Depression
Depression and depressive disorders are considered emotional disorders in the medical field, including everything from Major Depression to Dysthymia. They have many signs that affect people in society, at work, in education, among people, etc.
How does one become depressed?
Basically, here's how it works: the nerves in our brain do not touch, but instead transmit messages from one person to another next are chemicals called neurotransmitters. We need to the right amount of this chemical between the senses will pass the same message directly to the next hearing. If not enough that chemical, the message is not properly transmitted and entered this case, depression or depressive illness may arise. There there are often problems with chemical depression run out of balance serotonin and norepinephrine.
And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.
— Haruki Murakami
Symptoms
Not all depressed people will show all the symptoms or have them at the same level. If a person has four or more symptoms, for more than two weeks, consult a doctor or mental health professional professional immediately. While the symptoms described in all of the groups below are usually the most pronounced depression, there are other problems with similar features including: bipolar illness, anxiety, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- Continued feelings of sadness or "emptiness".
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, hopeless and / or guilty.
- Drug abuse.
- Fatigue or loss of interest in normal activities, including sex.
- Disorders in eating and sleeping patterns.
- Anger, increased crying, anxiety or panic.
In Adults :
- Continuous unhappiness, apathy, resentment.
- Uncontrolled anger or outbursts of anger.
- Overconfidence, unnecessary guilt, low self-esteem.
- Inability to concentrate, think clearly, remember, or make decisions, perhaps resulting in refusal to attend school or inability (due to depression or mental retardation) doing homework.
- Slow or hesitant speech or body movements, or instability (anxiety).
- Slow or hesitant speech or body language, or restlessness (anxiety) and loss of interest and happy activities.
- Low energy, chronic fatigue, laziness.
In Adolescents :
Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headache, stomach, neck pain, arms or legs hurt due to muscle stiffness, digestive disorders. (to exclude other medical reasons)
- Common complaints of aches and pains (back, stomach, arms, legs, head, chest), fatigue, slow movement and speech, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, weight gain or weight loss, blurred vision, dizziness, heart palpitations, anxiety.
- Inability to concentrate, remember or think directly (sometimes there is a mistake with dementia). Sadness or indifference, withdrawal, and inability to find happiness in anything.
- irritability, mood swings or constant complaining; nothing seems to make a person happy.
- Needless talk, unnecessary, excessive and inappropriate.
- Frequent visits to doctors without symptoms; every test turns out to be untrue.
- Excessive drinking, which can mask basic depression.
- Decreased sleep demand.
- It does not rest, it is disturbed, it cannot remain silent. Increased power, or failure to slow down.
- Chasing, unsteady thoughts, easily distracted.
- Fast, amplified speaking or laughing
- Great ideas, growing art.
In Elderly :
An attempt to suicide or suicidal behaviour
- She doesn't know why they're doing it, but she feels she can't stop.
- You may not remember the quest when it's over
- You feel like they are / have fainted.
- They may think they will be rescued.
- Imitating pain because of a failure to express emotions.
- Increasing ascent and non-judgmental judgment, ideas and cognitive skills
Healthy, unthinking children who talk about death or seem confused after losing a friend or loved one, but they have a clear understanding that death is the last, and those who are not depressed, may be at a much lower risk of suicidal behavior.
Know what to do ?
Because children are not always able to understand and express their feelings, as adults we should be more be careful in understanding the ways depression and suicide occur in children, and work to get them the help they need.
- …have thoughts of hurting yourself?”
- …feel so badly that you have thoughts of dying?”
- …wish you could run away or disappear?”
- …wish you could go to sleep and not wake up?”
If you think child maybe suicidal :
Ask questions about suicide like, “Do you ever…
Treatment opinion one can include :
Depression Inventory Scales, Suicidal Risk Assessments, Suicidal Intent Scales, Degree of Hopelessness Scales, Diagnostic Interview Questionnaires.
- Out-patient psychotherapy:
- Cognitive Therapy – teaches more positive thinking, coping skills and problem-solving
- Interpersonal Therapy– might teach children how to make friends
- Group Therapy – with others of similar age that have a depressive illness
- Family Therapy – works with the entire family and discusses various family dynamics
- Various supports at school. Talk with a school nurse about the options available.
- Various forms of play therapy, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, visualization.
- Antidepressant medications, stimulants, also some types of alternative medicine.
How to help :
Educate yourself on childhood & adolescent depressive illnesses and suicide.
- Assure your child they can feel better, that suicidal thoughts are only temporary, and that there are people who can help them.
- Always take suicidal tendencies seriously and respond immediately.
- Know that early intervention is the key to successful treatment for children who suffer from depressive illnesses.
- Understand that treatment should be a team-approach including a psychotherapist, a child/adolescent psychiatrist, parents, relatives, caregivers, school personnel, friends, babysitters, neighbors and other significant people in the child’s life.
