• I feel oppression, depression.
• Recently my appetite and weight have been changed.
• I feel anxiety and I have the heebie-jeebies.
• I cry a lot.
• I feel tired for no apparent reason.
• I do not get pleasure from my hobby.
• My thoughts are not as clear as before.
• My future seems joyless to me.
• I do not feel that my life is useful to other people.
• I believe that others would be better if I died.

If you have more than 5 statements, perhaps you’ve got a depression. The depression can become apparent in different ways. Different types vary from weak initiative, insignificant depression, tiredness and sleep disturbance, to oppressions, headaches, eating disorders, constipations, distemper and at last the apathy. Concrete depression’s displays are so different and individual that it is quite difficult to diagnose it correctly. The medicine distinguishes three types of depression:

• Depressions which caused by organic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, hormonal disorders, injuries.
• Endogenous depressions. This form of depression occurs from the inside, as a consequence of mental person’s predisposition. « Endogenous» – defined by deep, internal processes (including biochemical). Such depression brings peculiar tortures, because the patient is not able not only to feel joy, love and interest, but also grief, anger and compassion. Accordingly, this depression should be especially recognized in time, as it is well stopped with a help of modern antidepressants.
• Psychogenic depression. It arises from the subjective intolerable feelings because of difficult mental disorders, at that, emotions are so strong that they must be restrain. For different people, with a different personality type, such mental disorder can be differ in strength, content or duration.

Common for everyone is change in yourself, a change in the perception of your past and future, as well as around the world, where everything is seen in the pessimistic tones.

In particular, older people are disposed to depression, suffering from loneliness after the death of a spouse, loss of coevals, changes in habits or restrictions.

Depression deprives a person of the future, or orientations for it. Psychological trauma deprives people of hope and strength to see tomorrow, when the prospects offered only disadvantage, the expected sufferings, pain and despair. Everyone has his own trauma – divorces, separations, difficulties at work, financial difficulties, the suffering of homeless dog. You better know it how it is happens with you. In cases of depression caused by the traumatic events the effectiveness of drugs is minimal. The psychotherapy is here especially medically necessary, directing to comprehension of unsuccessful strategies, seeking of resources, comprehension of the real problems and causes of depression. Depression shows that there is something that oppresses the person, and he should remove it.

The man under the pressure of depression is not self-satisfied, he does not trust himself, does not want to see the reality and he loses his intensity.

Depression can often be linked to the disease, traditionally called psychosomatic.

What is more important, that «mild» depressions are quite normal, if they come after high stresses, so they allow the body to have a rest. But if they are delayed, it is a sign trouble. It is unreasonable to persuade the patient to relax in the cheerful society, to go to remote countries or to argue that everything is not so bad and it will be over.

There is no sense to tell that you also have experienced such situations or to require a patient that he take himself in hand and do not sink.

There is also no point to ignore the possibility of suicide and signs of preparation for it.

It makes sense to show the patient that he is loved, that people are considerate towards him and want to help him. Be ready to mood swings. Help him carefully to be oneself, to explore the history of his life, and together with him find true causes of mental disorders.

It is perfect when such assistance is rendered by a qualified psychotherapist.

Paradoxically, that in some cases, if you want to recover, you should not struggle against the depression, on the contrary, to fall into it, because only in the depths of your being you can find something that has been depressing you for a long time. In the East, depression is sometimes considered as gift of gods, because it allows and even forced to think about the meaning of the life, to seek answers to the question «Who Am I», «Why» and to be updated and re-open the joys and sorrows of this world. And if you go through depression with a guide, will be absorbed in it, so this trip will allow you to understand and to analyze all bereavements and teach you to cope with them.

Seasonal affective disorder can have the same symptoms as a depression, which are not connected with the certain season. It may be depressed mood, melancholy, anxious feeling, apathy, joylessness or hopelessness. Rarely these symptoms are more pronounced in the first half of the day, whereas to the evening the state becomes better.

More typical for seasonal affective disorder are considered other symptoms. Patients, suffering from seasonal depressions, parallel with depressed mood, anxious feeling and decreased activity, experience drowse and keen appetite during the whole day. During depression they consume more food which is rich in carbohydrates. They can also put on weight. As a rule, reduces the overall tone, but appears weakness and variety of unpleasant sensations in the body.

Asthenic symptomatology of seasonal affective disorder is following: feeling of weakness, flabbiness, souse and all-overishness. It may be different pains and unpleasant feelings in the body. The mental work decreases, the memory and attention worsen. It is significant that intensity of these symptoms practically do not depend on outside force and quite often they are more pronounced in the morning hours after awakening.

In development of seasonal affective disorder the important role plays metabolic serotonin – biologically active substance, which regulate mood.
Experimental researches have shown that in winter the content of serotonin lower than in summer. The significant regulator of serotonin is melatonin – an active material, which production depends on light quantity.

The classical approach of seasonal affective disorder treatment is light therapy. Besides, it has been proved high efficiency of antidepressants with a specific action on the exchange of serotonin in the brain. Prolonged use of these medicines allows not only cure developed depressive state, but also to prevent their future development. As by other depressions, the essential element of effective treatment is psychotherapy

Depression is a disease state which has characteristic symptoms.

By no means is depression a manifestation of the lack of character. This is a serious disease which is accompanied by violations of all psychological and even physical (sleep, appetite, body weight, etc.) functions of a person. Loss or reduction of strong-willed character – is one of the symptoms of the depression. Therefore, you should not advise the person suffering from depression, «to pull yourself together» – he will not be able to overcome the disease without medical care. Depression significantly affects the efficiency, education, social life, relationships with other people, including next of kin.

Is there a connection between depression and female sex?

It is common knowledge that women suffer from depression more often than men. This fact is confirmed by numerous epidemiological researches from different countries. The frequency of depression by women is 2-3 times higher than by men. In modern medicine female sex belongs to factors, which are predisposed to development of depression.

What is a reason of depression?

In many respects depression is connected with changes in endocrine profile, which take place in the woman organism during childbearing age. So-called genesial (genital) cycle passes a number of stages, starting with a menstruation and finishing with its completion. It includes menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth, premenopausal and climacterical periods. At each of these stages there are a lot of changes in the composition and number of hormones, which are accompanied by physiological changes of all functions of the female body, including the psychological realm. Therefore, such changes of endocrine profile are connected with the increased risk of depression.

How does depression become apparent by women?

How it was stated above, the risk of depression increases at each stage of the reproductive cycle. There are different variants (syndromes) of depression in the clinical medicine, which are typical for every stage of the reproductive cycle, – premenstrual syndrome, pregnant depressive syndrome, postnatal depression during premenopausal and climacterical periods.

Manifestation of depression may be different. Depressed mood can manifest itself both by oppression and apathy, and by hyperirritability, maudlin, anxiety, a sense of internal tension. The change in mood is usually accompanied by a decreased activity, a loss of energy, an easy fatiguability and a distracted attention. Depression in women is often accompanied by a variety of somatic disorders: disturbance of sleep (insomnia or excessive sleepiness), appetite disturbance (decreased or increased appetite). There may appear unpleasant feelings of stress and pain in the mammary glands, headaches, pains in joints and muscles, pains in heart and occasional heartbeats, weakness in the body, fluctuations of blood pressure, etc.

The duration of depressions which associated with the reproductive cycle may be different. Premenstrual depressive syndrome is usually brief, about 2 weeks (1 week before and 1 week after menstruation), but it has recrudescent character with the monthly worsening. Post-natal depressions and menopause depressions may be more protracted and continue several weeks and even months.

How can you treat depression?

Depression – is a curable disease. In case of the correct choice of an appropriate remedy and its dose, the completely eliminate from the depression symptoms is quite possible.

The treatment of depression occurs only with the help of special medicines, which called antidepressants.

The treatment of depression should be ordered only by a doctor. We must remember that every person has its own characteristics of depression, which are connected both with the gravity of the disease and it clinical manifestations. The correct choice of treatment in each case requires the appreciation of multiple characteristics of the patient. Only doctor can correctly identify, evaluate and classify such features. In no case one should not resort to the help of relatives or friends or choose a means of treating independently, on the grounds that some medication helped someone who you know.

This rule must be observed, especially if change of mood is accompanied by a changes of overall health, violations of bodily functions and pains that is most characteristic for depressions which are associated with the reproductive cycle. In such cases, only doctor can properly assess the nature of symptoms, determine the actual state of internal organs and choose medicines that will be not only effective but also safe. It is strongly encouraged to take antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation.

Nowadays there are a lot of antidepressants. All modern medications of this class are effective and safe. However each of them has its own differential characteristics, which connected both with therapeutic action and its dosage.

The treatment of depression takes time. You should not wait for the recovery in the first days of taking the medication. Remember that all modern antidepressants effect the depression no earlier than in 1-2 weeks after beginning the treatment. During this period a doctor also identifies the necessary dosage.

The abolition from the antidepressant, as well as its prescription, should only be ordered by a doctor. Even after the complete disappearance of all symptoms of depression you should continue to take antidepressants for some period of time. It is connected with a risk of worsening depression, which in case of premature abolition of therapy is very high – up to 60-80%. Moreover, the worsening of depression, associated with the premature termination of treatment, usually more difficult responds to treatment. The duration of such additional period of treatment, which aim is preventive measures, determines only doctor on the basis of individual characteristics of each patient.

Remember, even if you decide to stop treatment before the period determined by a doctor, it is necessarily to consult with a specialist.

Antidepressants are conditionally divided into groups in accordance with the chemical agents which they affect (pharmacodynamic principle). There are several different types of antidepressants, including:


1. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Citalopram (brand name Celexa)
• Escitalopram (brand name Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (brand name Prozac)
• Paroxetine (brand name Paxil, Pexeva)
• Sertraline (brand name Zoloft)

Side Effects of SSRI’s

Compared with side effects of others antidepressants, the side effects of these medicines are insignificant. These are some side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors:

• dry mouth
• sickness
• nervousness
• sleeplessness
• sexual disorders
• headache

2. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

• Amitriptyline (brand name Elavil)
• Desipramine (brand name Norpramin)
• Imipraminum (brand name Tofranil)
• Nortriptilin (brand name Aventyl, Pamelor)

Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants

The most common side effects of tricyclic antidepressants:

• dry mouth
• loss of one’s eyesight
• diarrhea
• painful feeling by urination
• exacerbation of glaucoma
• disorder of thought process and rapid fatigability.

These antidepressants also affect blood pressure and heart rate.


3. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)

• Venlafaxine (brand name Effexor)
• Duloxetine (brand name Cymbalta)

The most common side effects of Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor:

• sickness
• appetite loss
• anxiety and nervousness
• headache
• sleeplessness and rapid fatigability

Such effects like dry mouth, diarrhea, weight loss, sexual disorders, heart-rate acceleration and increase of blood cholesterol level are also possible.


4. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors

• Bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin)

The most common side effects of norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors:

• anxious excitement
• sickness
• headache
• appetite loss
• sleeplessness.

Some people can have rise of blood pressure.


5. Combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers

• Trazodone (brand mark Desyrel)
• Nefazodone (brand name Serzone)
• Maprotiline
• Mirtazapine (brand name Remeron)

The most common side effects of combined reuptake inhibitors and receptor blockers: drowse, dry mouth, sickness and giddiness. Nefazodone is counter-indicative for people with kidney diseases. Maprotiline is counter-indicative for epileptics.


6. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

• Isocarboxazid (brand name Marplan)
• Fenelzin (brand name Nardil)
• Tranylcypromine (brand name Parnate)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are less widespread as compared with others antidepressants. They also can have serious side effects, including weakness, giddiness, headache and tremor. The combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors with others antidepressants or flu medicines, which are dispensed without prescription, can cause dangerous reaction. Prescribing antidepressant, a doctor must tell, which food and spirits can not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. You can take this medicine only if you are ready to respect doctor’s recommendations. If you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors and your attending physician wants to change or prescribe another antidepressant, then at first you should stop take the first one and only after a time you can take the second one. This time is required for completely leaving of monoamine oxidase inhibitor out from an organism.

The first steps on the road to depression treatment

1. Learn more about depression from the material of our website. Note what kind of symptoms you have and read about possible methods of depression treating. Here you can also read some questions that you perhaps should discuss with your doctor.
2. Ask for a professional – psychotherapist. He helps you to determine if you have depression and how can you cope with it.
3. Talk to your relatives or friends. Depression could distance you from them. Near of kin support you at this period and help to find a specialist. You are not required to be with depression face to face. After a conversation with your near relatives you feel better.

Doctor’s advice

The depression distorts the life perception and can cause shame, fear and guilt that one suffer from it. Many people suffer silently, feeling depressed. Some are afraid or ashamed of their feelings; others deceive themselves, underestimating the symptoms. The treatment of depression is put off.
Remember, that one of manifestation of the depression – is a sense of hopelessness. Perhaps it will not be easy to understand that something can help you, although usually depression treatment is effectively, but seeking help by a psychotherapist, you will make the first step for deliverance from depression.

After your description, you can ask psychotherapist following questions:

• “Do you think I have the depression?” (Even if you have some of above symptoms, only a doctor can determine the precise diagnosis)
• “What could cause the depression?”
• What should I do to get rid of depression?
• Should I consult with other specialists? (depression often combines with neurologic pathology). If so, could you advise someone?
• Should I go on vacation, decline all responsibilities, or somehow to change my lifestyle?
• How long can depression last?
• What consequences can appear, if not to start treatment right now?
• What treatment mode is preferable – drug therapy, psychotherapy or their combination (combined medication)?

How to get rid of depression.

The choice of depression treatment depends on: the type of depression, its origin (endogenous / psychogenic, caused by stress) symptoms, previous experience of treatment, portability of side effects, the individual characteristics of the patient.

By endogenous depression the main element of treatment – is antidepressants, which are selected individually in certain dosages.
By reactive depression the mandatory component of treatment – is psychotherapy.
For diagnosis and depression treatment the best way is ask for a psychotherapist – he will determine if you have the depression, its origin and how can you cope with it.

What can you do else to get rid of depression?

Self-regard – it’s an important part constitute part of depression treatment.

1. Do not take important decisions.
   Depression can prevent you to take an informed decision, because by depression a person perceives himself and outward things one-sided.
2. Try to avoid stresses.
   For the person suffering from depression, even insignificant load can be very heavy. Do not overstrain yourself even when feel that you have power – it can cause recrudescence.
3. Take care about your body.
   Depressed person often lose physical strength, feeling depleted. If you feel that you have physical strength – give your body some exercise stress, but not be over-diligent, start slowly walk or take care about flowers.
4. Eat regularly and with pleasure.
   If you have an appetite – do not deny yourself in tasty food. It will help you to recover a zest for life. By depression the immunity gets broken, so try to take more vitamins.
5. Avoid negative thoughts.
   If you have a negative thought – try to think about something pleasant, prepare a cup of tea, listen to the radio or call a friend.
6. Communicate with friends and relatives, even overcoming yourself.
   Your near of kin can be a source of support. They can help you to make a decision or solve problems, as well as by home working.
7. Do not be shy to report your psychotherapist about any problems or changes in your health.
   Your doctor will help deal with any problem, if he will know about it.
8. Do not take alcohol and drugs – they can cause degradation.
9. Try not to abuse the hypnotic drugs.
10. Talk to your near relations about nervousness – they will support you.

Depression Symptoms & Help : Ways to Get Rid of Depression


]]> http://depressionam.com/how-to-get-rid-of-depression/feed/ 0 http://depressionam.com/symptoms-signs-of-depression/ http://depressionam.com/symptoms-signs-of-depression/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:59:04 +0000 admin http://depressionam.com/?p=40 At present time, depression is ahead of all other mental disorders on the extent of the damage concerning capacity for work. The considerable proportion of patients with depressive disorders call for a help in general network. However, only 10-30% cases of depression are detected in proper time. At present test the symptoms of depression and its difficulty are in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th revision (ICD-10), but filled with concrete content from our private medical practice.



Typical (main) symptoms of depression:

• The mood is bad, depressed, nasty, dismal, “there’s a gnawing in your heart”
• “You are browned off everything”: you put off some plans or for a long time you make yourself for their performance. There is no desire going into the heart of the matter, – you know that you must do it, but you take any measures. The production decisions and business acquaintances you also leave over until tomorrow. You are not interested in something, you do not want to do anything, but you know that you should do it. There is no pleasure like before – “You are past caring.” You couldn’t remember when you were happy.
• You are tired even after unimportant physical exercises, or in the evening you are completely unable. It may be the feeling of constant tiredness. It seems that you have never had a rest. You want to refuse from routine, rather to take a break and muster your strength. However, brief rest does not improve the condition, and amusements fast lose their attraction.

Other symptoms of depression:

1. It is difficult to concentrate in the presence of an irritant (for example, by television, radio, conversation in the next room); because of «parallel» thoughts – «while reading I am thoughtful of others». It becomes difficult to pick words or to catch the meaning of the conversation. While reading books, magazines or commercial papers it is also hardly to find their meaning, you have to reread it once again.
2. After taking a decision, it appears unusual for you indecision, constant doubts in ordinary domestic or well-known professional duties. The self-reliance has disappeared, – «What if I say too much or do something wrong».
3. The critical appraisal of all past life is quite possible. «Everything that I have had in the past is useless. I had to do other things». You experience painful feeling of the «black sheep» in the family and «white crow» in the work. You reproach yourself in filial irresponsible duties or in insufficient care concerning other next of kin.
4. Your mind is filled with sad thoughts, that you are «loser» and you are not able to solve the problems. There is an ascertaining of full professional failure. The dismal and pessimistic vision of the future may be filled with quite concrete life conditions.
5. Sometimes it occurs to you – «Perhaps it would be better to pass away, because everything is bad, nonsensical, the life has lost its meaning since».
6. The sleep disorder is quite varied. This includes difficult falling asleep; reduction of night sleep because of frequent awakenings; the awaking at 3-4 o’clock at night or at 5 in the morning with following sleeplessness. At all kinds of sleep disorders there is no sense of rest in the morning.
7. You have jaded appetite («I can do with one cup of tea during the day»), or you can even have aversion to food’s sort or its smell.

Depression self-testing

In event that you do not get some of three symptoms (main and extra list), so you do not have depressed mood according to ICD-10.

Mild depressive disorder

The presence of 2 typical symptoms of depression and at least 2 symptoms from the list of “a-g”. You are worried about your state. You feel certain difficulties by work performance or by social activity.

Moderate depressive disorder

The presence of 2 typical symptoms of depression and at least 3 symptoms (preferably 4) from the list of “a-g”. There are formidable difficulties in performance of social duties, housekeeping or by continuation of professional activity.

Major depressive disorder

The presence of all 3 typical depressed symptoms or more than 4 from the list of “a-g”. The social and home activities can be very limited or improbable.

If you have a depressed mood in accordance with the criteria, your state may be exacerbated with a number of additional painful displays:

• You want to be alone, shut yourself off from everybody;
• The next of kin notice that you become silent and you stop smiling;
• The relations with relatives and colleagues become complicated with unusual for you irritability and aggression;
• The feeling of weight in the chest, («A weight sits heavy on my heart»), or an ache in the left part of the chest or burning pain behind breastbone.
• It appears unnatural for you slowness in movements, or on the contrary, moving excitement and anxiety, (« I have the heebie-jeebies»).
• During depression the sexual drive may decrease, («I do not even think about it»).
• You feel bad especially in the morning or in the afternoon. By the evening you feel better (typical diurnal rhythm of disturbance mood)
• The attempt to improve your state with a help of alcohol brings only temporary and unstable effect.

In case if you find by yourself or by some member of your family the foundation for depression self-testing, you should seek a psychological help.




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Depression Symptoms & Help : What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Depression?



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