How to distinguish a bad mood from real depression? Why is the blues coming? Vitamins and minerals

If pessimism has become your constant companion, if you constantly have no strength for anything, and you don’t want to do anything, if the daily routine has become unbearable, and in addition to this, there are problems with sleep and appetite - you may well think that you are depressed. It is possible that this is exactly what it is. But perhaps you just got off on the wrong foot, and you should not exacerbate your state of mind by sad thoughts about depression, which you do not have. In this article, we will try to explain to you how to feel the difference.

Main symptoms of clinical depression

Depression- this is mental disorder associated with the fact that nervous system person does not work correctly. You can judge the presence of such a disorder by the following symptoms:

Bad mood, gloominess, tendency to see everything in a negative light.
Fatigue, lack of strength and energy even to perform ordinary tasks, which before that seemed to be something taken for granted.
Decreased interest in a significant part of activities, inability to enjoy them. People with clinical depression, in the truest sense of these words, nothing pleases.
Violation of the ability to concentrate, analyze, logical thinking.
Self-doubt, indecision, conviction with one's own worthlessness or in boundless guilt.
Change in the intensity of motor or mental activity compared to its usual level: it can be both an acceleration of thought processes and movements, and their slowdown.
Violations eating behavior, which can be expressed in a decrease in appetite and weight loss, as well as in eating excessive amounts of food and, accordingly, weight gain.

Sleep problems: insomnia, frequent nightmares, sleepwalking.
Thoughts of suicide that do not have a basis in the form of a specific plan, or quite specific thoughts of this nature (perhaps even real attempts to commit suicide).
A constant feeling of anxiety and restlessness, often without any reason for it.

You may be suspected of having depression if:

the person has several of the above symptoms (rather than one or two);
these symptoms are observed every day for at least two weeks (and not a couple of hours or days);
he does not accept this moment drugs that can provoke a similar condition.

In this case, it is necessary to consult a doctor (preferably both a psychiatrist and a psychologist) to clarify the diagnosis and, if confirmed, prescribe antidepressants and undergo psychotherapy.

Is there anything that makes you happy?

So, one of the main signs of depression is the inability to do anything, as well as to enjoy any activity. Therefore, to distinguish depression from a bad mood, think: is there something in the world and in your life that can give you positive emotions, vivid impressions, an unforgettable pastime?

It doesn't have to be something that can be implemented right now - just something that will make your world stop being black and white. And if there is something like that, then, with a high degree of probability, you just Bad mood.

Can you logically convince yourself that you deserve the best and are not guilty of anything?

Feelings of guilt or worthlessness are also a very characteristic and common symptom of depression. And if you have it, then try to logically explain to yourself that it is irrational. For example, if it seems to you that you are a worthless person - weigh sensibly everything that you have in life. It can be a good job, study, housing, impressions of interesting travels, some hobbies in which you are good, and, of course, close people who love you.

Too much good set for someone worthless and pathetic, isn't it? If you agree, then you just need to go through a period of bad mood, or even speed up this process by pleasing yourself with something.

Do others think that you have changed a lot lately?

Here we are talking that depression is always associated with inhibition or excessive activation of motor and mental activity, emotional sphere, restlessness and indecision. All this is simply impossible not to notice, being close to a person: living with him, working with him, or at least meeting with him periodically.

Therefore, ask people who see you often enough if it seemed to them that in recent times Are you behaving in a very unusual way? Procrastinate or get irritated too quickly, nervous, and so on. Ask specifically about the manner of behavior, and not about the gloomy expression on your face, which can also be explained by a bad mood. At work, you can also evaluate the performance of your work. And if it turns out that a lot of things in you have indeed changed quite a lot, you should suspect the presence of depression.

Do your usual activities cause you unbearable difficulties?

Do not confuse this with laziness, which may well be your constant companion. With depression, the solution of even familiar tasks seems very difficult to a person, or meaningless. One way or another, he ceases to perform at least some of his usual activities. If you, having properly cheered yourself up and reined in, can still seriously get down to work, then the reason is simply in the mood.

We note again: if you determine a certain probability of depression in yourself, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. In the case of mental disorders, the same rule applies as with any other. The earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is. And if you are still inclined to believe that you are just in a bad mood - smile, meet friends, watch your favorite movie, listen to your favorite music, or use any other way to raise it for yourself.

Depressive state is a mental disorder characterized by the loss of the ability to feel joy, a decrease in mood, and suffering. AT last years the world is seeing a catastrophic number of people experiencing symptoms this disease. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that the patient does not realize that he has fallen into the network of depression, so he can overcome it on his own. depression can not. To determine the type and characteristics of the disease allows a special technique differential diagnosis which is successfully used in modern medicine.

Causes of Depressive Disorder

The exact causes of depression are still unknown. Often they appear under the influence of several factors at once. The risk group for depression (ICD code 10) includes people with low self-esteem, pessimists and adolescents. In psychiatry, there are a number of reasons why a person develops anxiety-depressive personality disorder:

taking drugs, psychostimulants;
taking antidepressants;
alcohol abuse;
childbirth, pregnancy;
avitaminosis;
neurological, oncological, endocrine pathologies;
uncontrolled or long-term use neuroleptics;
stress;
hereditary predisposition;
a small amount of consumed sunlight;
side effects of drugs;
lack of dopamine, serotonin in the blood;
experiences (parting or death loved one, loss of money, work, change in social status and other negative factors).

Why is depression dangerous?

If you yourself cannot get out of a depressive state, you must definitely contact a specialist, otherwise over time this can lead to a disastrous result. Consequences of a mental disorder:

Problems with loved ones. The person becomes withdrawn, alienated. With such it is difficult to be constantly around, especially if depression occurs in women.
Deterioration appearance . A patient who cannot overcome the symptoms of a depressive state becomes indifferent, ceases to take care of himself. Motivation disappears, hair loses its luster, splits, nails break, skin turns pale, peels off.
Decreased quality of life. A person loses energy, activity, a feeling of uselessness appears. At severe course disease increases the risk of suicide.
Cardiovascular diseases. If the help of a specialist does not arrive in time in time, then against the background of constant experiences, a person has physical pain in the region of the heart, head, abdomen. If you do not remove the depressive state in time, you may experience chronic diseases heart, the likelihood of seizures and even death is high.
Diabetes. The risk of obesity is increased by 58%. Bad mood, mild anxiety or the regular appearance of sadness causes a person to “seize” problems, which contributes to the development of diabetes.
Tobacco, drug, alcohol addiction . When it is not possible to get rid of a depressive state for a long time, people try to free themselves by taking psychotropic substances. However, their side effect only exacerbates the problem, reducing functional features brain.

Classification of the disease - types

There are two types of depressive states: exogenous, when the disorder is provoked by an external stimulus (stressful situation) and endogenous, when depression is caused by internal experiences, often inexplicable for the patient himself. More recently, in medicine, it was believed that the first type of special danger does not pose a particular danger to humans, that this condition is passing.

The endogenous species was considered complex disease leading to serious neurotic pathologies. Now doctors are sure that a provocateur severe disorder becomes precisely external stimulus, a endogenous depression characterized as a mild depressive episode.

Symptoms and signs

Rarely, when a person can bring himself out of a depressive state. Basically, the disease only develops without the intervention of a specialist. Symptoms of depression tend to be the same in men and women. Conventionally, they are divided into 4 groups: mental, behavioral, physiological, emotional.

People feel a sense of longing, low self-esteem, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, refusal to be active, a negative outlook on the future. When a profound degree of depression develops, especially in the elderly, in adolescents, or in women during pregnancy, one can observe characteristics disorders:

lethargy;
loss of libido;
autonomic dysfunction;
deterioration in self-care skills;
the idea of guilt;
somatic trouble;
suicidal tendencies;
hallucinatory syndrome;
difficulty in communication;
obsessive fears.

Diagnostics

The most important factor in the treatment of depression is its diagnosis. It is very difficult to get out of depression on your own, and a person, entangled in depressive psychosis doesn't know what to do. During the interview, the specialist must take into account many factors in order to appoint adequate treatment. The defining mechanisms of psychological diagnostics are the identification of the features and causes of the course of the disease.

After determining the cause, the doctor directs the patient to biochemical diagnostics, which is based on the detection of the level of norepinephrine and serotonin. This will allow you to determine which mediator is not enough to choose the right series of antidepressants. To diagnose depression, there are special questionnaires that are considered psychodiagnostic scientific tools. The most popular ways:

Beck scale.
The method of differential diagnosis according to the Tsung scale.
Self-rating scale of depression.
Depression Questionnaire (ODS).
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Treatment

Based on test results and biochemical diagnostics the physician prescribes individual psychotherapy and/or drug treatment. Doctors are sure that latent depressive syndrome ( hidden depression) of any stage is curable. The most effective therapy achieved by combining drugs, psychotherapy, therapeutic gymnastics and physiotherapy. Mild depression is treated at home. If the patient is predisposed to acute form mental disorder, he can be placed in a hospital.

The lack of a person's ability to cope with depression on their own suggests help in the form of antidepressants. Their essence is to force the human body to produce nerve impulses, which are responsible for activity, behavior, mood. What drugs do you need to take for this:

Tricyclic structure (Imipramine, Amitriptyline). Block the reuptake of neurotransmitters. Highly strong impact and more side effects. Appointed only in outpatient settings in the most severe form of depression.
The second generation with tricyclic action (Pyrazidol, Befol), which already affects other receptors. Less side effects, have a sedative effect, but do not cope with severe forms of depression.
Third generation antidepressants (Fluoxetine, Citalopram). They affect the metabolism of serotonin. Correct phobias, panic attacks. Convenient single use.
Fourth generation antidepressants (Milnacipran, Duloxetine). Selectively affect serotonin and norepinephrine, without affecting other mediators.

What doctor treats?

Psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, neurologists help to fight depression. The first ones work with the client's thoughts, his emotional experiences. Using available tools, they ask questions about how a person feels and provide moral support. Psychotherapists also rely on the power of the word, but they work with the expansion of consciousness, teach how to overcome depression, change attitudes towards oneself, help find strength in overcoming everyday difficulties, in rehabilitation after depression. These specialists, unlike psychologists, are qualified to treat depression with antidepressants or tranquilizers.

The psychiatrist helps to get rid of the average and most severe forms depressive disorder. Specializes in mentally ill people. He will not hold intimate conversations and will not require the patient to describe his condition. The work of a psychiatrist is a tough position in relation to the patient, who is treated mainly on an outpatient basis with the permission of the patient himself or his relatives. Neurologists deal with depressive cases that lead to neurological diseases- Alzheimer's disease vascular dementia and others.

Methods of correction in children and adolescents

Depressive symptoms in children are a constant listlessness, rebellious behavior, complex character, insomnia, tired general state. The most problematic disorders occur at the age of 14-19 years. During this period, suicidal tendencies are observed, adolescents are often in a narcotic state or after alcohol. Depression doesn't go away on its own.

Parents have to turn to professionals for help. AT medical practice correction of depressive disorder in adolescents is carried out consultatively or with medication. From medicines prescribe sedative pills(Novo-passit, Persen). If the condition worsens, then the same therapy is carried out as for adults.

How to get out of depression on your own

In psychology, there are several tips for self-relieving stress. First and main step- this is proper nutrition. It is necessary to introduce foods that improve mood into the diet: chocolate, fatty varieties fish, vegetables and fruits of bright colors, sea kale, bananas, nuts, cheese. Second step self exit from depression - good sleep. Having 7-8 hours of sleep will strengthen the nervous system.

Contribute to recovery from depression physical exercise. Even if a woman is on maternity leave in the last weeks of gestation, she can still be given 15-20 minutes daily for stretching or yoga. Stressed people who do not know how to think positively. It is advisable to find literature that will help you understand how to learn not to react negatively to stimuli and pay attention only to the beauty of life, to look for interests in the world around you.

Prevention

Depression is not a human weakness, but a disease that requires the intervention of a specialist. In order not to bring yourself to a visit to a psychiatrist, at the first symptoms of a depressive state, you must follow simple rules:

Light. Depression and apathy occur mainly in the off-season, when there is little light on the street. For this reason, it is necessary that the house has a lot lighting fixtures. Try to walk more during the day fresh air, and trying to take a depressed family member for a walk will add to his health.
Traffic. motor functions release endorphins into the blood. Spend a few minutes a day in gymnastics, and the symptoms of a depressive state will not have an effect on you.
cheerfulness. No one will diagnose you: if you are always in good shape. This will help stimulate the body. natural remedies: rosehip decoction, herbal balms, teas, ginger.
the beauty. Pay attention to everything beautiful, buy only bright things, keep order in the house and in the workplace. Take care of your body. Try to fill every moment of your life with beautiful images.
Future plans. Try to plan your future correctly, set priorities. Find hobbies, new friends with interests. May your wishes be fulfilled!

Depression worsens the quality of a person's life, negatively affects relationships with loved ones, colleagues, and reduces a person's efficiency at work.
It is worth noting that if earlier the intellectual and economic elite of society, aware of the importance of a full-fledged active life, then in recent years the number of people among all segments of the population who prefer to use professional psychotherapeutic help has increased.

How to understand that you or your loved ones are not just in a bad mood, but depression, with which you need to seek help from a psychotherapist?

Any consists of three components - mood disorders, autonomic disorders and fatigue.

The first component of depression has to do with mood changes - sad depressed mood lasts more than two weeks. With depression, a dull perception of the world around appears, everything around seems gray and uninteresting. There are mood swings during the day - in the morning the mood can be good, but worsen in the evening. Or the mood is bad in the morning, and is somewhat dispelled by the evening. Some people may not have diurnal mood swings - it is constantly sad, sad, depressed and tearful.

Depressed mood comes in different shades. Sometimes it is a depressed mood with a hint of longing, with a hint of anxiety, with a hint of despair, as well as indifference or irritability. Sometimes a person may not be aware of his sad mood, but feel the so-called bodily manifestations of depression. Depression may feel intense heat in the chest area, "a heavy pressing stone on the heart." Less commonly, depression manifests itself as chronic feeling pain in any part of the body, while doctors of other specialties do not find organic causes for pain.

Very often the situation prolonged stress the person reacts with depression tinged with anxiety. People feel anxiety in different ways. It can manifest itself in the fear of falling asleep, nightmares, and in constant fear and imagining that something terrible will happen to loved ones. Sometimes a person describes anxiety as nervousness and the inability to sit in one place. A constant feeling of anxiety makes it impossible to relax, for example, a person cannot sit still on a chair for more than two or three minutes - “fidgets in a chair, then jumps up and starts walking around the room.”

Highly severe anxiety(57 points on the Sheehan scale or more) occurs against a background of extensive depression, and manifests itself in the form of panic attacks (feeling short of breath, palpitations, trembling in the body, sensations of heat). If severe anxiety has arisen, this indicates that a person has formed a huge underwater part of the iceberg of depression, and anxiety disorder is the tip of this iceberg of depression.

If at anxious depression a person cannot sit still, then with other forms of depression, on the contrary, it becomes more difficult for him to move. If a person sleeps for 12-14 hours a day, he does not have a feeling of cheerfulness in the morning, and ordinary actions - cooking soup, cleaning the apartment with a vacuum cleaner - seem overwhelming or meaningless to him, this may be a manifestation of apathetic depression.

The processes of inhibition during depression cover the entire body - it becomes more difficult for a person to think, his memory and attention deteriorate significantly, which significantly affects his working capacity. Difficulty concentrating when a person gets tired from watching TV for a short time or from reading a few pages. interesting book. Or, for example, a person can sit in front of a computer for a long time, but is unable to concentrate on work.

The second component of depression is autonomic disorders(manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia). If the cardiologist and the therapist have ruled out the corresponding organic diseases, then frequent urination, false urges, headaches, dizziness, fluctuations blood pressure and temperatures are treated as additional vegetative signs depression.

On the gastrointestinal tract depression affects as follows: a person loses his appetite, constipation is noted for 4-5 days. Much less frequently, atypical form depression, a person has increased appetite, diarrhea or false urges.

Depression does not bypass reproductive system organism. As a result of developing depression in men and women, sensations in the sexual sphere are dulled. Much less often, depression manifests itself in the form of compulsive masturbation, or in the form of flight into numerous promiscuous relationships. Men often have problems with potency. Women with depression may have regular delay menstruation for 10-14 days, for six months or more.

The third component of depression is asthenic, which includes fatigue, sensitivity to weather changes, and irritability. Irritation cause loud sounds, bright light and sudden touches strangers(for example, when a person is accidentally pushed into the subway or on the street). Sometimes, after a flash of internal irritation, tears appear.

In depression, there are various disorders sleep: difficulty falling asleep, superficial restless sleep with frequent awakenings, or early awakenings with a simultaneous desire and inability to fall asleep.

Depression has its own laws of development. There are signs that indicate the severity of depression. Reflections on the meaninglessness of life and even suicide are a sign of a significant increase in depression. Thus, a general feeling of unwillingness to live, thoughts about the meaninglessness or aimlessness of life, as well as more pronounced suicidal thoughts, intentions or plans appear sequentially in severe depression. The appearance of these symptoms in you or your loved ones is an indication for urgent appeal to a psychotherapist. In this state, it is important to start as soon as possible medicinal treatment depression in an adequate dose.

Drug treatment for depression is prescribed if the level of depression on the Zung scale equals or exceeds 48 points. The effect is due to the influence of the drug on the system of serotonin (the hormone of happiness and pleasure), norepinephrine, etc. Against the background of a stable mood, it is much easier to decide psychological problems to resolve conflict situations.

Many people are afraid to take antidepressants because they believe that allegedly these drugs develop addiction (dependence on the drug). But this is not at all the case; addiction to antidepressants (drug dependence) does not develop at all. Addiction is caused by strong sedatives and sleeping pills from the group of tranquilizers (benzodiazepines). Depression is treated with fundamentally different drugs - antidepressants.

Depending on the shade of depressed mood, the psychotherapist prescribes different antidepressants. There are antidepressants that treat anxiety-tinged depression. There are drugs to treat depression with a touch of apathy, indifference, and so on. With the right dosage of drugs, depression begins to reverse development after three to four weeks - suicidal thoughts and anxiety disappear, a desire to act actively appears, mood stabilizes.

Antidepressants begin to act at the end of the second or third week. Feeling the improvement, most people stop taking the antidepressant by the fourth week, and, as a result, depression returns after a few weeks. To fully cure depression, it is very important to endure the entire course of depression treatment prescribed by a psychotherapist.

The duration of the course of treatment with antidepressants is determined by the psychotherapist individually in each case. But, as a rule, the course of treatment with antidepressants lasts from 4 months to a year, sometimes longer. Sometimes a psychotherapist after the main course of treatment may prescribe a course of maintenance treatment to consolidate the effect of depression treatment. Depression lasting less than six months is the easiest to treat. If a person postpones treatment for two to three years, or even eight to ten years, then the course of treatment increases significantly, and can reach one and a half years with one and a half years of maintenance therapy.

Depression in psychotherapy should be treated like high fever in the practice of general illness. A high temperature is not a diagnosis, it indicates bodily trouble. When a person has heat, he goes to the doctor, and the specialist understands - is it the flu, appendicitis or something else. So depression says that a person’s soul is bad, and he needs psychological help. A psychotherapist prescribes an "antipyretic" - an antidepressant, and then, using psychotherapy methods, helps a person to deal with the problem that caused the depression.

People tend to exaggerate their feelings and emotions, so most people complain not about “bad mood”, but about “depression”. And the word is serious, and sounds more solid. It is extremely difficult to characterize the actual state of a person who is in a depressed mood, since most of his comments and remarks will be purely subjective. When talking, for example, with a psychotherapist, the patient may state that he has suicidal thoughts, even if they do not.

However, it should be remembered that there is big difference between bad mood and depression. There are several signs, both external and internal, that will help you figure it out. And it is extremely important to understand this, because if a bad mood changes into a good one sooner or later, then this mental illness that requires treatment.

First, you need to honestly answer the question for yourself - is your situation so hopeless? For example, now you are in a depressed mood, you want to cry, you have no strength at all, everything around you seems deeply dreary and gray. But imagine that your circumstances change dramatically (you need to present honestly and in good faith, and not brush it off, they say, nothing good will happen to me): you win a large amount money, make unthinkable career successes, meet a handsome prince / princess and the like. If thoughts about this begin to paint your life in bright colors, then you are in a bad mood. If you honestly admit to yourself that no circumstances of the outside world will affect you (or you already have everything, but you don’t care), everything is disgusting, unnecessary and uninteresting - then this is depression. For the sake of the purity of the experiment, try again in a couple of days.

Second, there is one more hallmark: in a bad mood, a person tends to be angry at others, look for the cause of his condition from outside, therefore, a bad mood will quickly change to a good one when external circumstances change. With depression, self-esteem suffers first of all, a person considers himself guilty of all his troubles and often unable to change, and therefore change his life. That is why, in this condition, people are often haunted by the thought of suicide as the only solution to the problem.

Thirdly, it is extremely important to pay attention to some emotional characteristics human behavior. So, increased tearfulness, emotional instability, psychological "breakdowns", problems not with sleep, but with falling asleep, the desire to speak out, find support and understanding from others indicate a bad mood.

With depression, a person, as a rule, is not able to share his feelings with anyone, rarely cries, behaves apathetically, has problems not with falling asleep, but with sleep in general. The very word "depression" comes from the Latin "deprimo" - to crush, suppress. Indeed, if in a bad mood a person has increased nervous excitability, then in depression most of the behavioral symptoms are suppressed - the person is closed, silent, passive, changes in habitual behavior are observed. This is why this disease is so dangerous - others may simply not notice the disease.

Fourth, extremely important aspect- how a person perceives objective reality and himself in this reality. Psychologists say that there is a very simple way to get rid of a bad mood. If a person asks the question “What do I have anyway: just a bad mood or depression?”, Then the answer is always obvious - just a bad mood. Being in a state of depression, a person is no longer able to objectively assess the degree of his emotional decline. He, for example, may be so absorbed in the idea of suicide that he is no longer able to understand how wrong and dangerous his thoughts are.

And not necessarily because they want to deliberately exaggerate their psycho-emotional state. In understanding common man Bad mood and depression are identical. But we must not forget that a depressive disorder is a disease that a doctor psychotherapist should be observed and treated.

How to distinguish a bad mood from depression?

Bad mood manifested in a feeling of depression, sadness, slight irritation - this normal condition person associated with a response to stressful situations. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about when it lasts for several days. But in the case when the decline in mood becomes prolonged, then it becomes alarm bell and reason to seek professional help.

It should be borne in mind that a depressive state is characterized by the following points:

mood disorder;
disorders in the autonomic system;
asthenic disorder.

Depression is characteristic sharp drops moods down, apathy, blues feeling of anxiety, nervousness. Panic attacks are not uncommon, which mark the peak of anxiety and the fact that depression develops into a very acute one. mental disorder. From panic attacks and nervousness, a depressive disorder can find its manifestation in a state when a person cannot do anything, his movements are inhibited, it is difficult for him to think, to concentrate on some kind of work.

Depression affects the general physical condition. If the examination did not reveal signs of any disease, then the physical ailment is of the same nature as mood disorders. Here, depression manifests itself in changes in blood pressure, temperature, headaches, loss or arousal of appetite, decreased libido.

Regarding the asthenic component of a depressive disorder, here depression manifests itself in irritability, sleep disorders, constant fatigue, often in connection with this, a diagnosis (CFS) is made.

Depression has in its development extreme point which speaks of severity mental state of a person - thoughts about existential problems: the meaninglessness and aimlessness of life, an obsessive suicidal mood, with subsequent implementation plans.

It should be noted that in psychiatry there is such a thing as or chronic depression . This diagnosis is made when the symptoms of depression last more than two years. As a rule, it has a cyclic occurrence with a high frequency of manifestation of a complex of symptoms of a depressive disorder. All the symptoms of depression in the complex are the same full symptoms diseases, such as the flu. Depression has primarily an existential basis, affecting not only physical state but also an acute, stable psycho-emotional state.

From the foregoing, the following warning signs can be distinguished:

appetite changes;
insomnia or constant sleepiness;
feeling empty and tired;
problems with concentration, restlessness;
obsessive sense of meaninglessness, inability to get satisfaction from favorite activities;
thoughts of suicide.

If you or your loved ones have the symptoms listed above in varying degrees of severity, you need to make an appointment with a specialist, who will help you deal with the problem by prescribing a course of treatment.