Depression is a psychological disease that is increasing today. Recently, there has been an increasing number of applications to our clinics with complaints caused by depression. Especially in our century, increasingly stressful life events play a major role in people becoming depressed.
Internal and external factors play an important role among the causes of depression. While genetic factors play a more important role in some people's depression, environmental stressor factors may play a more important role in others. Whether internal or external factors play a role, depression must be treated under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Depression that is not treated timely and correctly causes depression to recur or the disease to worsen in the following years.
Depression is never about having a weak character or being spoiled. Most of the time, the statements of the patient's relatives, "Don't worry, it will pass, you will handle it, don't think about everything, walk around a little, take time for yourself, you will get better, etc.," cause depressed people to feel worse and helpless.
If your depressive complaints are present day after day. If it progresses over time and causes a decrease in your social and professional functionality, the first thing you should do is to consult a psychiatrist.
HOW OFTEN IS DEPRESSION?
Studies show that the lifetime prevalence of major depression is 12% in men and 1% in women. It can rise up to 25. It was determined that 15% of women and 8% of men were depressed within 1 year. Various factors play a role in the difference in the frequency of depression between men and women.
WHY IS DEPRESSION MORE COMMON IN WOMEN?
The reasons why depression is more common in women than in men include:
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-Men are more likely to hide their complaints and neglect to consult a doctor
-Men are trying different forms of action such as alcohol and drugs to hide the symptoms of depression
-Birth, menstrual problems in women The effect of additional biological factors such as period
-Women are more exposed to environmental stressful situations
-Women are more likely to be exposed to traumatic events such as physical and sexual abuse.
ARE THOSE WHO HAVE DEPRESSION IN THE FAMILY AT A GREATER RISK OF BEING DEPRESSION?
Having depression in even one family member increases the risk of depression in other family members by 2-3 times. In twin studies, it has been determined that if one of the fraternal twins has depression, the risk of the other sibling getting depression is 67%, and when one of the identical twins has depression, the risk of the other sibling getting depression is 76%.
-Being a woman
-Loss of parents at an early age
-Having an anxiety disorder
-Using alcohol or substances
-Traumatic life events
-History of physical or sexual abuse
-Being divorced or unmarried -Experiencing socioeconomic crises
-Using certain medications
p>-Having chronic diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, goiter, cancer etc.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
-Unhappy, depressed When you or the people around you notice a facial expression
-A state of not enjoying life that lasts almost all day long
-Feeling of emptiness, I cannot enjoy the activities you used to enjoy
-Feeling as if your brain is stopped or not working
-Anxious thoughts that continue throughout the day
-Inability to stop yourself from negative thoughts
-Having difficulty waking up in the morning, not wanting to get out of bed
-Reluctance to go to work, inability to concentrate, concentration problems, forgetfulness
-Your daily work becomes overwhelming and you cannot organize and start work
-Decrease in the amount of sleep or increase in appetite
-Increase or decrease in appetite
-Decrease in sexual desire or lack of desire, (erection, premature ejaculation, arousal problems)
-Social Not wanting to participate in activities
-Loss of motivation
-Not being able to enjoy activities that you used to enjoy
-Increasing desire to become lonely, intolerance to people, tension
-Sudden anger, impatience
-A gradual decrease in your daily personal care (not wanting to do your care needs such as bathing, make-up, hairdresser, etc.)
-Decreasing hopes for the future, not being able to make positive plans for the future. a
-Feeling guilty, blaming yourself, feeling worthless
-Suicidal thoughts in later cases
-Findings such as delirium, hallucination, derealization, depersalization, etc.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM DEPRESSION?
Every person may feel unhappy and dejected at some periods of his life. Coping with some life events can sometimes be difficult for all of us. First of all, it is necessary to know that not every unhappiness is depression. If the unhappiness we are experiencing is very severe and begins to prevent us from living almost our entire day, and we are having problems maintaining our home, work and social life, we should first be evaluated by a psychiatrist. If the cause of the complaints we experience is depression, we must continue our treatment with the treatment method initiated by the psychiatrist for the specified period. Mostly, we will start to feel better in about 3-4 weeks and return to our daily life. Sometimes, in cases of severe depression, this period may take a little longer. We should keep in mind that if we see this improvement in the early period and leave our treatment unfinished, the disease is likely to recur.
METHODS THAT CAN BE APPLIED IN DEPRESSION TREATMENT
-Antidepressant drug treatments
-Psychotherapy methods
-Transmagnetic stimulation therapy
-ECT therapy
DOES DEPRESSION RETURN?
85% of people who experience their first episode of depression recover after regular treatment and follow-up. The remaining 15% experience a second attack of depression in later periods, and this situation becomes chronic. Treating depression with personalized methods and starting treatment at an early stage increases the chance of treatment. While medication or psychotherapy alone is effective in some cases of depression, success rates generally increase with the addition of psychotherapy to medication treatment. In particular, developing skills to cope with stress and increasing the ability to withstand stressful environmental events can protect a person from a second attack of depression in the future.
IN WHICH SITUATIONS DOES THE RISK OF REPETITION OF DEPRESSION INCREASE?
-Depression begins at the age of 60 and above.
-In patients who are not treated early and regularly
-In the presence of chronic depression
-In patients who have had depression attacks in the past years
-Post-treatment residue presence of symptoms (forgetfulness, distraction, reluctance, dullness, etc.)
-substance-alcohol use
WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF REPEATMENT?
-We must continue the treatment recommended by our doctor regularly
-We must follow the doctor's recommendations
-We must acquire regular exercise and eating habits every day.
-Sleep. We must pay attention to our hygiene
-We must gain the ability to cope with stressful events
-We must acquire coping skills with psychotherapy and change our lifestyle if necessary.
-At least during the treatment period. We should stay away from alcohol.
DOES DEPRESSION DRIVE TO SUICIDE?
Depressive symptoms of patients who do not receive early and regular treatment become severe and approximately 25% of these patients may attempt suicide. . Contrary to popular belief, depression is a very serious brain disease. It is not possible for a person to overcome this disorder without professional support. Depression progresses in untreated people, and hallucinations, delusions, and suicidal thoughts may be added to existing complaints. If you think that you or a relative is depressed, I strongly recommend that you consult a psychiatrist.
CAN ALCOHOL BE USE WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS?
Although alcohol use reduces the effect of antidepressants, the real danger is the possibility of triggering a seizure. Therefore, the use of alcohol together with antidepressant medications is not recommended. Additionally, alcohol use triggers depressive symptoms.
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION?
Although many methods are used in the treatment of depression, medication and psychotherapy methods are often used. . Depression treatment is individualized. Unfortunately, antidepressant drugs used in the treatment of depression are often used unconsciously and can cause serious problems. If an antidepressant is to be used in the treatment of depression, it should be started by a psychiatrist and taken on a regular basis. You need to be followed up at regular intervals. As with all medications, antidepressant medications should only be used under the supervision of a physician.
The second method used in the treatment of depression is psychotherapy. Depression is treated with psychotherapy methods. Especially in mild depressions, the primary choice is psychotherapy. If depression is moderate or severe, it is vital to add medication to the treatment. Because it is possible for psychotherapy methods to be beneficial in the long term. Whether the treatment will be psychotherapy or medication should be determined by consulting a psychiatrist. Even if your treatment will continue with psychotherapy, it will be beneficial for you to continue this service with the psychiatrist who follows you or the psychotherapist who works with him.
Studies have found that the psychotherapy method added to drug treatment in the long term prevents the progression of the disease and reduces the possibility of recurrence. In our clinic, each client is evaluated individually, a road map is created according to the severity and condition of the disease, and full recovery is aimed with medication and psychotherapy methods.
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