Depression
Depression is a common term used sometimes by the general public to describe the state of despair or frustration that a person may experience, but it is not just sadness or frustration, but a disease that causes psychological pain to the patient and affects his mental health and physical life and relations in general, Depression, which has not been treated by the patient, may lead to suicide.
Definition of depression
Depression is defined by the World Health Organization (“a disease characterized by a permanent sense of sadness and loss of interest in the activities in which a person usually enjoys, and is associated with inability to perform daily activities for at least two weeks).
Causes of Depression
There are several reasons that can lead to depression, including:
- Having a family history of depression.
- Exposure to a strong psychological trauma leads to a state of great grief, such as the death of a loved one.
- Some medications may increase the risk of depression.
- Exposure to abuse or ill-treatment.
- Conflicts and personal conflicts with family or friends may cause depression for some people.
- Personal problems, such as social isolation, may increase the state of depression.
- Exposure to serious diseases difficult to cure such as cancer.
- Addiction to alcohol or drugs.
- Exposure to a major event such as loss of employment or divorce.
Symptoms of depression
There are many symptoms that indicate depression in the case of appeared on the human and continued to coincide for at least two weeks is a sign of the risk of depression, and these symptoms:
- Anxiety.
- Frequency and disturbance.
- General weakness and loss of energy.
- Change in appetite.
- Sleep disorders such as sleep for longer or shorter periods.
- Low concentration rate.
- Low self-esteem, guilt or despair
- Think about self-harm or suicide.
Treatment of depression
There are two main types of drugs used to treat depression:
Drug therapy
The depressed person suffers from a change in the balance of certain chemicals in the brain, so that the brain does not benefit from these chemicals in the way necessary, and makes antidepressants these materials are more available for absorption of brain cells, and supervised by the doctor who specializes in helping the patient to deal with them in the event of any side effects for example. It is necessary here to clarify some misconceptions about the use of antidepressants, some may think that may continue for life and this is a misconception: the treatment may last for about six months, and a year does not last life, and the other belief that the patient may become obsolete This medication also does not affect the patient’s feeling of sadness or anxiety, but it alleviates these emotions so as not to aggravate and form a psychological crisis. The doctor can only determine the duration of treatment with drugs. It is not enough for the patient to feel better and stop the treatment. On his own so that he does not talk to him E, or a decline in the case, but the doctor determines the time and the proper way to stop treatment by the gradual easing of doses of treatment.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy has a major role in recovery from depression, while some patients may benefit from treatment in a short period of time, but in others, and those who have suffered from depression for a long time they must undergo psychiatric treatment for longer periods, Long-term treatment leads to a greater improvement in the symptoms of depression, improves the general state of satisfaction with life, work and social aspects, and can also reduce the risk of relapses. One of the objectives of psychotherapy is that it helps the patient to:
- Adaptation to crises or life difficulties.
- Identify the behaviors and misconducts performed by the patient, and teach him to correct these behaviors, and discuss the incorrect ideas he has, and learn the right way of thinking.
- Develop relationships and social experiences, and develop positive interaction with others.
- Restore the feeling of satisfaction, control the feelings of despair and anger, and enable the person to regain control of his life.
- Increase the person’s ability to withstand the stresses of life, by using healthy behaviors.
- Discover the best ways to face problems and solve them.
- Identify issues that increase depression and make things worse.
- Learn how to set realistic goals for life.
- Psychotherapy methods
- There are several types and methods used in psychological therapy to help the patient to get rid of depression, including:
- Individual counseling: Based on the individual sessions between the patient and the therapist, in which the patient talks about his condition, and helps the specialist to understand the reasons that led to the disease, and plans that he should follow them to get rid of these causes and overcome, and to adopt a new and healthy way to help get rid of depression.
- Treatment Groups: This treatment provides the patient with an opportunity to meet others who are going through the same things that he or she is going through. They feel the same feelings they are experiencing and thus can share experiences with other patients. This communication is also a good way to teach the patient new ways of thinking about the disease and seeing it from a new angle.
- Personal Relations Therapy: In this treatment, the therapist focuses on personal relationships in the patient’s life, how these relationships affect depression, and how to treat them in a way that improves the mental health of the patient.
- Dynamic Psychotherapy: In this treatment, the therapist focuses on the behavioral patterns of the patient, on the motives that make him behave in the wrong way that stimulates his depression, and works to modify these behaviors with him.
- Family Therapy: Here, the therapist will involve all the family members in the treatment, since depression also affects them, not just the patient, and if the family does not learn the right way to deal with the patient, it may make the depression worse without you going. And follow his instructions. Studies show that family sessions have a great impact; they strengthen family ties, and enable them to talk freely about the stress of depression and their impact on their lives under the supervision of the doctor who directs the discussion to get the right way. It also helps improve the patient’s lifestyle and helps him to comply. And improves sleep habits. Family counseling is also an important means of educating relatives to learn more about depression and signs of early warning of the disease.