More than 264 million people suffered from depression as of 2018, according to the WHO. The situation with the pandemic and self-isolation only worsened the picture – the number of patients is increasing. And among our loved ones, there may also be those who suffer from this disorder. In this article, we will help you know how to recognize the problem and help a person get out of depression.
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Depression is a lingering condition that occurs in a person for one month or more. Bad mood, trouble thinking, and constant fatigue are often cited among the classic symptoms. However, psychiatrists today point out that sometimes depression manifests itself differently. The main sign will be a change in human behavior – not everyone becomes sad, some show unusual aggression, others have mood swings, and so on.
Pain is closely related to depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes, various unexplained pains may be the first or even the only symptom noticeable to others. And Aarhus University notes that depressive disorder often occurs in people against the background of chronic somatic diseases.
Depression is significantly different from short-term bad moods or what is called “blues.” Suppose symptoms such as constant fatigue, unwillingness to communicate with people, loss of interest in favorite activities persist for more than two weeks. In that case, the person’s relatives and friends should be alert and convince him of the need to start treatment for depression.
Psychotherapists recommend paying attention to the following signs, which may indicate the onset of a depressive state in a person:
One of the unusual signs of depression is substance abuse. A depressed person starts to rely on alcohol and drugs in order to make himself feel better. However, substance abuse can make a depressed person even more upset by decreasing the level of serotonin in the body.
Thus, if you see your loved one abusing drugs, it may be a sign of depression. If not treated timely, depression can even lead to suicide. According to America’s Health Rankings, the number of suicide cases due to depression in Pennsylvania has increased.
Thus, if your loved one is suffering from depression and overdosing on drugs due to it, you must take them to a nearby treatment center. Several inpatient drug rehab centers in Pennsylvania offer the best treatments; seeking assistance from them can help your loved one get back to life.
A depressive state is not at all sadness and longing; it is apathy and the absence of any emotions, i.e., numbness. And in this state, a person is often visited by thoughts about unwillingness to live and about the absence of meaning in life.
A person in a depressed state may sleep poorly, often wake up from obsessive gloomy thoughts, or sleep for 10-12 hours without getting enough sleep. Thus, if you notice this sign in your loved one, you must seek professional help for them.
In a depressed state, a person experiences nervous tension if he needs to “keep his face” in front of others and find the strength for daily activities. However, this symptom may not be the most noticeable, especially if a person has previously been distinguished by a melancholic temperament.
Often a person in a depressed state is advised to shake things up, to find a hobby in the form of sports or creativity. But he simply does not have the strength to do it. Lack of interest in what brought joy alarms the family and friends of a person
A depressed person may not taste food or, conversely, overeat. Binge eating or lack of appetite is common signs of depression. If a family member, friend, or colleague has several symptoms of a possible depressive state, you should help them recover from it.
In no case should you blame him for being lazy or offended for being too irritable. It is possible that he needs treatment for his depression. But only a psychotherapist can diagnose it, so convince them to get professional help.
Here is how to help a depressed person.
Clinical depression is associated with disorders of the brain, in which a person is deprived of the opportunity to experience positive emotions. Therefore, all attempts to cheer him up with phrases like “Don’t be sad, look how good everything is!” will be ineffective. When talking with a person, it is important to remember a few rules:
Very often, people think that some fun pastime can help a person with depression. However, this does not always work. After all, it is possible that a noisy holiday will not amuse but only exacerbate the feeling of isolation and loneliness.
With a depressive disorder, the person should be in a comfortable atmosphere. For this, you can do the following:
According to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, group physical exercise improves psycho-emotional state and helps people experience less social isolation. Moreover, even online training has a positive effect.
Sometimes the only answer to the question: how to help a person get out of depression is to take him to a doctor. If the condition lasts more than three months, most likely, we are talking about clinical depression, which will not be resolved without medical assistance but will only worsen. People in this state can commit suicide, so you should not postpone going to the doctor.
It is important for loved ones to support a person, relieve the fear of specialists, and convince that an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist is no different from an appointment with another doctor. You can go to the first receptions with him.
We mentioned some signs of depression that will help you identify a depressed person and also some ways you can adopt to help them recover from a depressive state.
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