Traditional medicine

Get rid of long-term depression. How I recovered from post-psychotic depression

Lyubov Ivanova

Reading time: 8 minutes

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Depression is a mental condition in which people feel depressed and depressed. It is often accompanied by a loss of interest in life. It's no surprise that depression is confused with low mood. Let's look at how to get rid of depression yourself at home.

I will list the first signs and symptoms of depression. This knowledge will be useful in life.

Indifference to current events, as in a midlife crisis after 40 years in men.
Lack of reaction to sad and happy news.
Constant sleepiness, regardless of the amount of time spent in bed.
Lack of feelings of fear, joy, love, loneliness.
Fatigue, inattention, inability to concentrate and absent-mindedness.
Poor appetite.
Loss of interest in hobbies, hobbies and activities that used to lift your spirits.
Thoughts about suicide.

If such signs are observed, it is worth starting the fight against depression. In such cases, it is recommended to consult a doctor, since advanced depression is a serious illness.

The doctor will recommend antidepressants - drugs that normalize the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the body. As a result, the condition accompanying the disease will disappear for a while.

Effective ways to combat depression on your own

If the depressive state is not clinical in nature, you can get rid of the disease on your own. Let's look at simple but effective ways to combat depression.

Adrenaline rush . Only powerful emotions can break through depression. Calls them an extreme activity that helps shake up the soul and body.
Communication. When you are depressed, you have no desire to communicate. People isolate themselves, do not leave their homes and do nothing. Communication with people will help you not to fall into the abyss. If you strive to restore your life, do not neglect communication.
No complaints or whining . Contrary to the previous point, you should complain to loved ones less often. By constantly talking about a problem, attention is concentrated on it, which negatively affects the body.
Thought filtering . The point is similar to the previous one, but concerns self-talk. Bad thoughts make the situation worse. It is difficult not to think about the problem, direct your thoughts in a positive direction. Forget about bad situations and events.
Watching TV series . When you're depressed, even New Year's movies are indifferent. Instead, switch to watching TV series. So repress your worries by concentrating on the plot of the picture. You can find dozens of TV series of different genres that are addictive and bring back interest in life.
Outdoor recreation . Mother Nature is ready to help the inhabitants of the planet. Go on a picnic with friends or go for a walk alone. Even if it's winter outside, go skiing or sledding.
Experiments with appearance . Change your look, change your hairstyle and update your wardrobe. With depression, a person’s appearance is the last thing that interests them, but external transformation will make life easier.
Change of scenery . An unfavorable environment contributes to depression. Change it by any means.
Sport. For a mild case, physical activity is sufficient. If depression is advanced, you cannot do without physical exhaustion. Force yourself to pump up your muscles and exercise.
Fortitude. Without it, the tips listed are ineffective. When you're depressed, you don't want to do anything, but try. Regardless of how you feel, lead an active life.

Video tips

If the above methods of dealing with depression do not help, seek professional help from a psychologist. Don’t be shy or afraid, anyone can find themselves in this situation. Keep your health at the forefront, especially when it comes to your psyche.

How to overcome depression and anxiety

Many people suffer from depression because life is not easy. If you are tired of fatigue, sadness and lack of pleasure, following the recommendations, you will return to a normal lifestyle, find happiness and joy. The depression that was preventing this will evaporate.

Remember your childhood, when after the next injection you received something tasty. Sweets will also help in the fight against depression, as they are involved in the production of the happiness hormone. Buy a cake, prepare a sponge cake or drink hot tea while sitting in a chair. Such a pastime will charge you with strength and a great mood.
You can also get a portion of the happiness hormone through physical activity. Go to the gym or go for a run outside. This will lift your spirits and get your muscles in order.
Shopping helps in the fight against anxiety and depression. Even if you don't have money for shopping, go shopping with your loved one, try on a few outfits and have fun.
Find someone to talk to. If you can't do it, get a dog. A pet needs care. By devoting time to your pet, you will forget about problems and misfortunes.
After vigorous and active sexual intercourse, the body will be filled with energy, and the mood will rise to the skies.
If the above methods are ineffective, go to a doctor who will prescribe antidepressants. Contrary to the name, the drugs have proven themselves to be excellent in the fight against anxiety.
Don't ignore psychotherapy. Many psychotherapeutic techniques have been developed that will identify and eliminate the causes of anxious behavior and thinking. When you're depressed, the world seems scary and dark. Therapy will fix this.
To combat feelings of panic and anxiety, use special remedies prescribed by your doctor.
In some cases, additional medications are taken to stabilize mood and behavior. Psychologists recommend medications that normalize sleep.

Regardless of the methods and medications used to combat anxiety, eat right and adhere to a work-rest schedule. Don’t forget, you won’t be able to solve the problem with drugs and alcohol.

Physical activity is considered the ideal weapon against depression. It improves your mood and brings the moment of victory over the disease closer. Focus on exercises that relax you emotionally. We are talking about yoga and breathing exercises.

Everyone knows the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but not everyone has the willpower to change their life. Don’t delay, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle will significantly alleviate the symptoms and consequences of the disease.

How to overcome depression and loneliness

Depression coupled with loneliness is a psychological illness that leads to physiological problems. If you strive for a normal life, first of all overcome the disease.

Let's consider useful advice from psychologists, techniques and recommendations that will help get rid of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Do-it-yourself techniques do not involve the use of medications that can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Immerse yourself in work . To cope with loneliness, immerse yourself in work, giving it your all. Clear your mind through hard work. Count on results if the work brings joy and pleasure.
Communicate with people . Communication is the key to success. It's better if you find a job related to communication. As a result, you will be able to earn money and solve the problem at the same time. By constantly communicating, you will forget about loneliness.
Set a goal . To combat depression, create a dream or set a goal that will take years to achieve. Small goals contribute to depression and loneliness. Along with your dream, you will receive an incentive to take action.
Value yourself. Many people fail to overcome depression and loneliness because they do not value themselves and their work. Having done something big, they take on something more significant, without attaching much importance to the previous achievement. As a result, they do not find the happiness that lives inside.
Become an optimist . Only an optimist can set a goal and achieve it despite obstacles and obstacles. If you are afraid of everything, life will become gray and meaningless. What kind of mood and what motivations can we talk about in this case?
Find a hobby . Your favorite activity will also help you shed the shackles of loneliness. By doing something interesting, you will get positive emotions and a lot of joy. If you don't have something you love, look for it.
Take your free time . Constant employment is considered a good remedy against adversity. Lonely people who have a lot of free time suffer from depression. The situation is aggravated by fatigue and nervous tension.
Plan your day . Make a schedule for the week and keep a diary. Make lists of tasks for the day or week. As a result, you will never have problems with what to do.
Read. Books will help you become happy and successful. Buy them at a bookstore.
Watch movies . By watching movies or educational programs, get closer to your goal. The main thing is that they do not affect the psyche and do not aggravate loneliness.
Start a family . Living alone is boring and leads to depression. If you are single, start a family. Believe me, family problems and responsibilities will not let you get bored. If a child appears, life will sparkle with care and fun.
Grow Spiritually . Get outdoors as often as possible. Constantly staying within four walls will not lead to good things. Several times a day, go for a short walk along the city streets. Your health will improve.
Listen to music . Make sure there is music playing in the house. You don't have to follow musical fashion. The main thing is that you like the compositions and promote “relaxation”.
Don't regret the past . It doesn't matter what happened before, the future is more important. By choosing this approach, you will get rid of stress, loneliness and anxiety, despondency and other psychological diseases that ruin your life.

By applying the tips in practice, you will get results. Use them not separately, but in combination.

According to statistics, about one hundred million people in the world suffer from depression. Russia occupies one of the leading positions in the spread of the disease. What is the reason? Bad environment? Fast pace of life? Lack of rest? I don't think that's the issue. Many people have a stable immunity to the disease. Therefore, the listed factors have nothing to do with it. The origins of the disease lie deeper.

Why does depression occur?

During many years of work with a large number of patients, doctors identified several factors contributing to the appearance of the disorder. They become the impetus for the appearance of harbingers of the disease. Among them:

Loss of a loved one.
Severe somatic illness.
Constant conflicts.
Mental disorders.
Violence.
Hereditary factors.
Uncontrolled use of drugs.
Dependencies.
Life situations of high complexity.

Life cannot be called easy, but depression does not always appear. Many people cope with difficult situations and are not afraid of life stages. But there are also individuals who give up at the sight of difficulties. They are the ones who are susceptible to depression, accompanied by social, physiological and depressive manifestations.

The main cause of depressive disorder is a person’s destructive worldview. At the same time, he has the wrong attitude and exists in disharmony with the world around him. Such a person is not able to solve problems and does not have the resources necessary for adaptation. The root cause of depression lies in the mental area of a person.

To successfully combat the disease, it is not the massive absorption of antidepressants that is required, but the search and elimination of the cause of the disorder. Only this approach helps fight depression. Psychotherapeutic techniques are most effective.

According to psychologists, the success of treatment depends on the patient’s wishes, but the doctor’s qualification level is also important. Only a few care about health. The information I will give below will force people who neglect their health to change their position. I’ll tell you why it is recommended to fight depression.

Thanks to psychotherapeutic techniques, it is possible to overcome adversity at any stage of development. In the early stages, treatment is faster. Any symptom, be it severe pain or lack of mood, acts as a signal from the body for help. If the signals are ignored, this will lead to dire consequences, including suicide. According to statistics, every tenth person suffering from severe depressive disorder decides to commit suicide.

Fortunately, it doesn’t always end this way. Most often, psychological and physical health disorders appear, problems arise in personal and family life, and professional activities.

Life has lost its colors and there is no incentive to continue it.

There is dull sadness in my soul and there is no mood to do anything.

Even the upcoming holidays do not bring joy.

If you experience such feelings, it is depression.

But there is no need to confuse a depressed state and just a bad mood.

Depression is a truly serious illness, which in especially severe cases leads to suicide.

A few facts:

More than 350 million people around the world suffer from depressive disorders.
45-60% of all suicides are committed in a depressed state.
Every year, 150 million people become unable to work due to depression.
Only 3% of people are not prone to depression. The rest are experiencing it now, have been exposed to it in the past, or are at risk of getting it in the future.

Therefore, you should not treat it with disdain. Let's figure out together what it is, and How can you get rid of depression on your own?

Signs of depression:

Apathy, lack of purpose in life and loss of meaning
Obsessing with negative thoughts
Drowsiness or vice versa insomnia
Lack of emotions, reaction to what is happening
Loss of appetite
Increased fatigue, decreased ability to concentrate

Mental pain brings no less suffering than physical pain. But we feel pain not because it exists, but because we feel that way about it.

Pain itself only carries a signal that something is wrong. And the way we perceive this pain brings us great suffering.

We cannot accept calmly that we have pain and what thoughts arise at the same time - this is suffering.

Stop the cycle of life

Some people do not attach much importance to their long-term state of depression. They think that everything will go away on its own.

And they continue their normal lives until depression worsens to such an extent that thoughts of suicide appear and the person completely loses the desire to live.

Naturally, doing this is to your own detriment. Therefore, the best solution would be to give yourself a break at the first signs of depression.

Stop spinning like a squirrel in a wheel and think about the current situation.

The problem will not go away on its own. And turning a blind eye to it, hiding your head in the sand is not a solution. This way you are only prolonging your suffering.

Let go of negative experiences and resentments

Carrying a load of accumulated grievances with you is a mistake that many make. Its consequences greatly spoil life.

Therefore, it is worth working hard on yourself to get rid of this habit. At first it will seem very difficult.

But, if you don’t give up before the first difficulties, you will soon experience unprecedented lightness. There are many ways and meditations on how to let go of negativity.

This is the first rule of all successful people in life. After all, they have a rich life, not only with good events, but also with negative ones.

The ability to not focus on painful situations, on the fact that someone behaved inappropriately with you is an excellent quality.

You don’t need to think that these are manifestations of weak will, disrespect for yourself, or inability to stand up for yourself.

In fact, the ability to forget negativity speaks of the strength of character and spiritual growth of a person.

Case from practice:

I decided to see a psychologist after the death of my daughter. It was not possible to get out of despondency and tearing melancholy on my own.

I was literally crushed and nailed to the ground, unable to build a further life. A feeling of guilt filled me from the inside, it seemed that all other emotions simply ceased to exist for me.

Relatives began to sound the alarm, and I decided to make an appointment with a psychologist. This was the last hope. To my surprise, after a few treatments I felt much better.

I began to enjoy good weather and other pleasant events. Only after several months of such work was I able to breathe easy and start making plans. Of course, the pain disappeared completely, but I learned a very important thing - to live with this pain, and not to exist painfully.

Benefit from the healing powers of meditation

The way the human brain and consciousness are structured is that various thoughts are constantly spinning in our heads, which sometimes haunt us. Especially when a lot of problems piled up.

But these thoughts are of no use. Thus, we still won’t be able to solve anything. But driving yourself to psychosis with vivid pictures of what bad things can happen is quite possible.

Therefore, it would be good if there were fewer of these useless thoughts. In this case, our peace of mind will be complemented by good concentration and, as a result, ability to work.

The best way to get rid of obsessive thoughts and become calmer is meditation.

Don't think that only yogis in the mountains can meditate. This can easily be done by an ordinary person. Meditation is concentration on something. These can be various mantras.

The easiest way to meditate is to concentrate on your breathing and ignore the thoughts that arise.

Start using this technique for 15-20 minutes in the morning and evening and in a month you will already feel how you will change, find peace and balance.

Get rid of negative energy

If a lot of anger has accumulated inside, you need to throw it out. Perhaps you are angry at your spouse or other relatives, work colleagues, or the whole world in general.

These emotions will not make you feel any better. There are 2 ways to get rid of them.

Find a deserted place, for example, in a forest or park and start screaming loudly, with all the strength and anger that you have inside.
If you have a punching bag or a person to box with, then you can use this method.

Do a general cleaning of the house, throw away unnecessary things

Someone may ask: how will this help me get rid of depression? It's very simple. Trash and untidy space subconsciously pushes a person to waste and in his soul, an unwillingness to change internally. When the apartment is in order, our thoughts and state of mind also come into order.

Review your wardrobe and other things. There will probably be a lot of things there that you haven’t used for a long time. If it’s a shame to just throw it away, you can sell it, give it to friends or people in need.

Don't abuse alcohol

Such temporary distractions from the problem as alcohol, cigarettes, casual relationships with the opposite sex will not help in solving it.

This will only save you from yourself for a short period of time and make you forget about depression. But then she will return with renewed vigor.

Plus, on top of everything else, there will be a hangover and other harmful effects on the body.

In the case of a relationship with the opposite sex for a sexual affair, in addition to emptiness in your soul, you also run the risk of running into a person with bad energy. Which will further worsen your condition.

Say no to loneliness, but choose the right people to talk to

Don't try to become a recluse. You need to combine work on yourself and communication equally.

Conversations with conscious people who have life wisdom will greatly benefit you.

What does a conscious person mean? This category includes people who do not suffer from depression or an unstable mental state.

On the contrary, they are always calm, endure problems steadfastly and are full of positive energy. You can learn a lot from such people.

If you sincerely talk about your difficulties with a knowledgeable person, then only by speaking out will you receive great relief.

Hobby is the best cure for all ills

Perhaps some people have never found their hobby or do not find the time to do it. But what we really enjoy doing brings us many joyful moments and satisfaction.

Therefore, look for your favorite activities and devote time to them. It would be ideal to connect your work with this.

Many people become bored and depressed just because of what they know.Naturally, in such conditions you don’t want to get up in the morning.

But if you devote time to hobbies, life will sparkle with new colors and take on meaning. After all, this is an opportunity to express yourself.

There are people who can say to themselves: I have no talents or abilities for anything. This is absolutely not true. Everyone has a unique gift, you just need to find it and discover it.

Get new emotions

Life for many people is like Groundhog Day. Work, home 5 days a week, and on weekends - TV and sofa. With such a way of life, it is not surprising to fall into apathy.

To shake things up and get a taste of life, do something extraordinary. For example:

jump from a parachute
play paintball with friends
visit the attractions
in winter you can ride down a steep mountain
alternatively, meet a handsome member of the opposite sex.

Do something that scares you. This way you will absolutely get a surge of adrenaline and a boost of energy.

Switch to a healthy diet

Nowadays, there are many healthy foods that taste good.

Avoid heavy and fatty foods, and do not overuse meat. Include more vegetables and fruits in your diet.

Proper nutrition gives a person energy, but incorrect nutrition, on the contrary, takes it away. And the person becomes lethargic and lazy.

Also, in your situation, you can treat yourself to your favorite dish more often. Unless, of course, it falls into the category of harmful.

Take a short break in nature

It is very good to arrange such walks while remaining alone with yourself. Nature has a very calming effect. Being in a picturesque, quiet place, you begin to think differently. And you can understand yourself and your difficulties to a greater extent.

If time permits, you can even take a tent and go camping for the whole day. You will come back refreshed and peaceful.

We all don’t like it when something bad or negative happens. Especially if everything is so terrible that depression occurs.

But it’s worth looking at it from the other side, and then you can recover from any depressed state, no matter how strong it may be. Depression is a kind of signal that something is wrong.

We are used to paying attention only to negative signals. If everything was fine, we simply wouldn’t notice it.

Therefore, the depressed state should be considered only as a signal. So that we pay attention within ourselves and deal with what is wrong.

In this way, we can say that depression is not our enemy, but our best friend.

2) Try to find the reason

Exploring your inner world will help you identify the cause and accordingly find a solution. Ask yourself the following questions to make your analysis easier. And answer them in writing.

When did my depression begin, what preceded it?
Did I invent this suffering for myself?
Who caused my poor health?

If the experiences are related to a failed relationship in this article you will find information.

Case from practice:

I decided to see a psychologist after 10 years of trying to deal with problems in my family on my own. Our relationship with my husband was very depressing to me. I was in a prolonged depression.

If I had known earlier that this would help solve all my problems, I would have done it a long time ago. My husband began to treat me completely differently. And although I attended consultations alone, my family accepted the changes in my behavior. After the first session, our quarrels stopped.

On top of that, I was able to deeply understand my complexes and ghosts of the past, which helped me find a great dream job!

3) Think about what you need to change in your lifestyle

Once the cause is found, proceed to the next step. Evaluate your life, what needs to be changed in it?

If depression is related to divorce or relationship breakup, we have a detailed article.
Perhaps there are people around you who make you sad. Then you don’t need to communicate with them at all.
Or you watch too many scandalous programs and series on TV that act as an irritant on you.

4) Think about what is worth bringing into your life

Now is the time to think about what good things you can start doing to harmonize your life. For example it could be:

A new job that won't fray your nerves
Spend more time outdoors
Change your routine: go to bed earlier and get up earlier

There can be a lot of options. Such healthy habits will definitely help you in the fight against depression.

Treating yourself for postpartum depression

Many new mothers do not realize that in addition to the joy of such an event, they can also experience a bad state. And in severe form, even depression.

Symptoms of this: sleep disturbance, mood, despondency, sadness, fatigue. All of the above prevents a young mother from caring for her baby, herself and other family members.

It is worth noting that it makes sense to fight postpartum depression on your own only in its mild form. If the depressed state manifests itself strongly enough, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Psychologist's advice:

Set your priorities

Take care of your child first. He should be well-fed, healthy and dry. Daily bathing before bed will ensure your baby's well-being and good sleep for both of you.

Secondly, after the baby has fallen asleep, think about your rest. You can sleep with him. But dirty diapers, dishes, and cleaning the house can wait. After you have rested, you can do these things much faster, since you will have more strength.

Don't refuse help Even if before the birth of the child you were a super housewife and managed to do everything, now there are many additional responsibilities. And you need time to get used to the new pace of life.

Therefore, accept any help, and if no one offers it, then you need to ask for it yourself. Think about who can help and how. Go grocery shopping, cook lunch, babysit and other things.

Don't be upset that you're not perfect

In the first years of a baby’s life, no matter how hard you try, it is impossible to do everything. So don’t get hung up on it and don’t force yourself into a box. This will only deplete your strength and psyche, and your depression may become even deeper.
Make a plan

Making a plan for the day is a great way to save time and have time to do the necessary things. Make a to-do list and divide them by importance.

As soon as you have free time, immediately start doing them. But don't plan too much. You are unlikely to be able to do this with a baby.

And try to be more flexible with this list. After all, newborns are unpredictable creatures. Sometimes a child behaves too capriciously and does not allow his mother to do anything else besides him.

Don't get upset in such cases. A plan is needed to help you, not spoil your mood.

Watch your diet

After giving birth, a woman needs to monitor her diet. Follow the diet, if the baby is breastfed, as well as the nutritional value of the food.

If you cook simple dishes, for example, soups, cereals, steamed vegetables, you will have more time. If possible, buy the necessary kitchen appliances: dishwasher, slow cooker, blender. These things will make your routine much easier.

Don't forget to pay attention to yourself

Any mother always remains a woman. And women are accustomed to taking care of themselves and looking after themselves. Therefore, after the birth of your child, try to allocate at least a little time for yourself.

When your baby is sleeping, ask someone to look after him. And at this time you can take a leisurely bath, make a mask on your face or hair.

These simple procedures will help you psychologically find peace and recharge your energy. They will also add a little variety to the usual routine day.

Coping with alcohol depression on your own

Depression is quite common in people suffering from alcoholism. A person who resorts to alcohol wants to improve his mood and get rid of problems, but in reality he risks getting depressed.

This condition is considered very dangerous, as attempts to commit suicide are common. Symptoms include decreased mood, mental and physical inhibition, anxiety, and tearfulness.

If you notice such manifestations of behavior in a loved one during his passion for alcohol, then you should immediately consult a doctor. People with such depression usually do not visit a doctor on their own.

As for treatment at home without a specialist, in mild forms of depression it is possible to recover on your own. But only if the patient stops drinking alcohol and endures even more severe depression after giving up alcohol.

But nevertheless, to be on the safe side, the intervention of a specialist would not be amiss.

Apathy

Apathy is a side effect of depression or a component of it. One of the most unpleasant conditions. The desire and desire to work, study, and, in a word, perform ordinary and necessary actions are lost.

This happens to everyone. But only in a depressed state, apathy does not stop for quite a long time, like other symptoms.

Fighting methods:

1) Don’t try to push out apathy and force yourself to do the right things. This way you will turn into a robot without emotions, and sooner or later a breakdown will still happen.

Therefore, at the first sign of laziness, it is better to take a day off and allow yourself to do “doing nothing.” After a certain time, you will get tired of such empty pastime and you will return to life again.

And at the same time, you can analyze your life and look closely at your problems.

2) Lethargy often appears when there is a lot of doubt about oneself, one’s significance and success. In order to increase confidence, remember all your achievements since childhood or read in detail in the article,.

Surely you will have more than one. Your awards were received by you for a reason, but as a result of your abilities and perseverance.

Anxiety

Along with a depressed state, anxiety often appears for one’s life or loved ones, for the future. Below are some tips.

1) Write down on paper everything that worries you. This method, as always, works great.

2) Learn to live in the present moment

Most people either cannot forget about the oppressive past or are puzzled about the future. But neither one nor the other makes sense. Heavy thoughts about the past will certainly not do you any good.

And thinking about the future is also a waste of time, because in reality everything can happen completely differently. By overthinking oneself and experiencing fear that everything will go according to a bad scenario, a person can “attract” these situations to himself.

So be here and now, even if you are washing dishes or walking.

Deep or prolonged depression

If you are in a prolonged or deep depression, you will need to see a doctor to get rid of it. In this case, you should not self-medicate.

Perhaps you feel that life has completely ceased to interest you and you have nothing to lose. But understand, these are just symptoms of your disease.

And the sooner you turn to an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist, the faster you will be able to recover.

Now you have a guide to dealing with depression. If you still have questions, you can always contact us for help at online consultation with a psychologist.

Our experienced specialists will provide you with professional support and help you change your attitude towards life in the shortest possible time. We wish you success and a joyful mood every day!

Depression is a common mental disorder that causes people to feel depressed for long periods of time (sometimes a year or more), lose interest and pleasure, feel guilty, experience low self-esteem, sleep or appetite problems, lack of energy and difficulty concentrating.

It is different from simple sadness. Every person at one time or another in life feels unhappy due to a specific reason. With deep depression, strong emotions of anxiety, hopelessness, helplessness and negativity do not go away, resulting in a period of crisis.

This can happen to anyone. Many successful and famous people of all ages have encountered the condition. It is believed that the disorder occurs more often in women than in men.

For half of people, depression occurs only once; for others it happens repeatedly. The length of the period required for treatment and recovery ranges from 6 months to a year or more. What to do to overcome a permanent psychological disorder, how to cope with it is not always immediately clear.

The condition greatly ruins the lives of those who suffer from it and their families, friends, and colleagues. The problem is that it is difficult to determine the onset of the disease, its signs that you are depressed, and understand how to get rid of it.

Quiz of four signs and symptoms of depression from a list

Fatigue, apathy and loss of strength.
Persistent sadness.
Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Difficulty concentrating.
Things that are usually pleasant and interesting do not bring pleasure.
Constant anxiety.
Reluctance to see other people, even close friends.
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Trouble sleeping - falling asleep or waking up much earlier than usual.
Very strong feeling of guilt, uselessness.
Difficulty studying or working.
Loss of appetite.
Decreased libido and/or sexual problems.
Physical pain.
Irritability.
Thoughts about suicide and death, self-harm.

If you have 4 or more of these symptoms for most of the day every day for more than two weeks, seek help from your doctor. This is a positive test result for depression. We need to fight, don’t delay treatment. The faster you get rid of it, the shorter the period of development of the crisis and its consequences. Speaking about treatment, it should be noted that therapy does not always involve the use of pills.

Causes - what causes depression

It begins suddenly as a result of physical illness, worries about unemployment, divorce, loss, family problems or other events, negative changes.

Examples of chronic illnesses associated with depression include heart disease, back pain, and cancer. It can also result from damage to the pituitary gland (a treatable condition), which occurs when a head injury occurs.

In some cases the reason is not clear. However, determining the likely underlying cause is an important initial step in treatment and will influence how quickly you can recover from the crisis and begin to feel normal.

Forms of depression and their manifestations:

Lightweight

The condition is characterized as moderate. It has limited negative impact on daily life. For example, difficulties concentrating at work or having to motivate yourself to do something that you usually like to do anyway.

Classic depression

Signs: loss of appetite, apathy, difficulty sleeping and other daily activities. Often there is only one episode, but more often there are several of them in life. If a person is so unwell that they are at risk of harming themselves, this leads to hospitalization.

Bipolar disorder

Mood swings in bipolar disorder range from a high of feeling elated to a low of despair, lethargy and suicidal thoughts. Very serious symptoms are not uncommon. A person’s inner world is filled with feelings that he cannot cope with, and he does what seems strange and illogical.

Postpartum depression in women

Many new mothers experience it a few days after giving birth. The feeling of anxiety and uncertainty is very upsetting, but in most cases it only lasts for a couple of weeks. Postpartum depression is more intense, lasts longer, and requires the help of a medical professional to get out of it. The disorder causes young mothers to feel completely overwhelmed and causes inadequacy. Coping with the condition is not easy. Sleep problems, panic attacks and intense fear of death occur.

Negative feelings towards your child also arise. This happens to every tenth mother and begins in the second or third week after birth.

Seasonal affective disorder

Winter and autumn depression is associated with the beginning of the season, during a period when there is not enough daylight. This stress causes anxiety, worsens mood and causes sleep problems, which can be difficult to overcome.

How to cope with persistent depression on your own - advice from a psychologist

What to do when you feel helpless? Soothing music is not always relevant. Take action, do what makes you feel better. Control will have a positive effect. Go to the gym, go for daily walks, practice your interests, what you are good at. Ask a friend to accompany you.

There are many things available that you can do to manage symptoms and a wide range of medical and non-medical treatments available.

Who do you see yourself as?

The way you think about yourself affects your mood and feelings. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt are common. How to deal with this on your own? Banish all negative thoughts about yourself. Try to analyze how realistic they are and how you could change them into something positive. Talk to your doctor about counseling or cognitive therapy.

Social media

If you're feeling down, it's not easy to be social. Loneliness, meanwhile, worsens the condition. Therefore, it is important to keep in touch with friends and family. People around you or a support group will help you get out of deep depression and reduce the feeling of isolation.

Worries about work, money or legal situation

To cope, it is important to make time for the things you want to do and be with friends and family.

If you are extremely stressed with work pressure, talk to your doctor. It will help you reconsider your obligations and solve specific problems that affect it.

If you lose your job, contact your local employment center to help you find it.

Fight, try to keep your job if possible. The moment is important because for people suffering from deep depression, the reason to get up in the morning and go about their business is of particular importance. This helps get rid of the disorder. Connecting with coworkers, staying busy, and the satisfaction of achieving work goals is good for mental health.

Physical activity

Exercise improves your mood because it takes your mind off depression and also stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the pituitary gland of the brain and give a feeling of happiness.

A particularly good therapeutic effect is observed for mild to moderate depression. Ideally, exercise for 50 minutes three to five times a week. To fit activities into your daily routine, this time can be broken up into shorter periods.

Diet

A link between what you eat and depression has been suggested, but lacks conclusive evidence. The condition is thought to be relieved by foods rich in essential fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines and fresh tuna).

Whether there is a direct connection or not, eating healthy will help you feel better overall and give you more energy. This is especially true if you are exercising.

Quitting alcohol

Alcohol acts as a depressant on the brain. If you drink too much or too often, it becomes extremely stressful and increases your likelihood of falling into long-term depression. If you already suffer from it, drinking alcohol will only make you feel worse. With such a vicious circle, if you do drink, it is better to drink in moderation. You should also avoid taking recreational drugs.

Alarm Management

In addition to persistent depression, half of the patients also experience anxiety. Taking steps to manage your anxiety gives you the mental space to begin fighting depression. Talking about what's bothering you, as well as eating healthy and exercising, promotes control.

In cases of moderate severity, relaxation methods, massage and yoga are effective for treatment. All this allows you to cope with the disorder on your own.

Treatments for deep protracted depression

What to do, how to get rid of it? The first step is to see a doctor. The doctor will ask a series of questions about how the condition affects you mentally and physically.

Before going to your appointment, it is helpful to write down what you were experiencing. It is important that you and your doctor agree on how best to manage and treat your type of depression.

It is important to be open with your professional about your symptoms and how they affect you. A recommendation may be given to see a psychiatrist or psychologist.

There are several types of it. Counseling makes it possible, through a survey, to find out the likely cause of the identified form of depression and develop a strategy to solve the problem.

Cognitive behavioral therapy addresses the way you think and how this can lead to deep depression. It teaches you to identify patterns of behavior and thinking that cause problems and change them.

Psychotherapy is more intensive than counseling, although the terms are used interchangeably. Past experiences influence life now, the connection is revealed if you delve deeply into the beginning of the experience and the key relationships. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on how you relate and behave towards others. This helps build better self-esteem and communicate more effectively with others.

To get rid of depression, antidepressants are recommended in many cases, either alone or in combination with talk therapy. Antidepressants help, but inevitably have side effects. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

About medications

Medication may not always be the first choice, especially if the depression is mild. There are many drugs available. Your doctor will explain which ones he thinks are best for you and why. What will be prescribed depends on the form of the disease and the severity of the case. If you have problems with your medications, consult your doctor.

If one remedy doesn't work, there is a replacement. However, several weeks pass before the drug begins to work. Therefore, enough time must pass to understand whether there is an effect.

It is important to take your medications for as long as recommended by your doctor. Stopping the course early (even if you already feel better) increases the likelihood of relapse. The approximate course duration is 6-9 months and in many cases longer. If you decide to stop treatment, follow your doctor's advice. If you stop taking medications suddenly, there may be negative consequences.

Prolonged depression appears after prolonged stress. In this state, a person feels worse every day.

Here are some of the consequences this condition can cause:

obesity or, on the contrary, ugly thinness;
“dull” eyes;
bags under the eyes;
fatigue;
poor posture (usually stooping);
unkempt hair, skin;
for girls – lack of attractive makeup and manicure;
appearance of bad taste in clothing, etc.

Signs and symptoms

In fact, there are many types of depression. Some are associated with some event (postpartum, a consequence of separation, etc.), others – with age (in a teenager, in older people, in the end, a midlife crisis). But the manifestations of this disease are almost always the same.

This condition has the following symptoms:

It is important to understand that for some people, the manifestation of some of the symptoms does not at all indicate the presence of a stressful condition. For them, it’s just a character trait and an acceptable way of life for them. In a person who is in prolonged depression, at least 80% of these symptoms can be noted.

How to treat

Psychotherapy

Most likely, a person with prolonged depression will not be able to return to normal life on their own. There are some specialists working to help cope with this condition and other mental disorders.

Here is a list of people who have the power to make a significant positive impact:

psychotherapist;
psychiatrist;
psychologist;
neurologist.

Everyone works in their own ways. Some bring you out of despondency with conversations, others with medications, others with hypnosis, etc. But you need to remember that you should go to them only if you have a sincere and overwhelming desire to cope with a severe form of apathy. Otherwise, the help of doctors will most likely be invisible.

Drug treatment

This situation will have to be dealt with with the help of special medications. Their action is aimed at calming the nervous system and reducing susceptibility to irritating factors.

However, such medications cannot be the only method of treatment. They are prescribed in order to dampen this condition in order to begin more effective subsequent work with the patient.

Please note that some drugs have a number of side effects. You cannot prescribe them yourself. Only a specialist can choose a comprehensive and beneficial treatment for you.

Homework

A person must first of all help himself to get out of prolonged depression. Listed below are the basic techniques that will enable you to make a big leap towards getting rid of this condition.

Don't feel sorry for yourself. While a person sympathizes with his condition, he feeds his enemy - depression - with ever new forces. You need to be stronger, because life passes, and not in the best way, but everything can be fixed...
Don't dramatize. Many people go through what can be called the cause of depression. It is necessary to come to terms with the fact that caused this condition and either try to correct it, or move on with life, depending on the situation.
Don't sit idly by. If a person with such a problem locks himself in the house near the TV, nothing will happen. On the contrary, after a certain time he will drown more and more in his condition. And if he goes out and begins to develop himself, move, work on himself, make new friends, communicate, then the problem will gradually begin to be forgotten.

Video: Talk show with Konstantin Zelensky

Before I begin, I will say that I am suspicious of diagnoses. I remember the words of one doctor I know: “schizophrenia is the name given to all deviations that are not understood.” When it all started, I was less interested in psychiatric labels and more interested in the question: “What to do now?” Hospitals know exactly which drugs will work for certain manifestations of the disease, and structuring and creating names for them is the job of psychiatrists. Adopting names for different conditions seems to give them confidence. But I won’t downplay the merits of real professionals with whom I had the opportunity to cross paths; I just feel a slight irony now that the hardest part is behind us.

I am one of those who experienced what is called “post-psychotic depression”, and I was unable to get out of this condition as an outpatient. The connection with the doctor had not yet been established (we were almost strangers), and I was again advised to be hospitalized. If it were not for the difficult situation of psychiatric clinics, then I would consider the experience gained to be largely positive. The result of the month spent in the hospital was the cessation of delusional and hallucinogenic states, which allowed me to gradually return to the real world. In the clinic, as well as in any society, there are relationships between people, and it happens that communication continues “in the wild.”

This communication between people in the clinic is important, since this is the first community that a person enters after “traveling to another world.” It is also important that the patient’s relatives remind him in time to be careful when communicating, because some people may pose a threat. A person who has recently gone through acute psychosis is poorly protected from others and can easily become a victim of evil people.

Thus, after two hospitalizations, which lasted a total of six months, I went home under the care of a loving, but very strict mother. She made me go through a lot - quit smoking, do gymnastics, go to church. I want to convey to people that immediately after being discharged from the clinic, there is only part of a person in front of them, another part of him is still under the impression of another world, which is more real for him than the brush with which you brush your teeth.

It should be noted that before I got sick, I had successfully moved up the career ladder in different industries more than once, and being forced to work as a cleaner is unacceptable for my self-esteem. But there was no way out - after all, now in my past there is a violent department of a psychiatric clinic. My loving but strict mother made a common mistake, I would call it “premature forced socialization.” On the other hand, there is excessive, ubiquitous concern for one’s loved one who has become mentally ill. Even if he is still partially in his virtual world, let him warm up the food himself, so he can establish his still weak connection with reality. And when, having gotten out of bed in the morning, he was able to put the kettle on to boil, praise him, this is important.

I appeal to you, relatives of the patient, make every effort to maintain a golden mean in communication with him, which will not allow the person close to you to turn into a disabled person, will encourage him to become independent, albeit at first in ordinary everyday affairs, but, on the other hand, will protect him from unhealthy manifestations of his personality.

During these two years, I constantly communicated with my doctor, over time we established contact, and a suitable course of treatment was found. The therapy ended with our group of patients visiting a Swedish rehabilitation clinic.

After visiting Sweden, it was especially difficult to return to everyday life, which was so different from what I had seen. Despite external prosperity (I had a job that brought me enough income for a modest life), most internal problems remained unresolved. Who am I, where am I going and what is my place in this world? Going to church didn't help me along the way. On the contrary, I saw the unsightly underside of church reality, which plunged me into despair.

One day I realized that my life experience allows me to help other people. For example, the experience of getting rid of alcohol addiction is an excellent tool for helping those suffering who want to return to normal life. In search of a similar job, I ended up at the city employment center, where I was offered a position as a social worker.

The start of work marked the third period of my rehabilitation. It was not at all lighter than the previous ones, no, it was just different. The accumulated experience of illness and exacerbations helped to sense dangerous moments that could provoke a worsening of the condition and avoid them. My relationship with my parents also improved, and they gave me complete freedom. I feel great gratitude to my attending physicians, who helped me overcome a serious crisis and did not allow it to develop into a full-fledged exacerbation.

Over time, at work they came to terms with my not entirely formal performance of duties and became convinced of my competence. I was offered to receive a specialized higher education, to which I gladly agreed.

To date, seven years have passed since hospitalization. My life has become more measured, without bright ups and downs. I bring real benefit to people, which makes me endlessly happy. There is only a year left until I graduate from university, and I am already thinking about postgraduate education. And this is already the fourth period of rehabilitation.