Depression, a mood disorder, is a psychological illness that causes a person's quality of life to decline. Depression, which negatively affects a person's feelings and thoughts as well as their behavior, affects more than 264 million people worldwide. It is characterized by the inability to enjoy the action performed. Depression is caused by a combination of social, psychological and biological factors that can last for weeks or even years. Factors such as childhood traumas, loss of parents at an early age, divorce, unemployment, anxiety disorders, substance and alcohol use can lead to the emergence of depression.
One of the most common types of depression is postpartum depression, or in other words, postpartum depression. "What is depression?" It is necessary to answer the question.
It is extremely healthy for a person to feel sad, pessimistic or unhappy in daily life. It is normal for these feelings that all people experience to appear from time to time. Depression is a mental illness that causes some emotional, physical and mental symptoms. In order to be able to talk about the presence of depression, feelings such as depressed mood, not being able to enjoy life, the old actions no longer giving pleasure, feelings of inner distress, restlessness, pessimism, and hopelessness must be felt almost every day for at least two weeks.
Depression, which is a treatable disease, is a medical term used to describe a psychiatric disorder, although it is mostly used to describe a person's mood. Depression, which is seen in 8% to 10% of the society in studies, is more common among women than men. In other words, while the incidence of depression in men is one in ten, it is approximately one in five in women.
The risk of death due to suicide is around 15% in depression, which causes gradual worsening of mental depression if left untreated. The inability of the person to continue his routine work in life, social, family and e causes him not to be able to continue his work life in a healthy way. In this respect, depression must be treated by psychiatrists. Before moving on to the treatment methods of depression, "What are the symptoms of depression?"
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
It is normal for all people to feel unhappy, sad, hopeless or distressed at some point in life. The state of being unhappy or sad in the presence of depression is different from the one mentioned here.
Depression, which negatively affects the mental activities and general health of the person, is an important health problem. The disease, which can cause different health problems, can also cause worsening of the course of existing diseases. Although depression is a serious health problem, it is often not noticed by the patient himself or his immediate surroundings. Therefore, the depressed person has to live in constant misery and sadness. Has difficulty performing tasks at home and at work. This makes the person even more unhappy and hopeless. Depression symptoms can be emotional as well as physical. Common symptoms of depression can be listed as follows:
- Feeling constantly sad, sad and unhappy
- Not enjoying life,
- worthless or guilty
- Reluctance to do routine actions,
- Not being able to enjoy the activities done,
- Feeling tired and sluggish all the time,
- Slowing down in actions,
- Avoiding social relationships,
- Feeling helpless or cornered,
- Change in appetite,
- Weight change,
- Forgetfulness,
- Reluctance to communicate,
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- Not being able to focus on the job,
- Pain in the head, neck, back or joints,
- Increased stomach and intestinal complaints,
- Sexual aversion,
- Frequently thinking of death,
- Suicidal tendency.
What are the Causes of Depression?
In addition to some biological factors such as metabolic changes in the brain, psychological and social factors also play a role in the formation of depression. Seasonal changes, negative experiences, great pain, loss of loved ones, long-lasting Reasons such as the bereavement period, the parent's depression, family problems, separation, problems in business life, and being fired can lead to depression. In addition, diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, (MS) epilepsy, aids and some medications can cause a person to become depressed.
In addition to hereditary predisposition, periods of menopause and andropause are among the factors that cause depression. All these factors can lead to the formation of depression at different rates from person to person. Some women may become depressed during pregnancy. Continuation of depression after childbirth is defined as postpartum depression or postpartum depression as it is commonly known among the people. Although this disease, which is common in society, is seen in the range of 10% to 15%, the fact that patients with postpartum depression avoid seeking professional help with the feeling of guilt casts doubt on the accuracy of these figures.
What are the Types of Depression?
Depression, which is a real illness, is definitely not a personality weakness or problem. In other words, depression is not one's own fault. The factors listed as the causes of depression may predispose a person to depression. A person does not know the reason for this after falling into depression and cannot understand how things came to be. Depression is a disease with different types. However, the symptoms in people with the same type of depression may differ. In other words, each person's depression has its own characteristics. Therefore, in the presence of depression symptoms, it is recommended that the person receive support from a specialist. Some of the common types of depression are as follows:
- Major Depressive Disorder: In this type of depression, also called clinical depression, the person cannot eat, work and enjoy life. Symptoms such as sleep problems and apathy towards events can be seen in the person. All these symptoms lead to suffering and dysfunction. Major depressive disorder, which can be seen at almost any age, is a treatable disease.
- Chronic Depression: Depression that lasts for at least two years is defined as chronic depression. Symptoms that are less severe than major depression often do not negatively affect the person's daily life. Person social age can preserve his legacy. The disease, also known as dysthymia in medicine, starts insidiously and slowly. This situation, which can also be defined as a mild form of depression, mostly occurs due to traumas such as abuse, abuse and violence experienced in early childhood.
- Atypical Depression: In this type of depression, the person feels that he/she is depressed. is not aware. In the disease, which is characterized by symptoms such as overeating and sleeping too much, the person is extremely sensitive to rejection. Mood may suddenly improve or worsen in the face of events. It often causes the person to be nervous and feel like something bad is going to happen soon. In the presence of atypical depression, the person has trouble trusting other people and often experiences fear of being abandoned or cheated on.
- Postpartum Depression: shows signs of major depression. In addition to the hormonal change experienced in the body of the person after birth, it is thought that the increased responsibility with the birth of a baby is also effective. The social and psychological changes experienced by the person after birth also increase the risk of postpartum depression. As the gestational age decreases, the incidence of postpartum depression increases.
How is Depression Treated?
The most common treatment methods used in the treatment of depression are drug use and psychotherapy. Antidepressant drugs used in the treatment of depression usually show their effect within 2-3 weeks. With the regression of the symptoms of the person, the person relaxes and the tension decreases. During this period, psychotherapy should be continued at regular intervals.
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