What is depression? What does it mean to be depressed? How to cope with depression? Depressed (depressed) state: why it arises and how to cope with it I was in a state of spirit broken and depressed.

Depression- state of low mood.

Depression has many synonyms and words that reflect a similar state. The most common is depression. Actually, the term depression comes from the Latin deprimo, which means “to suppress”, “to crush”.

Other synonyms for depression: prostration, melancholy, apathy, grief, melancholy, despondency, depression, dejection, gloomy, despondent, etc.

Causes of depression and depression

From the point of view of helping a person in a state of depression and for developmental reasons, experts distinguish three types of depressed mood:

1. Depression as a reaction to external unpleasant events.

• due to receiving negative information that is traumatic to the psyche. For example, news about a serious illness or death of a loved one, news about the start of a war, about some kind of loss, about a threat to oneself, etc.
• a long-lasting psychological conflict between the desired and the actual.
• a consequence of overload of the nervous system in the form of prolonged stress or a series of excessive psychological trauma, lack of sleep, malnutrition, exhaustion due to internal diseases.
• bad weather.

2. Depression is a manifestation of the disease DEPRESSION. Depression as a painful condition is characterized by decreased mood, loss of the ability to receive pleasure, pessimism, low self-esteem with feelings of guilt and other symptoms.

3. Depression is a manifestation of other mental disorders, such as:

• encephalopathy (consequences of organic damage to the central nervous system);
• anxiety disorders: phobias, obsessions, panic attacks;
• psychosomatic diseases: asthma attacks, irritable bowel syndrome, weight gain (or loss), hypertension, eczema, palpitations, etc.;
• addictions (alcohol, drugs, smoking, gambling, etc.), especially during the initial period of abstinence from use (maintenance of sobriety);
• asthenic syndrome, neurasthenia.

Separately, it should be said that psychiatrists distinguish among mentally healthy people a group of people who have a kind of predisposition to depression.

These are the owners of such personality traits as decreased sociability and activity, hypochondria (exaggeration of health problems), dissatisfaction with current events and with oneself, difficulty making choices due to increased suspiciousness, pessimism and a skeptical attitude towards everything.

These character traits have been observed since childhood and can intensify during periods of hormonal changes in the body. For such people, a low mood level is a kind of norm. The development of depressive conditions requiring medical attention occurs more often in them than in others.

What to do if you start to feel depressed

If this is a one-time temporary condition that does not in any way affect your behavior and ability to work, then you should not pay attention to it, look for something you can switch to and the depression will go away on its own.

Most likely, the cause of such a depressed state is an external factor (stress, psychological trauma, overwork, etc.) and therefore this is a normal mental reaction that does not require treatment.

If a depressed mood lasts more than a few days, has arisen for no apparent external reason and is affecting your activities (productivity has decreased, too much stress is required to achieve normal results, absences from work or school), then you should seek help from a specialist, since, more likely, All in all, this is already a painful condition.

How to help someone who is depressed

Offer your help, try to assess the cause of suffering yourself and assess whether you need to wait out this condition or require the help of a doctor.

In some cases, you can “escape from depression” by switching to another problem or changing your attitude; in other cases, you should, on the contrary, search and think about this topic.

Don't leave him alone with you. Be persistent if you are faced with refusal to see a specialist when your condition worsens.

Sleep disturbance and weight loss are critical indicators for arranging a consultation with a specialist. Alcohol is a bad and dangerous way to help when you feel depressed or depressed.

Techniques used for depression

1. Psychological: support, empathy and help in solving current problems from others, “compassion”, relaxation using autogenic training or similar techniques, change of environment (vacation or time off, travel, temporary relocation);
2. Physical: water treatments (cold shower in the morning, warm bath in the evening), intense and regular physical activity, sound sleep for at least 8 hours, provided you fall asleep before midnight;
3. Medical (only as prescribed by a doctor): pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, diet therapy, sleep deprivation, etc.

Who can help with depression

With mild depression, any loved one who is capable of empathy can help. Or a psychologist who knows techniques to help cope with depression.

If it is clear that depression has painful features, then you should consult a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

Symptoms that may indicate that depression has turned into depression and a doctor is needed:

• anxiety, apathy, melancholy without external reasons;
• low self-esteem;
• suicidal thoughts;
• sleep disturbance: insomnia, lack of feeling of sleep, early awakenings, daytime drowsiness;
• diurnal mood swings: worsening in the morning and relief in the evening;
• loss of appetite and weight loss. Or vice versa, a strong craving for food;
• physical signs of depression: feeling of a lump in the throat, heaviness in the chest, internal trembling, palpitations and shortness of breath, diarrhea or constipation

There is no most effective method or best cure for depression. Each person and case requires its own unique “tools” to combat the state of depression.

Help with depression at the ROSA clinic

1. We work around the clock, seven days a week.
2. Convenient location near the metro, parking available.
3. We accept on first request.
4. Experienced and sensitive specialists: psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists.
5. Modern methods of studying the psyche and nervous system.
6. If necessary, treatment in your own comfortable hospital.
7. We achieve results in a short time.

Depression is a state of mind that is accompanied by sadness, bad mood, and lack of desire to do something. There may be several reasons for depression: an unresolved conflict, strong anxiety about an upcoming important event, bad weather, a quarrel with loved ones.

The clinic's specialists will help solve this problem. Treatment usually does not take long. Call! Make an appointment! We will definitely help!

What to do if you're feeling depressed

It is important not to run away from depression, but to find its causes and resolve the issues that provoked the appearance of such a state of mind. Depression is one of your body's reactions to unknown or uncontrollable events. Usually, before this, a person made a lot of effort and struggled, including with himself, until he came to despair. To begin to rise, you must first of all feel sorry for yourself. And so hard that you could cry. And then you need to remember that depression, apathy, grief, depression have a destructive effect on your body, soul and youth. Get scared and start looking for a loophole for recovery.

And get angry: how could you bring yourself to such a state! Start walking, stomping your feet and swearing. And also remember those people who once hurt and annoyed you and shout at them, mentally imagining them nearby. You must climb the ladder of emotional tones gradually, without getting ahead or skipping a single step. It is better to do this with an experienced psychotherapist.

Anyone can experience depression or depression.

It is important to remember that there are specialists who can help you deal with your problems. Don't hesitate to contact them.

Psychological depression

New events and changes are not always welcome and pleasant. As a result, fear of change may arise and depression may appear. It can be a natural reaction to unwanted events if it accompanies a person for a short time. If it is not possible to achieve your goal or implement your plans, frustration often develops. Frustration also appears when you lose valuable things or loved ones. When a person's stamina cannot withstand change, a depressed state develops. If you do not visit a psychologist at such a moment, depression can easily develop into depression or apathy.

Emotional depression

The inability to express your emotions can be the cause of emotional depression and general poor health. Did your parents or other important adults tell you phrases as a child: “calm down”, “stop crying, you’re already an adult”, “stop hysterics, otherwise I’ll get your belt”, forbade you to show your emotions? If yes, then you shouldn’t be surprised at your current state of mind. Despite the fact that you are already an adult, your parental “installations” still operate, causing emotional depression. Of course, you shouldn't blame your parents for raising you wrong. They did it the way they knew how. We often learn how to behave in crisis situations and react to them in our parental family. In some families, there is a ban on the expression of certain emotions. For example, anger or fear. And under any stress, a person has to collapse into grief or depression. There are families and work groups where even rejoicing and laughing loudly is forbidden, and enthusiasm is simply suppressed.

In this situation, it is important to understand: accusations and regrets will only worsen the current state of affairs. You need to accept what happened and work to ensure that your emotions learn to be “friends” with you. Then you can get rid of emotional depression. How can you tell if you have this condition?

How do you behave in difficult situations? If you have emotions in response to unexpected changes and you know how to express them creatively, without harm to yourself or others, then you are “friends” with your emotions. If in a difficult situation you do not feel any emotions or lose control over them, then you will have to find a “common language” with them. And then emotional depression and poor mental health will not interfere with your life.

Inner depression

There may be several reasons for such a state: unpleasant events in life, loss of loved ones, failures in important matters, suppressed emotions, inability to understand oneself and one’s feelings. Internal depression is accompanied by: bad mood, a persistent desire to run away from everyone and, above all, from oneself.

If you have one or even several of these signs, you don’t need to wait for everything to resolve itself. Contact a psychologist or psychotherapist who will help you get rid of inner depression and regain the ability to enjoy life.

How to deal with depression

To get rid of this unpleasant condition, you need to use two effective methods: contacting a psychologist, psychotherapist and working on yourself independently, using the advice of a professional.

“Are you looking for someone to give you a helping hand? Remember that you already have two hands,” - author of the positive psychotherapy method Nossrat Pezeshkian.

A specialist will help you find the reasons for the development of such a state of mind and select the best methods to get rid of depression. Your task in this case is to follow all instructions and regularly work on yourself.

Don't expect depression to go away on its own. This condition may signal the development of serious illnesses (mental or somatic). Contact a specialist today. And tomorrow you will feel better.

Treatment of depression

The development of a depressed state is not always caused by psychological factors. Sometimes this mental well-being is provoked by mental and physical illnesses, as well as organic changes in the brain. Thus, long-term infections, debilitating chronic diseases, acute or everyday stress leading to a decrease in serotonin, hormonal changes and vitamin deficiency can cause bad mood, the development of depression and even depression without any adverse external events.

Getting rid of an unpleasant mental state includes:

• psychotherapy;
• psychocorrection of mood;
• drug treatment.

Drugs and medications for depression

After consultation, the clinic’s specialists will be able to prescribe a course of treatment. And, if necessary, they will select antidepressants, tranquilizers, vitamins and other drugs to treat depression. They will also prescribe the necessary examination and tests to identify the cause of depression.

Treatment of depression in the clinic

The clinic employs doctors, psychologists and rehabilitation specialists with extensive experience in treating various psychological problems and mental disorders. uses different methods of treating depression, and specialists prescribe an individual course for each client. The range of techniques used by the clinic’s psychotherapists and psychiatrists includes:

• drug treatment (antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.);
• psychotherapeutic techniques;
• massage;

Our psychologists, psychotherapists or, if necessary, the clinic’s psychiatrists will help you get rid of depression. An integrated approach to treatment will help you solve your mental problems, cope with difficult life situations, find harmony and mental comfort. Here you will find support and assistance that will return you the joy of a full life and help you solve the issues that concern you.

If you have psychological discomfort, you cannot get rid of a bad mood on your own, you are depressed or frustrated, contact our clinic. We will help you regain peace of mind and find joy in life.

When depression strikes, people feel trapped in a way that cuts them off from their familiar environment, thus preventing them from responding appropriately and interacting with others. Typical complaints for people in this state are loss of joy in life, sadness, guilt and worthlessness. They experience - loss of energy and interest, sleep disturbances, disturbances in appetite and weight, impaired sense of time, no desire to communicate with other people, as a result of which family relationships are destroyed, as well as personal and social connections, as a rule, fail, so how a person feels insecure in all areas of life, and sometimes is unable to get out of his confinement, or this is given to him through very great efforts on himself, which depends on the degree of the state of oppression.

Since written sources have existed, there have been indications that people have suffered from depression at all times. Back in the 8th century BC, Homer described depressive suffering in the Illiad. He told how Bellerophon wandered aimlessly and moaned in anguish and despair:

He wandered around the Aleysky field, alone,

Gnawing at my heart, running away from the traces of a person...

The so-called notes of Hippocrates say that if fear and sadness last for a long time, we can talk about a melancholic state. The ancient Greeks called mental pain “melancholy”, that is, black bile; in the Middle Ages, its name was Acedia and was understood as lethargy and laziness; with the advent of natural science medicine in the 19th century, the term depression began to strengthen and was understood as depression. The changes that occur in a state of melancholia or depression are basically comparable, and it is certain that the depressive experience has always existed.

Let's talk about some aspects accompanying the state of depression. And let's start with sadness.

Many people are familiar with the feeling of sadness. Not everyone understands a person's deep, lasting, incapacitating sadness. A depressed state, when he feels like a “living lemon”, and tears - healing for ordinary sadness - dry before his eyes before they can be shed. The onset of a depressed state and its companion sadness can be due to various reasons: the loss of a significant person, possession or status, in the way we attach meaning to our concepts, feelings, ideals and circumstances, in the feeling of lack or loss of positive emotions such as love, self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction, in feelings of deprivation, pessimism and self-criticism. Although sadness is a normal and healthy response to any setback and is common, sadness that does not improve over time is pathological. People who experience normal sadness are usually able to talk about it, know why they are sad, and still have hope that the sadness will dissipate. Depression occurs when normal metabolism is absent or significantly weakened.

Immediately following sadness is “loss of joy,” “inability to enjoy,” “lack of pleasure.” Depressed people become more and more incapable of enjoying. This, as a rule, is reflected in their relationships primarily with relatives, hobbies become boring, the perception of art and music, which they previously enjoyed, loses its attractiveness, the world of nature and sounds is deprived of diversity. This causes them anxiety, they know that the joy is gone, but cannot understand where and how to get it back, the fact that a person does not find pleasure in things or people leads him or her to emotional alienation from activities and people who would normally would stimulate her. The deep sense of isolation that comes with being depressed usually makes communication difficult and becomes a burden. In cases of severe depression, a person is consumed by feelings of guilt and worthlessness: “I am worthless,” “the world is meaningless,” “the future is hopeless.” Minor offenses and omissions can be magnified into huge violations of moral standards, that is, when depressed, our normal feelings of doubt become exaggerated.

Also, in a depressed state, self-esteem suffers. Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels valuable, worthy, and competent. Low self-esteem is most often accompanied by feelings of unhappiness, anger, a sense of threat, fatigue, withdrawal, tension, frustration, a sense of coercion, conflict and inhibition. There is a strong connection between parental warmth, acceptance, respect, and an explicit set of boundaries and positive self-esteem in children. We can say that people with high self-esteem have loving parents, while people with low self-esteem have unloving ones. People who have low self-esteem or evaluation of others tend to immediately feel helpless or hopeless in the face of loss.

When a person begins to slip, getting stuck in a state of inexhaustible sadness, sadness, lack of joy in life, loss of interest, of course, a warm atmosphere of understanding and support in the family is a great help, but also important and necessary is the professional help of a psychotherapist who will help find the lost time. that's joy.

Depression as a rhythm disorder

From research in the field of depression it is known that its characteristic signs are that mental and speech activity, as well as the ability of a person to act in a state of depression, become inhibited. But it has also been established that in a state of depression the rhythm of sleep also changes.

It is known that in the state of sleep there are two types of its activation, which are fundamentally different from each other. One of them is “slow sleep”, which, in contrast to the waking state, does not show any patterns of rapid arousal, and depending on the depth of sleep, is characterized by more or less slow waves on the EEG. The second type of sleep is the so-called “paradoxical sleep,” which, according to the pattern of brain biocurrents, is close to the state of wakefulness, although the sleeper did not wake up and did not change his posture. Previously, dreams were attributed to this phase of sleep, also commonly called the REM phase.

EEG recordings made during depression show a reduction in the period of slow-wave sleep, and especially its deep phase, and in parallel a large number of periods of wakefulness appear. These findings reflect, in the language of electroencephalography, the precise sensation of shallow, interrupted sleep in depressed patients. Even more revealing are the changes in “paradoxical sleep.” On the one hand, this type of sleep, which is close to the waking state, occurs more often in people who are depressed. However, it is distributed over time differently than in healthy people. The first stage of REM sleep usually occurs approximately 70-110 minutes after falling asleep. For people who are depressed, this time is sharply reduced and ranges from 20 to 60 minutes. This phenomenon is observed so frequently that it is actually a reliable indicator of depression. In contrast, this phenomenon does not occur in people who, without being depressed, suffer from insomnia or only show mild depressive mood changes for a short time.

And so, as a result of studies conducted using an electroencephalogram, it was found that a healthy person sleeps deeply at the beginning of the night, and REM sleep appears no earlier than an hour and a half later. And the predominant part of REM sleep occurs in the second half of the night, when sleep becomes more superficial. In a depressed person, on the contrary, REM sleep begins within half an hour after falling asleep and lasts for a long time. There is no deep sleep for most of the night. Hormonal secretion in a person in a state of depression is significantly altered: the increase in cortisol secretion in depression is earlier than in a healthy person, while growth hormone, which in a healthy person is secreted mainly at the beginning of the night, is sharply reduced. In conclusion, it can be noted that rhythm disturbances undoubtedly remain one of the main biological signs of people in a state of depression. Due to the lack of deep sleep, the load on the body as a whole increases, since a person in a depressed state is forced to stay awake longer, and thus is knocked out of the usual rhythm of life. Such an overwhelming load, in people who are depressed, leads to an increased release of the stress hormone cortisol.

Svetlana Fomina

Depression reduces the strength and power of energy in contact in relationships with other people. As if the neck is tilted uncomfortably.

The feeling of depression concentrates a large amount of energy necessary for development. I think that in this case, development is the fear of change. Readiness for change - and depression - is the conservation and accumulation of energy for change.

I muffle my depression by shrinking more internally.

I want to relax. To be physically and sensually aware of the manifestation of this feeling in me.

I feel depressed when I am taken by surprise by any news, fact, or event that does not fit into my picture of the world. I am not ready to defend myself in any way or do anything to oppose this.

I realize that there are flaws in my line of defense unknown to me that can be used or have already been taken advantage of to harm me. I'm scared or disgusted. I'm shrinking internally and preparing for the worst. I am ready to live this feeling, because it is natural and, as a rule, not destructive for me.

But I don’t want to live it, because... it is often associated with fear or disappointment, which makes me sad. This feeling tells me that something is wrong in my life or in the lives of people close to me.

I don’t suppress depression and I don’t run away from it. It turns out that it is easier for me to experience feelings that are associated with other living people, and not just my own internal feelings and sensations.

Sometimes I cultivate this feeling in myself with far-fetched dangers that may threaten me or my loved ones. Then I try to prevent all the bad things that can be prevented.

I readily admit to others because they treat me less critically when they know that something has upset me greatly or that I am depressed about something. I myself am often not aware of my depression; at such moments I most often experience a mixture of feelings, of which the most obvious are fear or anger, which drown out everything else.

I want to live with hope.

Depression is like a heavy concrete slab.

It is usually caused by a feeling of guilt or inferiority, or worsened complexes, in general - a devaluation of what I have.

I want to experience this feeling, because it makes it possible to understand the reason for my depression and by thinking, I can solve the problem.

I don’t want to, because this feeling weighs me down and doesn’t give me the opportunity to simply enjoy life and accept myself.

I escape from the state of depression through self-flagellation, and cultivate this state through the devaluation of everything I have.

I just want to live. I accept that sometimes my depression is only related to my problems. Accordingly, work is needed with acceptance of myself, as I am. Prayer and communication with the Sun brings me to my senses and gratitude brings me back to life.

When I am depressed, my thoughts do not coincide with reality, and my possibilities do not coincide with desire.

Whether I want it or not, I have to live this feeling. It actively manifests itself at the physiological level, a feeling as if there is no strength, neurons in the brain are running slowly, it’s hard to move. The state of my soul is clear from the expression on my face.

I don't see anything useful in this state. And I think that we need to change our attitude towards what is happening, because in this state we no longer have the strength to change what is happening.

I don't run away from depression. You truly experience this feeling.

I always admit it to myself, but my loved ones see and understand everything. But for people with whom there is no spiritual closeness or trust, I consider it unnecessary to report their condition and mood. Although this is not always easy to do.

It can be difficult to change your attitude, you have to switch your attention and recharge yourself with a positive attitude from feelings, friends, and events. I understand that time heals. And I really want to learn how to cope faster.

Daily stressful situations, lack of sleep, vitamins and sunlight can provoke the appearance of a depressed psychological state in every person, regardless of his age.

Types of depressed mental state

1. Emotional. You shouldn't blame a person for not showing his emotions one bit. After all, it is possible that now in life he is experiencing emotional depression. The nature of this condition is hidden even in childhood. There is a category of parents who tell their baby day after day: “Why are you crying? Who are you like now? What are these for? As a result, the absence of emotional manifestations is considered the norm.
2. Interior. Suddenly the ability to enjoy life is lost. This may be caused by the loss of a loved one, failure in matters vital for a person. In addition, all this is accompanied by the desire to hide from the outside world, from oneself.
3. Psychological. A depressed depressed state can be evidence of fear for one’s own life, fear that nothing will be achieved in life, fear that what was planned will never happen.

Depressed, depressed, depressed state - how to deal with it?

There is always a way out. First of all, you need to work on your own “I”. You should not expect this condition to go away without anyone's help. Unfortunately, it can develop into something more, harmful. Thus, the great psychologist A. Adler always told his students: “If you want to get rid of a depressed state, blues, despondency, you need to remind yourself every day that you want to please someone.” What causes you to feel depressed? Constantly thinking about yourself