Depression, even if it lasts a long time, does not cause permanent changes in the psyche. This does not mean that it can be taken lightly. We just need to heal her and, most importantly, stop being ashamed of being a victim of her.
Depressioncannot be measured like blood sugar levels. Your doctor will determine you are ill if at least five of the following symptoms persist for two weeks:
- depressed mood
- indifference
- significant weight loss or weight gain not related to diet
- insomniaor excessive sleepiness
- agitation or psychomotor slowness
- feelingfatigueor energy loss
- low self-esteem or feeling of unjustified guilt
- decreased thinking ability, impaired concentration, inability to make decisions
- recurring thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, attempting suicide.
Any of the symptoms described may appear after some traumatic experience, e.g. after the loss of a loved one. Also after giving birth to a child, during menopause, or in an intense and constantly stressed life.
Where to treat depression?
The doctor decides how and where to treat a sick person. It depends on the conditions in which he is staying and the severity of the symptoms. If the symptoms are minor, with no suicidal tendencies, and the patient willingly cooperates with the doctor and has support in the family, it is enough to visit a psychiatric clinic once a month. He can take a sick leave, but he can also work if he feels able to do so. Some patients are helped by psychotherapy.
A patient with more depression, but still without suicidal thoughts, may be referred to the hospital day ward. He comes there on weekdays and stays there from morning to afternoon. He benefits from the therapy like other patients staying there constantly. He comes home after class. It lasts a few weeks, then the patient is treated in a psychiatric clinic.
If the patient is unable to function independently at home and at work due to severe depression symptoms, he or she requires hospitalization. He certainly won't wash or eat himself. He sees no point in life and may try to commit suicide. Such patients must be provided with medical care 24 hours a day. Hospital treatment is recommendedeven when the patient does not consent to them freely. This is regulated by the Mental He alth Act. Patients whose he alth is improving can take advantage of passes, during which they gradually prepare to leave the hospital.
They help in the fight against depression
Antidepressants appeared in the 1950s and some, such as imipramine, are still used today to treat severe depression.
Tricyclic drugs are tolerated well by most patients. They improve mood and increase activity. However, some people may experience side effects such as dry mouth, difficulty passing urine and stools, low blood pressure, sometimes an increase in appetite and weight gain. There are also sexual disorders, such as erection, ejaculation, and orgasm. Overdosing on these drugs can be life-threatening. In the initial phase of taking them, you should not drive a car. New generation drugs have much fewer side effects. At the beginning of the 1980s, The introduction of fluoxetine was a great revolution in the treatment of depression. Prozac containing this substance made a dizzying career. Today, several of its counterparts are already registered: bioxetin, fluoxetine, fluoxetine, deprenone, deprexetin, seronil. The discovery of fluoxetine initiated the development of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Five preparations from this group are registered in Poland. They are effective in treating mild to moderate depression. They have almost no side effects. They allow you to drive a car.