Author: Psychiatry those things
Depression is a disease, not a strong will, not a temperament, but the same disease as a cold, but the site of action is different, depression specifically bullies the brain.
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The cause of depression has not yet been fully solved, but scientists have been trying to find the way.
First, genetic, physiological, psychological, social, etc., these factors can lead to depression
1. Heredity
To be precise, the occurrence of depression is closely related to genetic factors, and depression has a certain "genetic predisposition", but there is still an essential difference from the heredity we are talking about.
While depression may not be inherited genetically, there is a clear familial concentration. Relatives of depressed patients are 10-30 times more likely to develop the disease than the general population, and the closer the blood relationship, the higher the incidence.
2. Physiology
Normally, we have serotonin secretion in our bodies, which is responsible for transmitting and expressing emotions; dopamine is responsible for transmitting and expressing excitement; norepinephrine is responsible for making people active.
And these three "hormone" disorders can make us become emotionally depressed, interested and active.
For patients with depression, the imbalance may be more serious, so that they lose the ability to feel happiness, and they cannot perceive and respond to positive emotions, which is the core criterion for the diagnosis of depression - the "three lows" problem.
More severely depressed patients experience changes in brain structure, such as hippocampal atrophy and damage to neurological white matter.
3. Psychology
Heavy stress and major mental stimuli can also induce depression, and the greater the stress and the greater the danger, the more likely depression is.
But everyone's ability to withstand stress and stimulation is different, so don't take your own standards to evaluate the strength and weakness of others.
4. Social environment
Monotonous mechanical work, long-term solitude, little concern from relatives and friends, divorce, etc., will keep our support system on the verge of disintegrating.
5. Light and seasonal changes
These will also affect the occurrence of depression, which we often say about winter depression and summer anti-irritability.
Winter days are short and long nights, which is the peak of depression. In Northern Europe, where the extreme day and night are perfect, although the welfare is perfect, food and clothing are not worried, it is the hardest hit area of depression.
If you look closely, you will find that the lighting in the Nordic room will be particularly bright, which is also commonly used in medicine to prevent and treat depression.
6. The incidence in women is 2 times that of men
Women have large endocrine changes, and are prone to depression during menstruation, postpartum, and menopause. Of course, men's depression is also very much. For example, we often think of Zhang Guorong, Cui Yongyuan, Dwayne Johnson, Churchill and so on.
Second, it can be completely certain that depression can be treated and alleviated
Go to the hospital for examination, but do not know whether to go to the psychiatric department, many times can not check for depression problems. The more this happens, the more helpless, desperate, and caught in a dead loop. When it is serious, there will be a voice in your heart that urges you to commit suicide.
More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and nearly 1 million commit suicide each year. Depression needs to be detected earlier and treated professionally earlier.
1. Take medicine
Rest assured that antidepressants are not addictive. But remember to tell you today, do not use hearsay drugs, be sure to take them under the guidance of a psychiatrist, and the doctor will also use some anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic drugs or emotional stabilizers according to the condition.
Antidepressants that are no longer very common: promizine, doxepine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, moclobemide, maputillin, etc.;
More common antidepressants: fluoxetine, venlafaxine, duloxetine, zytrelin, escitalopram, mirtazapine, bupropion, fluoxamine, trazodone, citalopram, agomelatine, paroxetine, etc.
There is also a rapid antidepressant (ketamine) that will soon be available, which we are looking forward to together.
2. Psychological counseling and treatment
Be sure to seek help from a professional. If you can't find it, at least be with the comfortable object you get along with, communicate more, and don't sulk yourself.
3. Physical therapy
For patients with severe suicidal tendencies, it is difficult for drugs and psychology to take effect in a short period of time, and it is still recommended to modify the treatment of electrical convulsions.
Although there is a risk of anesthesia and there may be side effects of headaches and memory impairment after treatment, it is reversible and the treatment is also rapid and effective.
4. Attention to life
Depressed people also need to pay attention to healthy eating, avoid drinking alcohol, strong tea, caffeinated beverages, so as not to affect sleep; fitness can promote blood circulation, the body secretes more endorphins and serotonin; reading, listening to music, basking in the sun... All of this is very good.
Third, there are more methods than problems
Depression is better, pay attention to prevention in the future.
Depression is easy to recur, in addition to actively cooperating with treatment, it requires strong perseverance, to learn to live with it, and to face it bravely.
If the treatment is good, then be sure to pay attention to maintaining good habits and not relapsing as much as possible. If there is a recurrence, don't be afraid, because by overcoming it, you already have your own experience.
Come on! Everyone with depression! At least we will always be with you here and work hard!
bibliography:
1.Lu Lin. Psychiatry of Shen Yu Estate (6th ed.). People's Medical Publishing House.2018.
2. Cangcheng Yang. Talk to your depressed self. Zhejiang University Press. 2013.
3.Richard O'Connor. Get out of depression. China Light Industry Press. 2014.
* This article is reprinted with the permission of "Psychiatry Those Things", please contact the original author for reprinting.