Depression or temporary sadness: When should the alarm be sounded?
The term depression is often misused in everyday language to describe the periods of great sadness, trouble or melancholy that we all experience at one time or another. So how do you identify a depression crisis from a period of temporary sadness?
What is depression?
Depression, this word, which has become so common today, nevertheless covers a reality that is still misunderstood.
Contrary to some popular belief, depression is neither a fatality nor a weakness of character.
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by very high sadness, an acute feeling of discouragement and fear accompanied by a decline in self-esteem and a loss of interest in activities that are usually pleasant to the individual and this in a persistent way.
Depression is therefore a multifactorial disease that affects mood, thoughts, behaviour and body functions (one becomes more vulnerable to illness when depressed) and causes significant suffering and discomfort, and requires care by a competent professional.
Depression or blues : differences?
Many people experience shorter depressive episodes, due to triggering factors such as the bad season, the death of a loved one or even a baby blues.
But the word “Depression” has become part of everyday language and does not always mean depressive disorder in the right way. For example, sadness and anxiety after bereavement are not always synonymous with depression, even if they persist for several weeks. Similarly, temporary feelings of melancholy and loss of enthusiasm do not necessarily form a depression, but rather a simple phase of dejection that will disappear spontaneously.
1. Energy loss and tiredness
Depression usually leads to a loss of vital momentum associated with intense fatigue and lack of energy. In everyday life, it is then difficult to carry out insignificant actions.
For some people, sleeping becomes a refuge. However, this excess is not beneficial: depressed people are still as tired as ever, even after many hours of sleep. For others, it is the opposite. Their nights are short: they get to bed late, have sleepless nights and wake up earlier than they normally should. Sleep is shallower and waking up can be psychologically painful.
2. Lower concentration
Depressed people may have difficulty thinking and expressing themselves clearly. Their judgment and reasoning are imbued with sadness, anxiety and pessimism. They have difficulty finding the exact words to express themselves and feel that the world has become too complicated for them. Memory and concentration also tend to decrease.
3. Sadness and hypersensitivity
For no apparent reason, depressed people can be overwhelmed by an immense and unusual sense of sadness. They no longer find meaning or interest in life to the point where the little pleasures that punctuated their life until then are no longer there. They feel a constant need to be alone and the slightest annoyance/difficulties become insurmountable for them.
4. Low self-esteem and self-blame
Decreased self-esteem is very common among people who are depressed. They feel responsible for their condition and feel guilty that they cannot cope on their own. Defeatism appears, then extends to the whole life. Often, depressed people do not even imagine themselves living in any other way, let alone seeing the end of the ordeal. For this reason, they do not seek outside help and feel that no one will be able to influence their situation.
Morbid thoughts can occur. The person must talk about it at all costs and be treated quickly because depression is one of the major causes of suicide
5. Eating disorders
In depression, appetite is often disrupted. It can either be increased or decreased. Depressed people can take refuge in food (usually sweet) to create a refuge. The pleasure of eating can also disappear, in which case the food seems tasteless, and preparing food becomes a chore. Meal times often become irregular and their composition unbalanced.
Progression of depression
When depression sets in durably it can lead to severe complications. Some people turn to alcohol and other psychotropic drugs to try to reduce their anxiety. Sleeping pills are also used to treat repeated insomnia.
But these substances can be very dangerous. Depressed people become addicted to substances which often increase their discomfort tenfold rather than alleviate it.
With the current state of toxicological dependence, the risk of suicide therefore becomes significant in the depressed person. It is therefore urgent to consult a doctor or psychologist, as any depressed person needs help.
Coming out of a depression crisis
Depression should not be taken lightly by either the patient or those around him or her, as the risks of suicide are very high. It is therefore up to the people around you to be vigilant and not to trivialize the complaints of the person in difficulty. You should not leave the person alone and can listen to him or her without replacing the work of the specialist.
1. Anti-depressants
Antidepressants are medications that relieve the symptoms of depression and improve the patient’s mood. Antidepressants are prescribed to relieve the symptoms of depression, especially the sadness and motor slowdown that characterize this disease. They are not euphoric drugs and have no effect on people without depressive disorders.
Some of them are also used to treat certain forms of anxiety or bulimia, or to correct emotional disorders in the context of other mental illnesses. These drugs are generally associated with psychotherapeutic management.
2. Psychotherapy
Eventually, in addition to drug treatment, psychotherapy will help the person to have the perspective that he can no longer obtain alone. This treatment will take more or less time depending on the person, but it will help him to see more clearly in his life.
Psychotherapy provides benevolent listening, allows us to put words to pain and to fight against negative and self-deprecating thoughts. Sessions should be regular, about one to two sessions per week for several months depending on the severity of the symptoms.
3. Natural cures
The tips below do not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. If the symptoms persist or worsen, then you should consult your doctor promptly. If symptoms persist or worsen, consult a treating physician or psychologist as soon as possible.
St. John’s Wort is a natural antidepressant used as a mood regulator and also effective in the treatment of chronic fatigue. Associated with rhodiola, it promotes concentration, acts on brain fatigue by stimulating cognitive functions but also on physical fatigue by improving tone.
On the other hand, research has shown that the effects of saffron are just as effective as Prozac, with fewer side effects. Saffron has two substances: saffronal and crocine which promote the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter whose role is to balance the emotional systems. In general, half a pinch is enough to benefit from its antidepressant effects.
4. To prevent depression
Other solutions can help to avoid falling into depression, and especially to avoid relapses after a first depression.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle: practicing a sport regularly, a relaxation activity (meditation, yoga…), respecting your sleep cycles and eating a balanced diet can be a first line of defense against depression.
Do not be too demanding on yourself. Live in the present moment by avoiding negative thoughts, revisiting the past or anticipating the future.
Have a rich social life. Whether with friends or family, don’t hesitate to open up to what you feel when you feel depressed.
Do not wait, consult at the first signs of sadness. Make an appointment with a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychoanalyst to quickly stop the first symptoms.
Because I know how difficult it can be to get out of this loop which can be infinite, don’t hesitate to ask me your questions, to provide me with additional information and above all to share your experiences and the solutions that work for you.
