Treatment of various forms of depression

Treatment of depression is still the field of activity of doctors - neurologists, psychiatrists and psychotherapists all over the world, despite all the variety of antidepressants presented by the pharmaceutical industry and the abundance of psychotherapeutic methods and technologies. Depression cannot be considered the disease of the century, according to historical documents and statistics, people have always suffered from it, everywhere and in approximately the same percentage. It's just that depressive states used to be called completely differently, ranging from melancholy to the medieval stigma - obsession. Treatment methods also varied in the same way, directly depending on the level of enlightenment of the time period.

Symptoms of depression:

• Mood swings, irritability.
• Aggression or indifference.
• Feelings of emptiness, depression, hopelessness. Apathy towards life, “Nobody needs me”, “I can’t do this anymore!”
• Constant lack of sleep, fatigue (even lethargy).
• Deterioration of memory, performance. Laziness.
• The desire to drink or get drunk.
• Disturbed sleep: insomnia or "hibernation".
• Regrets, self-pity. Lack of desire to go out "into the world".
• Decreased or increased appetite. Weight gain or loss.
• Change in sexual activity: increased or decreased.

In more complex situations: suicidal thoughts, sometimes attempts. In this case, an urgent consultation with a specialist is necessary, and, of course, treatment for depression.

These symptoms are often called signs of damage or the evil eye. We often hear: "I'm unlucky! I've been jinxed!" In this case, the person should be advised to see a doctor.

Types of depression:

• Adynamic depression is characterized by the following symptoms: indifference to the outside world, isolation, fatigue, helplessness, lack of desire for anything. If we talk about the clinical form of the disease, then even its physical manifestations are noticeable: motor sluggishness, adynamia, muscle stiffness. It is classified as one of the variants of apathetic depression. Treatment of depression in this case (as well as in those types of depression in which fatigue is present, there is no desire for any action) is carried out with the help of antidepressants with a stimulating and sedative effect; drugs containing magnesium. There are options when the patient refuses to undergo a course of treatment due to the side effects of antidepressants.
• Agitated depression - comes from the word "agitation", which means motor activity. In this situation, the signs of depression are: a sad mood accompanied by anxiety and increased motor activity. It is not difficult to notice a patient with agitated depression, as he is constantly worried that something bad must happen to him or his loved ones. Moreover, these fears are unfounded. The drug "Novo-Passit" can relieve the feeling of anxiety.

What could be the cause of this depression?

Unfulfilled hopes and loss of faith, for example, failures of any kind, loss of money or social status, death of a loved one, and so on.

Treatment of depression is based on antidepressants of stimulating (Anafril, Melipramine, Cipramil, Paxil, Prozac, Pirazidol, Petilil, etc.) and sedative action (Amitriptyline, Azafen, Ludiomil, etc.). These drugs help to relieve feelings of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and gloomy mood.

For mild forms of depression, Hypericin and St. John's wort are used.

If the degree of the disease is more severe, then in this situation there are disorders of magnesium metabolism, therefore, magnesium comes out through the kidneys. It is logical that in this situation it is necessary to take magnesium preparations. And if it is combined with calcium, then it acts as a natural tranquilizer, which has the properties of eliminating mental stress.

Alcoholic depression. Euphoria created by alcohol, which has a systematic focus, is often accompanied by addiction. The fight against this addiction tends to provoke a depressive state. A feeling of depression, emptiness, a feeling of "like something is missing", sometimes aggression and irascibility - this is a signal of alcoholic depression. In this case, in addition to emotional therapy, you should seek help from a narcologist. As treating doctors regarding the depression itself, many people who have experienced a depressed state recommend a psychophysiologist, hypnotherapist. In the process of treatment, the most important thing is to go to the end, that is, not to look for a solution to the problem in alcohol, and the option "100 grams will not hurt" - will only worsen the situation.

Anankastic depression - depression of the endogenous group is based on both anankastic and depressive symptoms. What does this mean? That is, a mixed state occurs in the person's consciousness, caused by anxiety and obsession.

Anesthetic depression or depression of alienation is one of those types of depression that is difficult to treat with medication. Accordingly, in this case, depression treatment should be carried out by an experienced specialist (psychiatrist, psychotherapist). The course of treatment should include antidepressants with a stimulating effect ("Melipramine"). Sedative antidepressants ("Amitripline") are practically irrelevant here. Anesthetic depression manifests itself as a "cold" attitude towards people around. That is, the patient becomes indifferent to his loved ones, but at the same time he understands everything perfectly. The only thing that worries the patient during this period is his illness.

Apathetic depression is depression accompanied by apathy, namely: a person is overcome by a feeling of emptiness, laziness, loss of interest in life. In the clinical form, suicidal thoughts are possible.

Asthenic depression - manifests itself with the following symptoms: fatigue, irritability, laziness. If we talk about irritability, then absolutely everything "infuriates": noise, including the sounds of a favorite song; bright light, etc. Its physical manifestations: decreased appetite, regular thirst, disturbed sleep, lack of concentration, poor concentration, weight loss, slowness, decreased libido. Treatment of asthenic depression consists of creating favorable conditions around the patient. Irritating factors should also be excluded. Of the medications, doctors recommend tranquilizers and sedative antidepressants.

Grumbling depression is a serious disease that can lead a person to complete immobility! Initially, it declares itself with symptoms: dissatisfaction with everything and everyone, melancholy, aggression, anger, rage. With such a diagnosis, it is recommended to contact specialists with medical education, since an ordinary psychologist will not be able to analyze the patient's physical condition and prescribe medication for depression.

Vegetative depression - is part of the somatized cyclothymic depression group. The most difficult thing here is that the mental state provokes asthma attacks and tachycardia. In addition, there are a number of other symptoms: blood pressure disorders, headache and dizziness, chest pain, increased sweating, lack of appetite, decreased sexual interest. Like depression, discussed above, it requires medical intervention.

Vital depression - affects the human psyche with delusional obsessive ideas, thoughts (attempts) of suicide, mood swings. The patient's physical condition is also under pressure: disturbed sleep, menstrual cycle, constipation, etc.

Hallucinatory-paranoid depression - as a rule, is characteristic of elderly people. Its symptoms are indicated by the name itself: hallucinations and paranoia. A person with such an illness is characterized by persecution mania. The person lives in a world of illusions and is in a delirious state.

Depression without depression or masked (larved) depression - in modern language is explained as follows: "pretending" to be a physical illness. Symptoms: "I feel bad", "Everything hurts", weight change, impaired water exchange. Disorders of the systems: digestive, reproductive, cardiac, nervous.

Dysthymic depression or Weitbrecht's endoreactive dysthymia - a decline in mood, an unreasonable anxious state, including elements of dysphoria and symptoms of hypochondria. Dysthymic depression usually arises in young people, and can exist for many years. A person is in a state of dysthymia not systematically, but periodically, that is, for some time he leads a habitual way of life, and then - sharp changes in mood, which can last for months.

Dysphoric depression - its symptoms are somewhat similar to dysthymic depression, but its essence is based on organic and schizophrenic principles, the signal of which is gloominess, discontent itself, an inconstantly fluctuating emotional state, hatred of monotony, irritability. Such a circumstance encourages a person to take active actions, and he becomes overly intrusive, often even annoying.

Freezing depression - covers a person's consciousness in such a way that he can "freeze" for a long time in one position. Cessation of communication, change of anxiety to indifference - these are clear signs of freezing depression.

Inhibited depression - absorbs positive emotions, creates feelings of depression. The reasons for its appearance can be various events: a difficult operation, difficult childbirth, lack of money, absence of a loved one and much more. Basically, it overtakes people at a young age, who begin to be disappointed in themselves, in people, in life. The possibility of the disease in childhood and adulthood is not excluded. The worst thing is that inhibited depression sometimes affects brain cells with a destructive effect. The main thing is to start treating depression in time, and professionally.

Involutional or presenile depression is typical for people over forty who are going through menopause. It manifests itself as low self-esteem, the cause of which may be not only the absence of menstruation, but also the awareness that “I am old”, the departure of children, divorce, “I am of no use to anyone”, a feeling of uselessness. In some cases, this type of depression is accompanied by nihlistically hypochondriacal delirium with a fantastic meaning. “Sonapax”, “Etaperazine” are antidepressants that are ideal for eliminating delirium, which are used by doctors in the treatment of even its severe form.

Hypochondriacal depression - resembles masked depression in that a person complains of a possible illness, and is firmly convinced of the correctness of his or her far-fetched diagnosis. Most often, this syndrome affects people of the asthenic type or suspicious people. In the presence of such a person, one cannot talk about one's illnesses or read a dictionary of medical terms, as he or she will inevitably reveal in himself or herself numerous symptoms heard or read. The consequence of such suspiciousness can be vegetative phenomena: tachycardia, fatigue, sweating, anxiety.

Depression of exhaustion or overstrain - overload of nerves. The reason for this disease can be too tight a schedule: work without days off, study combined with work, etc. That is, in this situation, the nervous system is tired "nerves on edge" and it needs rest. Symptoms: irritability, irascibility, headaches and dizziness, rapid heart rate.

Climacteric depression - appears during menopause, the symptoms of which depend on the complexity of the disease. Most often, a person feels devastated, afraid of impending old age, lack of joy, and depression. Sometimes in medicine it is considered a psychoendocrine syndrome, that is, a decrease in physical and mental activity.

Depression of "rootless" - is typical for people from places of imprisonment and those in captivity. The reason for its appearance is the feeling of "a slave bird", the pressure of walls, lack of freedom, life according to a schedule. Such people have reduced activity and work capacity, hypochondria appears.

Matte or soft depression - the danger is that the degree of its expression is very weak, accordingly, it is quite difficult to determine its presence. Plus, a person with such a diagnosis is prone to suicide. Such people cannot be left alone and forced to undergo treatment for depression, since the awareness that "I am a psycho" can only worsen the situation. In this situation, a person needs a gentle approach and, nevertheless, coddling is also not worth it. Here you need not to force, but to explain the importance of therapy.

Neurotic depression is a complex of mental disorders: phobias; anxiety; hypochondriacal and asthenodepressive syndrome, which are grouped with neurosis. The cause of such a consequence is a stressful event of any kind. The complexity of treating depression lies in the correctness of the established diagnosis, as it can be confused with masked depression. Depression can be treated with homeopathic drugs (for example, "Natrum Muriaticum" is taken in an inconsolable state; despondency, despair, fear, panic can be eliminated with "Aurum Metallicum"). But again, consultation with a doctor (neurophysiologist, psychoneurologist) is mandatory!

Neuroleptic depression - has three forms:

• perseverative depression: anxious-apathetic symptoms, ideational and motor inhibition, quiet monotonous speech;
• akinetic: lifelessness, weakness, hypothymia with advantages of bradykinesia, aspontaneity;
• neuroleptic dysphoria caused by neuroleptics. Its symptoms are: motor restlessness, anxiety, tension, restlessness. There is a possibility of self-destructive (deviation from the norm) behavior.

Panphobic depression is a depression based on a number of phobias. In this case, a person is panicky afraid of something or someone.

Paralytic depression - appears in a state of progressive paralysis. At the initial stage of its development, it is characterized as asthenic dysphoric depression, which smoothly flows into anxious agitated depression with nihilistic delirium.

Paranoid depression is a clearly expressed paranoia, which is explained by accusations, self-flagellation, and inferiority.

Periodic or remittent depression is typical for patients with manic-depressive psychosis and cyclothymia. A clinical disease that should be monitored by a specialist in the field of psychiatry.

Soil depression is a combination of depression and fear.

Presenile malignant depression is a psychosis presented in the form of a constant anxious state. Its other name is presenile malignant melancholia, which is typical for people of advanced age. Symptoms: incoherent speech, confusion, sometimes eineroid clouding of consciousness, the appearance of cachexia.

Provoked depression - develops against the background of mental trauma (grief: death of a loved one), somatic disorder, intoxication. In this case, antidepressants are not effective, sometimes even on the contrary, they can only worsen the situation. In such circumstances, family support, consultation with a psychologist, walks in the fresh air will be effective as treatment. The person needs to be distracted from the factor causing the depressed state. Over time, depression passes, if it does not mutate into another mental disorder.

Simple depression is a depressed state. It is characterized by the following features: fatigue, indifference, migraine, laziness, inactivity, "I'm fed up with everything", the world around me seems grey and joyless. Ways to combat it: a change of scenery, vitamins, and antidepressants if necessary. If we talk specifically about antidepressants, then, as already mentioned above, they are prescribed only by a doctor.

Psychogenic or reactive depression - formed on the basis of psychological trauma, emotional shock. A person becomes anxious, depressed, suffers from insomnia, tearfulness. This type of depression has 3 types of reaction:

• truly depressive,
• anxious-depressive,
• depressive.

Reactive depression usually goes away on its own within 2-3 months. However, additional help from a specialist is possible.

Senile depression - develops in people of old age, it is often called "senile depression". It manifests itself with the following symptoms: inattention, absent-mindedness, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, unwillingness to live, poor appetite, insomnia. A person really suffers from the fact that most of his life is already behind him.

Symptomatic depression - the cause of its occurrence is diseases of internal organs, the brain. Against the background of these factors, a person falls into depression, the symptoms of which are standard: apathy, lack of joy, migraine, sleep disorders, changes in body weight, impaired appetite, and so on.

Tearful depression is a melancholy state, tears, weakness of character, helplessness. Mild depression, as a rule, does not have serious consequences. It is related to cerebrovascular pathology and hysterical disorders.

"Moving-in" depression - occurs when moving to a new place. Usually, older people suffer from this type of depression. It is difficult for them to get used to a place where they have lived for a long period of time. A person is overcome by melancholy and nostalgia. Guests who are related to the previous home and meeting new neighbors help to adapt to the new place. After full adaptation, in most cases, depression goes away on its own. But in any case, a consultation with a psychologist will not be superfluous.

Somatogenic depression - factors and symptoms are the same as symptomatic depression.

Vascular depression - occurs against the background of a disease associated with blood vessels: cerebral atherosclerosis. A person becomes irritated and worried from understanding that he is sick. His worries have a melancholy content.

Depression of fear - other names: anxiety depression, angstimopathy. A sense of impending danger and fear of it.

Stuporous depression has several symptoms:

• psychotic emotional state with an admixture of melancholy and psychomotor retardation up to the stage of stupor;
• motor numbness against the background of anxiety-depressive disorder.

Anxious depression - the essence and manifestations are the same as agitated depression.

Smiling depression - difficult to determine with the "naked eye". Often we meet people who laugh at problems, but in fact, they worry, they just do not show it in the presence of other people. This condition is also called ironic depression, as the depressive personality mocks the current situation. Most often caused by two reasons: mistrust of people or fear of seeming pitiful.

Background depression - the triggers of its occurrence include: illness, trauma, emotional stress. It belongs to a series of dysphoric depressions with grouped genesis: psychogenic, somatogenic, endogenous. Its symptoms are polymorphic and inconstant.

Cyclothymic depression - on a cyclothymic background is expressed by vital depression accompanied by a melancholic and pessimistic mood. In this case, the form of its manifestation is simple. But there is another version of it "depressive hyperesthesia" - a serious mental disorder - in foreign literature it is substantiated as manic-depressive psychosis.

Circular depression is characterized by manic-depressive psychosis.

Existential depression - can be described as an anti-egoistic state, that is, a person lives contrary to his principles, which oppresses and loses his "I" in a world of disorder and immorality. Treatment of depression should be based on auto-training, exercises to increase self-esteem, conversations with friends and family members.

Endogenous depression is another name for "melancholia". It does not pose a particular threat, as it is caused without reason, that is, there were no psychological traumas or stresses. Most often, this happens because a person is simply bored, has become fed up with his daily life. Basically, everything goes away with a change of scenery.

In addition to the above-mentioned types of depression, there are types of depressed states that arise due to hormonal changes: adolescence, pregnancy, childbirth (postpartum depression), menopause.

Before thinking about self-medication, you should first make sure that you actually have depression. Self-diagnosis by reading information sources is not the right way to solve the problem. Depression treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of an experienced specialist. And even more so, you should not take antidepressants without a doctor's recommendation! In addition, why depression right away? Maybe the person is leading an unhealthy lifestyle? Well, this is one of the possible reasons for depression!