selectively, as if apart from these few problems there is nothing at all in his life.

People suffering from this form of depression remain passive, a kind of neutrality, even when those around them actively express joy or interest. The feeling of loss of pleasure covers the widest layers (food loses its taste, the world seems “gray”, etc.). This experience becomes painful, painful, constant comparisons of oneself with normal people: “What are they happy about?.. What might be interesting to them about this?” Ultimately, such a person comes to the conclusion that he himself is no longer “fit for anything,”

has changed a lot, doesn’t look like himself at all, “has become different.”

Severe depression. If a person’s depression is genetic, then the loss of interest and pleasure can even lead to a complete refusal of any activity. Patients’ statements on this matter sound frightening; they wonder how anyone can experience interest and pleasure. They can ask the doctor: “Can you be happy about something? What?!” What used to give pleasure, delight or interest now seems meaningless, absurd, absurd, monstrous. Such a person may have the feeling that he has never experienced pleasure or interest in his life. Depression can change so much not only our sense of the present, not only our ideas about the future, but even our memories of the past.

Decreased energy, activity, increased fatigue

The predominance of inhibition processes over excitation processes affects, of course, the activity of people suffering from depression - this queen of depression and melancholy. Once in the grip of depression, we not only quickly get tired, we often cannot engage in any purposeful activity at all; and if we do start doing something, it will be purely automatically, detachedly, without a sense of involvement.

Mild depression. In the case of depressive neurosis, we will look tired and twitchy; strangers may say that we are somehow too passive. Our anxiety, however, will not allow us to completely “give up.” It is possible that it will even make us overly active and energetic, but only in fits and starts. Braking, however, wins every time, although perhaps not immediately.

Average depression. With moderate severity of depression, passivity takes on the characteristics of stiffness. A person rarely changes his position, his facial expressions are poor and monotonous. It is clear that he moves with difficulty, thinks about the question for a long time, and cannot always gather himself to answer fully and clearly. With such depression, a person often complains of fatigue, but this is not just fatigue, he is “tired of life,” “everything weighs on him,” “no strength, complete decline,” etc. He gets tired from talking, reading, watching TV shows: “I can’t figure it out,” “I don’t understand what they’re talking about,” “I’m losing the thread.” However, it would be a mistake to believe that we are talking specifically about fatigue. There is simply not enough stimulation in the brain of a person suffering from such depression; it is quickly suppressed by inhibition.

Severe depression. A person with severe genetic depression may have activity

caused only by an anxiety attack. At times, agitation occurs, intense excitement, accompanied by aimless actions. For the rest

At times he resembles a deflated balloon, it seems that life has left him. This is not just lethargy, this is crushing. The movements of such patients are slow, extremely sparing, made only when absolutely necessary, and the so-called “depressive stupor” may develop. Patients speak quietly and with difficulty, and instantly become tired from communication or any other activity.

According to modern astronomers, space is finite. This is a very comforting thought - especially for those who can never remember where they put something.

Woody Allen

ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

Additional symptoms of depression, although called additional, sometimes cause a person even more suffering than the main symptoms of the disease. The fact is that low mood, loss of a sense of pleasure, and general passivity are difficult to “internally develop,” and depression is, first of all, internal suffering when we think and change our minds about some of our misfortunes.

In addition, the main symptoms of depression, oddly enough, are more difficult to notice than some of its particular manifestations. You may notice that you have lost weight, that you feel insecure or suffer from sleep disorders. However, it is much more difficult to notice that your mood is low if it has consistently decreased over several months.

Additional symptoms of depression kovy:

difficulty in concentrating and maintaining attention;

decreased self-esteem, the emergence of feelings of self-doubt, ideas of guilt and self-deprecation;

a gloomy and pessimistic vision of the future,

ideas or actions of self-harm and suicide;

sleep disturbances (usually early morning awakenings);

appetite changes (in any direction);

decreased libido (sexual desire);

somatic complaints without organic reasons, as well as hypochondriacal mood.

Let's look at them in order.

Difficulty in concentrating and maintaining attention

In order to long time To keep attention on some task, the brain must form the necessary dominant. But how to form a dominant, for example, to watch a TV show, if your entire brain is subordinate to depression and, accordingly, is under the power of a depressive dominant? Yes, it's quite difficult. In fact, the only possible source of arousal in the brain of a person suffering from depression is painful and fatal thoughts about the meaninglessness and failure of life.

With depressive neurosis, we focus on our own pessimistic experiences. With moderate depression, a person communicates with us as if through some kind of wall - he is fenced off, focused on something else, as if he can hardly be distracted from what he is doing the rest of the time. It seems that at times he "switches off" and loses the thread of the conversation. When communicating with a person who has become a victim of genetic depression, one gets the feeling that he is somewhere completely in a different world, from which we hear only a few echoes and fragments of phrases. The reasons for these impressions are that the very act of such a conversation cannot occupy and captivate a person suffering from severe depression.

Loneliness is bad because few people can stand themselves.

Laszlo Felek

Decrease in self-esteem, occurrence

feelings of self-doubt, ideas of guilt and self-deprecation

Being in a state of depression, we begin to think either about the failure of the world around us - it is “bad”, “unfair”, “cruel”, “stupid”; or about our own insolvency, that we ourselves are “bad”, “stupid”, “not capable of anything”, “to blame for everything and everyone”. Moreover, because of our depression, we really cannot cope with stress, do work that requires concentration, passion, etc. So it’s quite easy to find arguments in favor of our insolvency, and it’s not at all difficult to blame ourselves for anything, because ideal people do not exist, and it is impossible to do things without making mistakes. So you can always consider yourself a “bad mother” or “worthless father”, “ungrateful child or comrade.”

However, the feeling of guilt that develops in depression, according to various studies, is typical in to a greater extent for Americans. Russians experience feelings of guilt in a very unique way; they often feel awkward or ashamed. However, as depression deepens, guilt actually begins to compete with self-deprecation, although it does not completely displace it.

A person suffering from depression may attribute various vices to himself, consider himself the culprit of various misfortunes and crimes, and call himself “a criminal who ruined people’s lives.” At the same time, as “evidence”, he will remember some minor mistakes and mistakes, which in a state of depression will seem terrible and monstrous to him.

Avoid making final and irrevocable decisions when you are tired or hungry.

Robert Heinlein

A gloomy and pessimistic vision of the future

In a sense, it is simply difficult for a person with a depressive disorder to think about the future; it does not appear to him - he does not have enough energy, strength, or desire for this. By and large, he lacks the desire to live in order to think about the future, especially since any unknown is frightening, and to frighten a person who is depressed means to aggravate his condition, once again emphasizing its role as an “anxiety absorber.” In combination with a self-deprecating assessment, all prospects really seem futile to a person.

The fact that everything will be bad is only a judgment; it becomes a symptom of the disease only in cases where such a conclusion begins to determine a person’s behavior. This symptom is especially characteristic of depressive reactions to acute and severe stress, depressive neurosis that has developed against the background of a chronic traumatic situation, as well as classical forms manic-depressive psychosis.

Ideas or actions of self-harm and suicide

In suicidology - the science of suicide - there are several options for suicidal behavior:

suicidal thoughts (which, in principle, being an abstract judgment, can also arise against the background of relative mental health);

suicidal intentions (an obvious desire to commit suicide, when the patient deliberately thinks through possible options suicide);

suicidal actions (direct suicide attempts, preparation for suicide);

and finally, suicide itself (suicide). A person suffering from depression, as a rule, does not regret that he will have to give up his life. On the contrary, he sees suicide as a release from suffering. And what holds him back, on the one hand, is a natural reluctance to worry physical pain, and on the other hand, thoughts about loved ones. However, if it seems to a person that he is only disturbing his loved ones, and his inner, mental pain is unbearable, these obstacles cease to protect his life.

Fortunately, with severe depression (due to the severity of inhibition processes), patients, as a rule, lack the internal strength to form concrete plans for suicide, and even more so to implement them. Sometimes this can create the illusion that the patient’s condition is relatively good, when in fact it indicates its extreme severity.

In any case, if a person develops depression, you need to remember the risk of such an outcome of this disease, take his corresponding statements seriously and understand that in reality he does not want to kill himself, his depression wants this, and it is very persistent.

Sleep disorders

During the development of depression, certain events occur in the human brain. chemical processes, namely, a decrease in the amount of substances that play a primary role in the transmission of nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another. One of these substances is serotonin. And here's the trick... The fact is that this substance (more precisely, its lack) plays a significant role in the development of depression, and its lack has an extremely adverse effect on our sleep state. This is why so often a person suffering from depression consults a doctor not because of his depression directly, but because of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders can be very different, which I described in detail in the book “Cure for Insomnia,” published in the “Express Consultation” series. Here we will clarify only a few important details. People suffering from depression have sleep problems that are quite unique. A person can toil all day, experiencing unbearable sleepiness, but all his attempts to fall asleep are in vain. This seems paradoxical, but in fact there is nothing strange about it. It’s just that what he perceives as drowsiness is, to a large extent, just general lethargy, characteristic of a depressed patient. And his sleep is disturbed due to a lack of serotonin caused by depression itself.

However, patients with severe genetic depression often fall asleep well, but wake up early in the morning, before the alarm clock, and always with a feeling of anxiety and internal tension. By the evening they “disperse” somewhat and feel better. Apparently, depression is partly overcome during the day due to the constant influx of excitement into the brain from the person’s activities and other events. At night, the amount of these irritations decreases, and the brain again finds itself in its painful, semi-inhibited state. As a result, sleep becomes superficial, extremely sensitive, anxious, dreams seem to a person not natural and spontaneous, but “made.” The next morning he may think that he did not sleep at all, feel overwhelmed, tired, with a heavy head.

There is, however, another explanation for these depression-specific sleep disturbances. Since anxiety is an emotion, it is localized in the deep layers of the brain, and during sleep, mainly the “upper” part of it falls asleep. Apparently, this is why people suffering from depression often fall asleep quite well, but after 3-5 hours of sleep they suddenly wake up, as if from an internal shock, and experience vague restlessness and anxiety. That is, the lower layers of the brain wait until the upper layers fall asleep, and then the anxiety that is always hidden behind depression suddenly breaks through. After such an awakening, it is usually difficult to fall asleep, and if sleep returns, it becomes superficial and disturbing.

With depressive neurosis, on the contrary, the process of falling asleep is more often difficult: the person tosses around in bed, does not find a place for himself, cannot lie down, and at times wants to get up and start doing something. He constantly thinks about how he can't sleep and how he won't feel well the next day. Such reasoning, of course, significantly delays his sleep, which is in no way consistent with his anxious state. By the way, nightmares, as well as night awakenings associated with them, are also possible against the background of depression.

One way or another, the symptom of sleep disturbance, although located almost at the very end of the list, is one of the most significant signs of depression. It is almost impossible to imagine depression without sleep disorders. And therefore, if you sleep well, then, fortunately, you should not qualify for a diagnosis of depression, at least not yet.

“It’s a hard dream for those who are saddened by grief.”

Russian proverb

I think, therefore I cannot sleep.

Laszlo Felek

Literary evidence:

"All kinds of dangers"

In my book “How to Get Rid of Anxiety, Depression and Irritability,” I told the story of Konrad Lorenz, an outstanding researcher of animal behavior, No. Belev Prize and generally a wonderful person. How are you it turns out that he also suffered from quite severe depression, which, however, was mainly expressed in his disorders mi sleep. This is what he writes about this in his famous book “Beyond the Mirror”.

“When I, as usually happens to me, wake up for a while in the very early hours, everything unpleasant that I had to face in my life comes to mind. Lately. I suddenly remember an important letter that I should have written long ago; It occurs to me that this or that person did not behave towards me the way I would like; I find errors in what I wrote on eve, and first of all, all sorts of things arise in my mind possible dangers that I must immediately prevent tit. Often these sensations besiege me so much that I take a pencil and paper and write down what I remember. preoccupations and newly discovered dangers, so that they are not protected be. After this I fall asleep again, as if calmed down; and when I wake up at ordinary times, all this heavy and threatening seems to me no longer so gloomy nimny, and besides, effective precautions come to mind measures, which I immediately begin to take.”

It remains to be noted that this truly legendary person the century that suffered from depression did not succumb or break under its onslaught. He fought all his life (as can be seen from this excerpt from his book) for his mental health, for his right to live happy and full life, which evokes even greater respect for him than even his truly brilliant discoveries in the field of animal psychology.

With a full belly I think hard, but loyally,

Gabriel Laub

Change in appetite

When we say that appetite during depression can change in any direction, this probably seems strange. And if you know how our body works, then this is even logical. Indeed, a person suffering from depression may experience an increase or decrease in appetite. Loss of appetite, on the one hand, is explained by the predominance of inhibition processes over excitation processes in the brain, since those brain centers that are responsible for the feeling of hunger also fall under inhibition.

On the other hand, the autonomic nervous system comes into play - that part nervous system human, which is responsible for the regulation of ra bots of all internal organs bodies. Anxiety strengthens the autonomic nerve system, which interferes with the functioning of the food system rhenium (this is the so-called"sympathetic division" of the autonomic nervous system). If the body is in anxiety, then it selectively enhances the work of only those organs that are necessary for a living being to escape from danger - the work of the heart is activated, the arterial pressure, the breathing rhythm changes, etc. The stomach is not needed to escape and attack, and therefore during these periods its work simply stops.

A person who develops acute depression (for example, as a reaction to severe stress) may lose up to 10 kg in one month. And the number of kilograms lost, in some sense, can be considered as a criterion for the severity of depressive disorder.

However, paradoxically, we also owe the increase in body weight during depression to this second of the two described mechanisms. A kind of conflict arises here. If a person suffering from depression and being in a state of anxiety still manages to eat something, then the following situation may arise. The food it absorbs affects the corresponding receptors, which leads to the activation of the brain centers responsible for digestion. The initiative, as they say, comes from below.

Activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (which is an antagonist of the sympathetic division, activated during anxiety) reduces sympathetic influences. Blood, figuratively speaking, flows to the stomach, the heart rate decreases, blood pressure normalizes, and this automatically leads to a decrease in anxiety. Thus, eating can become a kind of defense mechanism that reduces anxiety. A person feels better, and the following reflex is formed in his brain: if you eat, you feel better.

As a result, a person suffering from depression, who sometimes gains up to two to three dozen kilograms in six months, may consult a doctor with complaints of obesity, and not depression. And it should not be surprising that the usual time for attacks of gluttony in such patients is at night, when anxiety threatens to awaken and disturb sleep. Moreover, as their favorite “food anti-anxiety remedies” they use baked goods, which can quickly swell in the stomach and thus have a maximum effect on the corresponding receptors, as well as traditional irritants of digestive activity - spices, seasonings or, for example, lemon.

Finally, there is also a desire to please oneself: a person tries to cheer himself up by consuming food. Soon, as depression develops and the ability to feel pleasure is lost, the corresponding goal can no longer be achieved in this way. But the person continues to chew “automatically,” supposedly distracting himself from heavy thoughts.

Don't pay attention to minor flaws; remember: you also have large ones.

Benjamin Franklin

If you read the inscription “buffalo” on an elephant’s cage, don’t believe your eyes.

Kozma Prutkov

A case from psychotherapeutic practice:

"Pancakes with lemon"

Now I remember one very remarkable case from psychotherapeutic practice. Illnesses, generally speaking, rarely give a reason for fun, and depression - even more so, but my patient herself talked about what happened with humor (despite the depressive decline in mood, in people with a good sense of humor, humor does not disappear anywhere, however, it acquires a very specific - cold-ironic - color). So...

A sweet plump woman of forty-three years old appeared on the threshold of my office. Appearance There was no way she could be seen as a depressed patient. She looked more like a healthy Russian woman, straight out of the pages of Nekrasov’s myth-making about our people: “She will stop a galloping horse and enter a burning hut!”

After we met her, I inquired: “What, exactly, brought you to me?” She, already rosy-cheeked, became even more flushed, lowered her gaze and said a strange thing: “Pancakes.” “Pancakes?!” - I was surprised. - Should I go to a psychotherapist with this?” However, my surprise was short-lived. Within ten minutes everything fell into place - my patient came to the right address.

However, I will not retell the whole story, but will tell you only about one symptom of depression: a change in appetite in any direction, in this case - towards an increase. The situation here looked like this. Every night, in the fourth hour of sleep, exactly at two o’clock in the morning, this charming lady woke up, as if from some kind of internal push. Anxiety, which usually activates us to fight or flight, forced her to immediately get up and start doing something to keep herself occupied.

And my patient had a strict ritual prepared for this case: she went to the kitchen and began... What would you think? Yes, cook pancakes! Having baked a kilogram and a half of pancakes, she sat down at the table and began to drink tea with pancakes. “And the tea,” she said with surprising and at the same time comic seriousness, “must be with lemon!” Then, having eaten her fill, she felt the pleasant sweetness of sleep rolling over her and carefully floated back to bed. By four o'clock in the morning she was already sleeping like a baby. However, six months later, this “baby” discovered two dozen extra pounds.

So why did she turn to a psychotherapist? Of course, in order to lose weight! What did the psychotherapist find out about her? Considering the title of the book, it’s clear: depression. Indeed, this woman had a classic symptom of early awakenings (if she had gone to bed not at ten, as she did, but at twelve, she would have woken up at the classic time for depression - at four or five in the morning). These early awakenings, as expected, were accompanied by attacks of anxiety, and this, if we recall physiology, is the result of activation of the sympathetic department of the autonomic nervous system.

And then what happened was what should be called a “classical defense mechanism,” which this patient of mine resorted to completely unconsciously. What did she do? To begin with, she went to the kitchen and spent her overflowing anxiety on active “useful” activities: whipping dough and then juggling pancakes - this is a serious physical activity that can absorb the excess internal tension that characterizes anxiety. At the same time, she had to carefully monitor that the dough was well beaten, the pancakes did not burn, and she herself did not get burned. In short, all this forced her to switch from internal experiences to external activities, which naturally seriously reduced her anxiety level.

Then she proceeded to the “highlight” of the program: she began to absorb fluffy, fatty pancakes, washing them down with tea, “definitely with lemon.” Carbohydrates (and pancakes are primarily carbohydrates) are quickly absorbed by the body, the pancakes themselves, swelling in the stomach, put pressure on its walls, lemon causes such salivation that Pavlov’s dog never dreamed of. In short, this sweet woman, without even knowing it, did a great thing: she possible ways and forcibly activated the parasympathetic division of her autonomic nervous system.

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

Clinical picture

It is important to remember that depression is a 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, which can manifest in a wide range of symptoms. Depression can cause many physical illnesses. Insomnia, loss of appetite, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, headaches, decreased libido, nervousness, disruptions in the cardiovascular system and many other pathologies may indicate the development of a depressive state in a person.

Treatment of depression

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

Prevention

Morning depression can simply occur as a sign of systematic lack of sleep. A busy day at work, constant stressful situations, poor diet and lack of physical activity also contribute to the development of mental disorders.

The first method of combating depression in the morning should be sound sleep, which is at least 8 hours. After waking up, the patient will benefit from a contrasting 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 improve your well-being. Lack of vitamins can significantly reduce performance. Physical activity will be useful. For example, regular exercise in the morning or a morning jog will help improve blood circulation, metabolism and the production of all necessary hormones. A full sex life is also an integral part of the prevention of depressive conditions.

It is important that a sick person has the opportunity to do what he loves, which brings him joy. The support of loved ones and loved ones significantly contributes to the patient’s healing. 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 understands the need for treatment and makes efforts. A quick cure for depression is almost impossible, so the patient and his family should prepare for a long recovery period.