A depression is a clinical condition in which a series of symptoms, mainly emotional, occur together, which have no known or sufficient external cause, but which cause life to lose interest for the person who suffers from it. We still do not know exactly, beyond hypotheses and theoretical models, the neurophysiological reasons that cause these symptoms. But we do have explanations that justify the use of certain drugs and psychological approaches, which experience has shown to be effective.
What is the difference between depression and deep sadness or a grieving process?
Basically, they are differentiated by the fact that depression is an illness that causes a state of mind that does not correspond to anything known or of sufficient importance. While deep sadness is a similar state of mind, but it does have a cause (usually the loss of something very important to that person). This same state of mind is called mourning, but caused by the death of someone dear to the mourner.
What causes depression?
We do not know exactly what causes a person to become depressed. Many times we can identify a triggering factor. That is, some reason that has caused a depressive emotional response, but then has not been overcome in a reasonable time, but has been installed in the feelings of that person and has become what was an initial temporary depressive state, in a stable way of living and seeing life.
There are many risk factors; very important is the genetic factor, which we try to determine by analyzing the patient’s family history. But it is also important the upbringing that makes that person develop or not with adequate resilience and effective strategies to seek and enjoy the positive things in life, have a negative or pessimistic social environment, have an excess of ambition… and many more.
Symptoms of depression
At least three planes must be differentiated:
- Emotionally, a sad state of mind, with loss of mood, of the ability to experience pleasure, of illusions, interests and motivations and with a feeling of emptiness. Although sometimes it can manifest itself in the opposite form of irritability, susceptibility and generalized discontent. And even, occasionally, aggressiveness.
- Cognitively, a mental slowing or feeling of dullness that makes it difficult to find solutions or make decisions, the appearance of thoughts referring to one’s own uselessness or guilt and the questioning of the balance between the pros and cons of continuing to live in these conditions, which may raise the question of the advantages of putting an end to life.
- Physiologically, the loss or gain of weight due to changes in intake, the appearance of sleep disturbances (by excess or defect), restlessness or motor slowing, apathy, feeling of fatigue or loss of energy and changes in the patient’s physiological habits.
How to realize that oneself or a person in one’s environment is depressed
The people who are around, even better than the person concerned, realize that the subject is changing (as the condition worsens) and the symptoms referred to above are appearing.
Often, as the condition progresses gradually, initially no importance is given to these symptoms. But when we look back and compare with the current situation, the change is noticeable. Obviously, when the picture is in an acute phase, it is striking because of the intensity of the symptoms and the abnormality of the patient’s mood is easily perceived.
There are always causes for complaint or sadness in our lives, but also for joy and illusion. When the balance becomes excessively unbalanced, it is when the people in the environment can perceive the change that is taking place and become alarmed.
How does a psychiatrist or psychologist help a patient with depression?
The objective should be for the patient to recover his or her mood prior to becoming ill. And even, if traits that could cause a relapse are detected in the patient’s personality or background, to try to help the patient to modify them.
The psychiatrist is the one who, through drugs and advice, must try to reorganize the biochemical alterations that have occurred in the patient’s brain and thus recover his or her mood, cognitive capacity and psychomotor capacity. This task takes time because the effect of the drugs is slow. And during this time, the psychologist must guide this recovery so that it evolves in the right direction, relearning to live in a compensated way (enjoying the good things and facing the bad things without falling down) and supporting the patient in his steps towards recovery.
Adequate recovery and relapse prevention are difficult to achieve if both coping strategies are not carried out simultaneously. For more information about depression, consult a psychiatrist or psychologist.