What is Depression?
Depression is a serious problem that affects the body, emotions and thoughts at the same time. But most of the time it is not taken seriously. Depression symptoms vary from person to person. The most common symptoms are a persistent sad, pessimistic and anxious mood, and a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness. Depression feeds on feelings such as worthlessness, guilt and helplessness. The thoughts that cause these feelings to occur keep spinning in the mind. To stop these thoughts from coming to mind, a person isolates himself from life.
Depressed individuals experience changes in eating, sleeping patterns and participation in activities. Some people may start to overeat, while others may refuse to eat. Likewise, some people may have trouble falling asleep at night due to depression, while others may spend all day sleeping. Activities that were previously pleasurable no longer give pleasure, such as going out, meeting with friends, having a pleasant meal... The person cannot find the energy to do these activities, and even if he does these activities, his mind is often elsewhere and with negative thoughts. The situation is usually noticed by the closest people, such as family members, close friends or spouses, but they may not know what to do most of the time.
Untreated depression can lead to substance or alcohol addiction in search of relief from troubles, and in relationships. It can cause serious damage, lead to job loss, and make it very difficult to repair a person's self-confidence.
Just like we are careful to consume vitamin foods and take supplements instead of waiting for the flu to go away on its own, we should not expect depression to go away on its own. Don't misunderstand the analogy, depression may not be as temporary as the flu.
Types of Depression
Major Depression
The most severe depression It is a type of depression, intense negative emotions, hopelessness and feelings of worthlessness are dominant. It is not possible to improve the situation without help. Symptoms:
Depressed mood most of the day
Decreased desire to participate in daily activities
Significant weight loss or gain
Insomnia or inability to wake up
Slowdown in thought processes
Feeling of fatigue
Suicidal thoughts
Atypical Major Depression
It is characterized by certain behavioral patterns. People's emotional state changes drastically depending on external factors. It can cause extreme joy and happiness in the face of positive events, and extreme sadness and unhappiness in negative events. It usually begins at a young age and continues into adulthood. Symptoms:
Significant weight gain
Drowsiness
Heaviness in the body
Extreme sensitivity to rejection and criticism
Postpartum Depression
It is a type of depression seen during pregnancy or during the 4 weeks after birth. In the postpartum period, there is intense unhappiness, crying, anxiety and hopelessness. Distancing from the baby may occur. Although it is seen in 10-20% of women who give birth, its cause has not yet been determined.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
It is a state of depression that changes according to seasonal changes. Depressive symptoms generally increase during the transition to the winter months. It causes a more inactive, hopeless, anxious and sad mood during the winter months. This situation begins to disappear as we move into the summer months. Its incidence is 1-2%.
Dysthymic Depression
It is a condition in which depression symptoms are mild but lasting for a long time. Symptoms have persisted for at least 2 years. If it continues for a long time, it may cause people to lose faith in the change of this situation. Experiencing mild symptoms may cause the condition to remain hidden and cause internal harm. These people can often be perceived from the outside as individuals who constantly complain and criticize. Symptoms:
Decreased interest in daily activities
Hopelessness
Low self-confidence
Inability to enjoy life
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