We live in a strange age. Thanks to the developments in medicine, we struggle with physical diseases much more easily, but unfortunately, we do not always encounter a rapid recovery when it comes to our psychology. Major depression, which is a kind of psychological disorder, is one of the most common problems of our age, but one should not make such a diagnosis on his own because there are some conditions for diagnosis.
Major depression sometimes occurs after a trauma, and sometimes the person has this disorder as a result of ongoing events. There are some sub-types of depression according to its occurrence and causes, and accordingly, an appropriate treatment method is followed by experts. Let’s take a closer look at what is major depression, which is not an insoluble disorder, what are its symptoms, and see some of the treatment methods.
Let’s get to know the situation first, what is major depression?
Major depression, also called major depressive disorder and clinical depression, can be defined in its most basic form as a person’s loss of ability to enjoy life. During major depression, the person experiences a kind of emotional collapse, reluctance to even daily activities, and disruptions in routines such as eating habits and sleep patterns.
There are several different types that are described as major depression:
- peripartum depression
- psychotic depression
- seasonal depression
- melancholic depression
- premenstrual dysmorphic disorder
Peripartum depression:
Peripartum depression, also called postpartum depression, is a type of depression that occurs in women due to postpartum hormonal changes and the increased burden of responsibility with the arrival of the baby. It occurs within a few weeks after birth and can last for several months.
Psychotic depression:
For psychotic depression, we can say that the symptoms seen in addition to the normal symptoms of major depression. The symptoms of psychotic depression include seeing and hearing hallucinations, delusions, and an overly suspicious approach to paranoia.
Seasonal depression:
Seasonal depression is perhaps the most innocent of the major types of depression. Above its name, it refers to the emotional changes experienced during the transitions of the seasons. It is more common in autumn and winter seasons when sunlight decreases.
Melancholic depression:
Melancholic depression refers to the emotional collapse of major depression that covers the whole life of the person. A person with melancholic depression is reluctant even to activities in the ordinary course of life, feels very sad and exhibits introverted behaviors.
Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder:
Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder is the most common type of depression among women because it occurs during menstruation and can sometimes last for several weeks. In this process, increased appetite, exhaustion, unnecessary nervousness can be seen.
What is the difference between major depression and depression?
In fact, if we leave the types aside, major depression and depression are the same thing, we call it depression in short among the people. But to mention one difference, we can distinguish between chronic depression and major depression. The main difference between them is that the intensity of chronic depression symptoms is less.
To make a general definition, people with chronic depression say that’s what life is and do not believe that something can be solved. A state of reluctance lasting at least two years indicates that depression has become chronic. Major depression symptoms can be much more severe. Due to the severity of the symptoms, major depression can be easily noticed by the person’s environment, while chronic depression can hide itself for a long time.
What are the symptoms of major depression that give signs of the disease?
- feeling tired all the time
- constantly feeling worthless
- feeling guilty all the time
- Inability to sleep or oversleeping
- Lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities
- slow thinking and slow acting
- inability to rest
- Persistent thoughts of death and suicide
- concentration disorders
- Instability
- Abnormal weight gain or weight loss
Here are some of the most common symptoms seen in people with major depression in general. Of course, not everyone with these symptoms has major depression. Sometimes these symptoms can be seen in everyone, even for a short time. If it lasts longer than two weeks, it may be a symptom that should be taken seriously.
Major depression can have different effects in men and women:
The risk of major depression in women is twice as high as in men, as there are special factors that affect the hormonal balance, such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, and therefore psychology. Depression symptoms in men are generally seen in the form of extreme irritability or alienation from the family, so it is a little difficult to notice. Digestive system problems, headaches and back pain can also be seen in men as symptoms of depression, unlike women. Treatment methods are similar.
So, how is major depression treated?
- Psychotherapy
- Medication
- Electroconvulsive therapy
Psychotherapy:
If it is a mild to moderate major depression, the first treatment method to be applied to the person is psychotherapy. In this method, it is aimed to change the behavior of the person against negative situations through suggestion and it is tried to teach how to cope with the situations that cause depression.
Medication:
A treatment method that can be applied together with psychotherapy is drug therapy. If depression is caused by conditions in the person’s brain chemistry, this structure is tried to be changed with medication. These drugs, called antidepressants, can take effect after weeks or months. Medicines are taken according to the doctor’s advice, and if necessary, a drug change or dose update can be made.
Electroconvulsive therapy:
Even if it is a somewhat frightening method, an electric current is passed through the patient’s brain in the electroconvulsive treatment method, which is used only in cases of very severe major depression. It is the last treatment method to be applied, but it is very effective.
You can also cope with major depression on your own:
Especially in cases of mild and moderate major depression, the person can cope with this situation on his own. For example, you can start by consuming healthier things and limiting alcohol. The positive effects of regular exercise, even if it is light, will be high. Exercises that relax your mind, such as yoga and meditation, will also increase your ability to cope with major depression.
When do you need to go to a specialist?
It is recommended that you seek help from a specialist as soon as possible in situations that cause trauma such as death, harassment, separation, social isolation, social changes, communication problems. But expect depression symptoms to last for at least two weeks in emotional breakdowns caused by being overwhelmed by the burden of daily life. Because sometimes the little things can bother us, it’s normal. Try to discover the limits of your inner struggle.
According to many experts, we answered questions such as what is major depression, which is accepted as the disease of our age, what are its symptoms and how is its treatment. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Remember that as with all health issues, you should get the most accurate and specific information about major depression from a specialist.
19947
