How to avoid depression: recommendations from a psychologist

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Depression is a persistent decrease in mood (depression, melancholy) that prevents a person from living and working normally. If the condition lasts longer than two weeks or if it quickly progresses to a severe stage - the person stops eating and drinking, does not get out of bed, or even tries to die, we are talking about the disease. A psychotherapist treats depression.

Important

Depression, which prevents a person from enjoying life, fully communicating with loved ones and working, must be treated.

People who are experiencing this problem for the first time ask whether depression can be treated. Yes, it is being treated. But the regimen and duration of therapy must be determined by a psychotherapist. There are different types of depression, the symptoms and treatment of which require different approaches and interpretations. These include:

• reactive depression is a disorder that arose after a traumatic situation (loss of a loved one, separation, loss of work or property). Psychotherapy primarily helps to cope with stress;
• dysthymia is a chronic mild depression that lasts for years: a person seems to be a “pessimist” all his life, sometimes even a “lazy person” - and after treatment he is completely transformed;
• depression in bipolar affective disorder - depressive episodes alternate with episodes of pathologically (inappropriately) elevated mood, medication support and psychotherapy are required;
• recurrent depressive disorder - depression recurs every few years; drug prevention of exacerbations is necessary.

A competent specialist must take into account all significant factors and influence them simultaneously. Private clinics are successfully treating depression in Moscow, but it requires time, patience and an attentive approach from a specialist. Observation by an experienced psychotherapist who combines drug therapy with psychotherapeutic techniques can cure depression forever.

Etiology

To date, the exact causes of depression have not been clarified. But the most widespread and clinically confirmed theory is hereditary disorders of neurotransmitter production. But the impetus for the development of the disease is external reasons:

• serious illness, death of a close relative;
• chronic fatigue;
• constant conflicts in the family and/or at work;
• regular severe stress, etc.

Some experts believe that a predisposition to depression is formed in early childhood, when, due to incorrect upbringing, the child becomes dependent on the opinions of others and fears that his actions will be incorrectly assessed.

Help from a psychotherapist for depression

Because self-care requires us to dedicate time to ourselves, it can be challenging for some. Many people are taught from childhood that it is selfish to put their needs above others. Feeling guilty about self-care is not uncommon, but it doesn't have to stop you. It can also be challenging to overcome thoughts that tell us that we have too many other important responsibilities to spend this precious time on ourselves. Or that there are more “productive” ways to spend our time.

Thoughts like these feed the myth that self-care and self-help are a luxury, not a necessity. The truth is that if you prioritize yourself and your needs, you are more likely to meet the needs of others and perform better at your job or other responsibilities.

It's helpful to think of self-care in analogy to an airplane's oxygen mask. When you travel by air, the flight attendant always instructs you that if the oxygen masks are deployed, you must first put on your own mask before helping someone else who cannot put it on themselves (for example, your small child). While your instinct may tell you to help the weakest first, this noble impulse puts both of your lives at risk.

While you are helping your child, you may become unconscious, leaving neither of you protected. However, if you put the mask on yourself first, even if your child loses consciousness during this time, you will have enough strength to help him by putting the mask on him or in any other way. Self-care works the same way. When you meet your needs first, you have enough resources to meet the needs of others. Accordingly, if you feel that you are in a state of depression, then you definitely need to see a psychologist or psychotherapist to help yourself first.

COST OF TREATMENT FOR MENTAL DISEASES

The duration of treatment in a hospital is from 14 to 90 days, depending on the severity of the disease.
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Signs that it's time for you to get help

Luckily, our body sends us signs when we've been neglecting our needs for too long. When the lack of psychological or self-help becomes critical, we may begin to experience the following:

• lack of energy;
• fatigue;
• unexplained physical pain;
• unexplained weight gain/loss;
• extreme stress, anger, or irritability;
• difficulty managing feelings;
• difficulty remembering or concentrating;
• panic attacks;
• poor sense of time;
• desire to spend more time alone.

As we can see, many of the consequences of psychological problems and lack of self-care or psychotherapy overlap or intensify the symptoms of depression. This is why it is so important for people with depression to take time to help themselves. It is much more difficult to pull yourself out of depression when your daily life feels like running in circles, with no time for your own health.

Clinical picture of the disease: stages of depression

The disease occurs in several stages. Without proper treatment, it becomes chronic with periodic exacerbations.

initial stage

Characterized by a general deterioration in health. Typical:

• feelings of weakness, fatigue, powerlessness;
• sleep disturbances (usually very early awakenings);
• sentimentality, tearfulness;
• a general decrease in tone, accompanied by boredom, laziness, weakness, intolerance to physical activity, blues, and an almost constant feeling of discomfort;
• weakening of the urge to communicate, emotional contact;
• desire for solitude.

One of the first, “classic” symptoms of depression is the loss of the ability to rejoice, experience pleasant emotional sensations, and the lack of desire to engage in previously favorite activities and hobbies. A person is prone to a pessimistic assessment of his capabilities and prospects.

It is extremely difficult for an outsider to recognize changes in the patient’s behavior and mood at this stage of the disease, but such changes are noticeable to relatives and family members. At this stage, there are no indications for treatment of depression in a hospital, but you should contact a specialized specialist as soon as possible.

Cyclothymic stage

Accompanied by an increase and worsening of all signs of depression. Typically:

• noticeable deterioration in well-being (headaches, tachycardia, shortness of breath, a feeling of squeezing and heaviness in the abdomen, chest, other somatovegetative manifestations);
• stiffness of movements and speech, it seems that it is difficult for the patient to find words to express his emotions, which does not have the best effect on the quality of communication;
• the appearance of obvious melancholy, vague restlessness, anxiety, but such a feeling does not persist throughout the day, but occurs periodically, and lasts on average up to half an hour;
• a feeling of shame for one’s appearance, words, actions;
• obsessive thoughts about unsuitability for work, family relationships, communication with other people.

Melancholic stage

The frequency of attacks disappears. The patient is physically exhausted, he has no desire to do anything, emotions are either absent or very poorly expressed. The picture is classic for this stage of depression: shoulders are slumped, the back is hunched, arms hang limply along the body or lie on the knees. A person sits motionless in the same place for hours (and sometimes days) without feeling hunger or thirst.

Also characteristic:

• pallor of the skin (with a bluish or grayish tint);
• excessive dryness, flaking of the skin, impaired sweating;
• shallow breathing with periodic deep breaths;
• “dry” crying (without tears);
• lack of appetite.

The patient generally appears very aged. Brittle hair and nails, rapid appearance of new wrinkles, and weight loss are noted. Men are prone to constipation, and women are prone to menstrual irregularities. Speech is very poor - the patient simply and monosyllabically answers questions addressed to him, but is not the first to start a conversation.

Without timely help for depression, there is a high probability of progression of the disease and the development of severe affective psychoses and manic delirium.

Psychological help for depression

Mental health professionals highly encourage self-care. When a client visits a psychologist, one of the stages of psychological help may be the identification of self-limiting beliefs. This process can be difficult and often requires patients to overcome habitual thought patterns or change their worldview. Practicing self-care during this time can gently help the patient challenge their beliefs, improve their self-image, and learn to set healthy boundaries that are inclusive of their best interests.

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Depression: what to do

Pathology requires an integrated approach using medications, physiotherapy and a variety of psychotherapy techniques.

Drug treatment for depression

The basis of therapy is antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). When solving the problem of how to treat depression, doctors at our clinic give preference to the latest generation of drugs, which are much less likely to cause side effects and are more suitable for long-term use.

How to Treat Depression: Outpatient and Inpatient Therapy

Hospitalization is necessary for exacerbation of a depressive episode. Often in such a state, psychomotor agitation is noted: the patient literally tears out his hair, wrings his hands, screams or moans, and can injure himself. Complications in the form of delusions with ideas of self-abasement, self-accusation, one’s own death, and ruin cannot be ruled out. Doctors often encounter hypochondriacal delusions when a person is sure that he has an incurable, severe pathology.

Treatment of depression in a hospital begins with high doses of antipsychotics and antidepressants in combination with physiotherapy and exercise therapy. This treatment regimen lasts up to several weeks and allows for a visible improvement in the patient’s condition. After this, transfer to outpatient treatment is possible. Our doctor selects the optimal dose of antidepressants and drugs to eliminate concomitant somatic diseases.

Depression: how to get rid of the disease with the help of psychotherapy

Consultations with a psychologist are an integral part of the treatment of the disorder. The specialist must understand the reasons for the development of the disease, teach the patient to experience conflict and stressful situations, express his feelings, and not withdraw into himself. The duration of a course with a psychologist for depression is not limited. Usually, a doctor is visited after completing a course of treatment for depression in a hospital to prevent relapse and monitor the effectiveness of taking prescribed medications.

Is it possible to cope with the disease at home?

Experts categorically warn against independent attempts to solve the problem of how to cure depression. This is a very serious and dangerous illness, and if you do not diagnose it in time and do not seek professional help, even suicide is not ruled out. That is why self-medication is strictly contraindicated, and even more so, the use of dubious traditional medicines, drugs with unproven clinical effectiveness.

Methods for treating depression in the clinic

To achieve the fastest and most effective results, the treatment of the disease must be approached comprehensively. The depression treatment program includes:

1. Relief of symptoms is predominantly medicinal.
2. Stabilization (consolidation of the result) - the doctor selects drugs that are best tolerated by the patient.
3. Maintenance therapy - to reduce the risk of exacerbation of the disease to a minimum, treatment should be continued until symptoms disappear completely and even longer.

To prevent the disease from returning, treatment should be continued for as long as the doctor recommends. Dosages of medications need to be increased and decreased gradually, and if a person abruptly stops taking medications, the risk of exacerbation increases many times over.

Drug therapy. The main medications are antidepressants. They relieve the main symptoms of depression: they remove melancholy, sadness and depression, improve mood, and have a positive effect on mental activity and sleep.

Modern antidepressants are effective and safe. However, they will only be like this if the drug and its dosage are selected correctly. If necessary, the doctor uses a combination of several antidepressants or adds antipsychotic (neuroleptics), sedatives or anti-anxiety (tranquilizers) drugs.

Psychotherapy and psychological assistance not only improve the effect of drug therapy, but in some cases makes it possible to treat depression without antidepressants.

Cognitive therapy for depression is widely used - the doctor identifies pathological attitudes in a person, unconscious patterns of behavior that interfere with his life, and helps to correct them. Interpersonal (aimed at social relationships and their improvement) and Gestalt therapy, individual and group, as well as many others, are also used. Depending on the situation, the most suitable option is selected.

Psychotherapy sessions for depression help:

• identify negative beliefs and replace them with positive ones;
• cope with stressful situations and other difficulties;
• improve relationships with loved ones, feel the support of others;
• identify factors that contribute to the progression of the disease and get rid of them or learn to respond correctly to them;
• control symptoms of depression and manage your mood;
• improve your mood and restore the desire to lead an active lifestyle.

Thus, in order to successfully cope with depression, professional intervention is necessary. You can find it both in government institutions and in private clinics.

Psychotherapy is the main non-drug treatment method for mental disorders.

The problem of public hospitals is their meager funding, which does not allow them to prescribe the most modern, safe and effective diagnostic and treatment measures. In addition, doctors in such hospitals are forced to work at multiple rates. A doctor can devote very little time to one patient, not to mention a full course of individual psychotherapy.

Fortunately, you can always go to a private clinic, where experienced specialists treat you according to world standards - they use modern methods and have an individual approach to each patient. A psychotherapist must receive a good education (not only graduate from a university, but also take additional training courses). But most eloquently are the grateful reviews from patients.

Manifestations

Depressive manifestations as such can be a natural, timely reaction to unfavorable events in life that do not depend on a person’s will, in the case of, for example, the death of loved ones, loss of a job, or witnessing negative events (violence, military conflict, discrimination, etc.) or participation in them.

Some patients are characterized by pessimistic beliefs about their low social significance and a distorted perception of their achievements towards underestimation. As a rule, this is associated with beliefs that arise in childhood and are activated in adulthood as a result of certain experiences that gave impetus to the onset of a depressive state. In such cases, there is a constant distortion of events, inadequate perception of events based on random conclusions, a desire for a hypothetical absolute and a refusal to consider a compromise, conformal option.

Depression can also be observed in numerous somatic diseases: neurological, endocrine and others (viral, pulmonary, etc.), atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, vitamin deficiencies, neoplasms, Alzheimer’s disease, influenza, as well as in traumatic brain injuries, in case of malfunction of the body or as a side effect of treatment and use of medications, sleeping pills.

Even in ancient medicine, cases of melancholy were known, the symptoms of which are recognizable in the modern understanding of depressive mental disorder (its seasonality, dependence on weather, sunlight, etc.). Both with pronounced depression and with its implicit form, a person loses interest and the will to live, to actively realize life, self-esteem drops sharply, and a period of constant depression and apathy sets in. Often, in search of a way out of this condition, a person turns to alcohol abuse and/or psychotropic drugs, which in turn leads to worsening depressive disorder.

There are effective pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic methods for treating depression, but the variety of its manifestations and factors leading to it, the very attitude towards “bad mood” in society, the habit of controlling one’s emotions make it difficult to diagnose it in a timely manner: patients do not report symptoms of depression and are prejudiced against depression. prescription of antidepressants and are afraid of side effects from their use. But only a timely diagnosis made by a doctor can stop the process and prevent further development of depression into a severe form.

Limitations of psychological methods when working with depressed patients

Now there is an opinion that a psychologist can solve many problems and depression is one of them.

In some cases, this specialist is indeed able to provide assistance. This applies to emotional and mood disorders.

The main psychological methods of influencing the patient are conversation, the use of special methods of psychocorrection, conducting tests, trainings, consultations, etc.

For diseases of the nervous system, severe reactions to various situations, or seasonal depression, these methods can be of good help. However, such a specialist does not have the right to carry out drug treatment.

Outpatient program

We work with patients until they fully recover. Treatment of depression by a psychiatrist in our medical center does not imply spontaneous actions, but the systematic elimination of symptoms and causes of depression. After a hospital stay, work does not stop. The patient continues to take medications and attend doctor's consultations. There are patients who, for certain reasons, do not want to go to hospital; for them, the outpatient treatment format will be an excellent solution in the treatment of depression.

How can we help?

Our clinic, near the Eastern Administrative District of Moscow, in Reutov, employs specialists who have extensive experience in treating mental disorders. We use the most modern and advanced techniques, guided by the principles of evidence-based medicine. Effective assistance and confidentiality of information constituting medical confidentiality are guaranteed.