Bad mood: how dangerous is chronic depression?
How often do you notice a bad mood? This is not about a temporary breakdown, but a constant feeling of oppression and discontent, which invariably accompanies a person regardless of physical condition, weather, work or life. Most of us write off such a mood for everyday problems, lack of finances, weather, blockages at work, personal problems. But few people suspect that these are signs of a serious psychological disorder bordering on depression. This condition is called dysthymia. How to recognize it and how to help yourself .
What is dysthymia
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by poor mood, chronic fatigue and apathy, decreased physical and mental activity. According to WHO statistics, it occupies one of the first places among the reasons why people do not come to study or work. The worst thing is that part of the population, prone to depression, partially or completely loses working capacity.
Today, doctors no longer consider this disease as exclusively psychological, but are classified as systemic pathologies. Prolonged depressive state negatively affects the work of internal organs, metabolic processes, causing their oppression and dysfunction.
There are about ten types of depression, classifying them according to the features of the clinical picture. A condition that is characterized by a chronic course (at least two years) with less severe symptoms of depression is called dysthymia. According to statistics, about 68% of the population aged 13 to 75 years suffer from dysthymia. For the first time this term was used in medical practice by the doctor of medical sciences, psychiatrist Robert Spitzer, replacing the diagnosis of “neurotic depression” with them. Dysthymia is also called a permanent depressive disorder, because its main feature is the duration of the condition.
How is depression diagnosed
Depression, like any other disease, cannot be diagnosed and treated on its own. Confirm or refute the diagnosis can psychotherapist after collecting anamnesis.
The diagnosis is confirmed, if for two years or more, a person complains of depressed causeless mood, and such depression accompanies him most of the time. Against the background of depressed mood, insomnia, or hypersomnia, appears, characterized by excessive sleep at night and often repeated daytime episodes. The appetite of such people is generally reduced, and only 12% have overeating, respectively – obesity. Concentration, mental activity leaves much to be desired: problems arise at work, study, it is becoming more and more difficult to decide independently.There are fears of responsibility, independence, mostly pessimistic thoughts prevail. There is a fine line between dysthymia and depression: dysthymia lasts at least two years, and its symptoms are easily tolerated by humans.
Depression: the main symptoms of dysthymia
Dysthymia is a young disease. It is manifested in children and adolescents, although parents stubbornly associate this condition with transitional age, difficulties at school, or a character trait. In most cases, the person receives the correct diagnosis as early as adulthood. In children and adolescents, dysthymic symptoms are as follows:
- Low level of physical and mental activity.
- Reluctance to talk.
- Lack of concentration, memory impairment.
- Causeless tearfulness.
- Loss of interest in toys, books, other activities.
In adults, the state of depression is complemented by several characteristic points:
- Self-criticism (more comparable to self-flagellation) regarding their physical data, mental abilities, position in society.
- Feeling of inferiority.
- Fear of the simplest household problems.
- Pessimistic mood for the future.
- Guilt for some deeds from the past.
- Loss of interest in lovemaking, decreased libido.
- Social self-isolation.
Symptomatology reaches its peak by the year 21. At this age, you can already determine the type of disease:
- Somatized dysthymia. This condition is characterized by the main features of depression: feeling unwell, tearfulness, sleep disturbances. Some patients complain of constipation, pain in the intestines and larynx, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat.
- The clinical picture of characterological dysthymia is closely connected with the pessimistic infusion, depression, complex loser.
Prevention and treatment of depression
As dysthymia develops at an early age, it is important to speak the same language with the child. Communication culture, care, love and understanding – the best prevention for children and adolescents. Although adults no less need the support of loved ones.
Treatment of depression includes the whole complex: psychopharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, folk remedies. Immediately, we note that people in the state of this form of depression do not need hospitalization: they do not pose a danger to others, and they have no thoughts of suicide.
Drug treatment for depression consists in taking traditional tricyclic antidepressants. This is the best medicine that increases serotonin and norepinephrine, which have a positive effect on the nervous system.
Folk Medications for Depression – Herbs
Many recipes for depression and nature itself. Broths and teas, which have practically no contraindications, are considered effective. Today, they are prescribed in parallel with the medication, achieving a good effect.
Chamomile, mint, lemon balm, St. John’s wort, motherwort and valerian – these herbs help to cope with most of the symptoms. Herbal depression treatment has long been practiced. Its main advantage is the absence of addiction.
The process of communication as a remedy for dysthymia
The help of a specialist, child or adult psychotherapist will never be superfluous. Today, more than ten individual and group types of psychotherapy practice. AT communication process with a psychologist, heightened self-esteem, self-determination of the meaning of life, the acquisition of interpersonal skills and assertiveness.
Be attentive to your family and friends: a bad mood can be a sign of a serious psychological disorder. Often they are not able to ask for help, and your task is to become a reliable friend and mentor, an assistant in solving problems and overcoming fears.