How does depression manifest differently across racial and ethnic groups. What are the most common symptoms of clinical depression. Why is recognizing depression symptoms crucial for timely intervention and treatment.

Understanding Clinical Depression: More Than Just Feeling Blue

Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a complex medical condition that goes far beyond temporary sadness or disappointment. It affects every aspect of a person’s life, from personal relationships to physical health and mental wellbeing. In 2021, at least 8.3% of U.S. adults experienced a major depressive episode, making it one of the most common mental health disorders in the country.

Is clinical depression the same as feeling sad? No, clinical depression is characterized by specific symptoms that are more pervasive, severe, and debilitating than general sadness. These symptoms can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.

The Prevalence of Depression Across Different Demographics

Depression does not affect all communities equally. Research suggests that American Indians, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives are most likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression. This group experiences high levels of post-traumatic stress and is more prone to substance use disorders.

How does depression prevalence vary among other racial groups? Studies show that:

• White individuals have a 17.9% lifetime prevalence of depression
• African-Americans have a 10.4% lifetime prevalence, though some data suggests higher rates, especially as they age
• Depression is less common among Asians
• Hispanic and Latinx people experience higher rates of depression

It’s crucial to note that the manifestation of depression symptoms can differ between racial and ethnic groups. Understanding these differences is key to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Recognizing the Signs: 9 Key Symptoms of Depression

1. Persistent Feelings of Hopelessness

Feelings of hopelessness are a hallmark symptom of depression, but their prevalence varies across different groups. According to a National Health Interview Survey, who reports feeling hopeless most frequently? Hispanic and Latino individuals are most likely to report feeling hopeless “all or most of the time,” followed by people of two or more races.

2. Worthlessness and Inappropriate Guilt

Many individuals with depression experience feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt. How does this symptom manifest across different groups? The survey found this sentiment most common among people of two or more races, as well as American Indians and Alaska Natives. These feelings often manifest as persistent thoughts like “It’s all my fault” or “What’s the point?”

3. Overwhelming Fatigue

Depression can cause profound fatigue, making even simple tasks feel insurmountable. Which groups report this symptom most frequently? Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are most likely to feel like “everything is an effort, all the time,” followed by Black or African-American individuals.

4. Social Withdrawal and Isolation

Loneliness and isolation are significant indicators of poor mental health. In fact, they are among the top three reasons people describe themselves as having poor mental health, according to Mental Health America’s 2020 screening data. For Hispanic/Latinx people, it was cited as the biggest cause of mental health issues.

5. Loss of Interest in Previously Enjoyed Activities

Depression can rob individuals of the pleasure they once found in their favorite activities. This symptom, known as anhedonia, is a key indicator of major depression. How prevalent is this symptom across different groups? A study of 25,503 older Americans found that Black and Hispanic individuals were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than white people to experience a loss of interest in everyday life.

6. Changes in Sleep Patterns

Depression often disrupts sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or excessive sleeping. These changes can exacerbate other symptoms and impact overall health. Do sleep disturbances affect all groups equally? While sleep issues are common across all demographics with depression, some studies suggest that African Americans with depression may experience more severe sleep disturbances compared to other groups.

7. Appetite and Weight Changes

Significant changes in appetite and weight, either increase or decrease, can be indicative of depression. How do these symptoms manifest across different communities? Research indicates that appetite and weight changes can vary based on cultural dietary habits and body image perceptions. For instance, some studies suggest that Hispanic individuals with depression may be more likely to experience increased appetite and weight gain compared to non-Hispanic whites.

8. Difficulty Concentrating and Making Decisions

Depression can impair cognitive function, making it challenging to concentrate, remember details, or make decisions. Is this symptom universal across all groups with depression? While cognitive symptoms are common in depression across all demographics, some research suggests that African Americans and Hispanic individuals may report more severe cognitive symptoms compared to non-Hispanic whites.

9. Physical Symptoms and Pain

Depression isn’t just a mental health condition; it can manifest physically as well. Common physical symptoms include headaches, back pain, and digestive issues. Do physical symptoms of depression vary across different groups? Interestingly, studies have shown that some cultural groups may be more likely to report physical symptoms of depression rather than emotional ones. For example, some Asian cultures may emphasize physical symptoms due to the stigma associated with mental health issues.

The Impact of Cultural Factors on Depression Symptoms

Cultural background plays a significant role in how depression symptoms are expressed and perceived. How do cultural factors influence the manifestation of depression? Several key aspects come into play:

• Stigma: In some cultures, mental health issues carry a strong stigma, leading individuals to express their depression through physical symptoms rather than emotional ones.
• Language: The way depression is described can vary greatly between cultures. Some languages may lack specific terms for certain emotional states associated with depression.
• Social norms: Cultural expectations about emotional expression can influence how individuals with depression behave and communicate their feelings.
• Help-seeking behaviors: Cultural attitudes towards mental health treatment can affect whether individuals seek professional help for their symptoms.

Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for healthcare providers to accurately diagnose and treat depression across diverse populations.

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors in Depression

Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in the development and persistence of depression. How do socioeconomic factors contribute to depression rates? Several key aspects are worth considering:

1. Financial stress: Chronic financial difficulties can contribute to persistent feelings of hopelessness and anxiety, key symptoms of depression.
2. Access to healthcare: Lower-income individuals may have limited access to mental health services, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression.
3. Education: Lower levels of education are associated with higher rates of depression, possibly due to reduced access to information about mental health and fewer resources for coping with stress.
4. Employment: Job insecurity or unemployment can significantly impact mental health, contributing to feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
5. Living conditions: Poor housing conditions and unsafe neighborhoods can contribute to chronic stress, a risk factor for depression.

These socioeconomic factors often disproportionately affect minority communities, contributing to higher rates of depression in these groups. Addressing these underlying social determinants of health is crucial for comprehensive depression prevention and treatment strategies.

The Intersection of Depression and Other Mental Health Conditions

Depression often coexists with other mental health conditions, a phenomenon known as comorbidity. How common is comorbidity in depression, and what are its implications? Studies show that up to 60% of individuals with depression also meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. Other common comorbidities include:

• Substance use disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders

The presence of comorbid conditions can complicate diagnosis and treatment. For example, symptoms of anxiety may mask underlying depression, or vice versa. Additionally, certain racial and ethnic groups may be at higher risk for specific comorbidities. For instance, American Indians and Alaska Natives, who have high rates of depression, also show elevated rates of PTSD and substance use disorders.

How does comorbidity affect treatment outcomes? Individuals with comorbid conditions often require more complex treatment plans and may have poorer outcomes if all conditions are not adequately addressed. This underscores the importance of comprehensive mental health assessments and individualized treatment approaches.

The Importance of Cultural Competence in Depression Treatment

Given the diverse manifestations of depression across different cultural and ethnic groups, cultural competence in mental health care is crucial. What does cultural competence in depression treatment entail? It involves several key components:

1. Understanding cultural beliefs about mental health
2. Recognizing how symptoms may be expressed differently across cultures
3. Adapting treatment approaches to align with cultural values and preferences
4. Addressing language barriers and using culturally appropriate assessment tools
5. Considering the role of family and community in treatment

Why is cultural competence so important in depression treatment? Culturally competent care can lead to more accurate diagnoses, improved treatment adherence, and better outcomes for patients from diverse backgrounds. It helps build trust between patients and healthcare providers, encouraging individuals to seek help and engage fully in their treatment.

How can healthcare systems improve cultural competence? Strategies include:

• Providing ongoing cultural competence training for healthcare providers
• Increasing diversity in the mental health workforce
• Developing and implementing culturally adapted treatment interventions
• Engaging with community leaders and organizations to better understand cultural needs and preferences

By prioritizing cultural competence, mental health care systems can work towards more equitable and effective depression treatment for all individuals, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background.

9 Depression Symptoms to Look Out For

Depression is a complex medical condition. It can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their personal relationships to their physical health. And of course, it impacts mental wellbeing.

But being unhappy isn’t the same as being depressed. Depression is a term often used loosely to describe how people feel after a bad week at work or when they’re going through a breakup. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is more than feeling blue. Specific symptoms differentiate depression from the type of generalized sadness all people sometimes experience.

In 2021, at least 8.3% of U.S. adults experienced a major depressive episode. Depression has become one of the most common mental health disorders in the country.

In this article we cover eight signs of depression.

The symptoms of depression tend to be more pervasive, severe, and debilitating for non-white individuals, who are more likely to be under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed when they have depression. Many do not get treated for the condition, and their symptoms grow even more intense as they get older.

Melissa LeeLIVING WITH DEPRESSION

In retrospect

As a child, I wasn’t really able to recognize the signs (I truly thought that’s just how my brain functioned), but as I got older and went out of my way to research and learn more about mental health conditions, I identified with many common symptoms, like feelings of hopelessness and general discontent, and mood swings. I was also really irritable and took it out on those around me, isolated myself, and didn’t want to take care of myself, not really seeing a future for myself.

Was this helpful?

Research suggests that American Indians, Native Americans and Alaska Natives are the most likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression. This group lives with an enormous amount of post-traumatic stress, and members are more likely to engage in substance use disorders than people in other communities. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people (ages 8 to 24) in this demographic.

Additional research suggests that white people are more likely to experience depression during their lifetimes (17.9% prevalence) than African-American individuals (10.4%). (Other data counters this, and finds that the latter group is more likely to experience depression, especially as its members age.) Socioeconomic factors, interpersonal issues, and concerns about racism tend to be major drivers of mental health for Black individuals.

Depression is found to be less common among Asians, and more common among Hispanics and Latinx people.

The signs of depression may differ between racial and ethnic groups. Understanding these differences can help people and their healthcare professionals better identify and treat the condition.

Determining whether persistent dark feelings are the result of depression can be the first step toward healing and recovery. The following signs indicate that it’s time to see a mental health professional.

People who are depressed often experience feelings of hopelessness, though this is not the same across all races and ethnicities.

Hispanic and Latino individuals are the most likely to report feeling hopeless “all or most of the time,” followed by people of two or more races, according to a recent National Health Interview Survey.

Sometimes people who are depressed feel like they are worthless, a sentiment that the survey found most common among people of two or more races, as well as American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are most likely to feel like “everything is an effort, all the time,” followed by Black or African-American individuals.

Some people who live with depression also experience inappropriate guilt. They may often think, “It’s all my fault,” or “What’s the point?”

Loneliness and isolation are among the top three reasons people describe themselves as having poor mental health, as reported by more than 1 million people who screened themselves for depression and anxiety on Mental Health America’s website in 2020. For Hispanic/Latinx people, it was cited as the biggest cause of mental health issues.

Depression can take the pleasure or enjoyment out of the things people love. A loss of interest in or withdrawal from activities that were previously looked forward to — sports, hobbies, going out with friends — is frequently a sign of major depression. In 2020, a whopping 90% of people who identified with more than one race reported symptoms of depression to Mental Health America.

Another study of 25,503 older Americans found that Black and Hispanic individuals were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than white people to experience sadness and a loss of interest in everyday life.

Losing interest in sex is common. Symptoms of major depression include a decreased sex drive and even impotence.

Learn more about types of depression, symptoms, and causes.

Part of the reason that people living with depression might stop doing things they enjoy is because they feel very tired. Depression often comes with a lack of energy and an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, which can be among its most debilitating symptoms. This can lead to excessive sleeping.

Asian and Pacific Islander people (particularly those from older age groups) may report feeling tired or sleepy rather than depressed, as the latter can be seen as less culturally acceptable. Because these symptoms can be attributed to other conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, healthcare professionals may miss the true cause.

Depression is also linked to insomnia, and they can feed off each other. A lack of restful sleep may lead to anxiety.

Depression and anxiety often occur together. Symptoms of anxiety can include:

• nervousness, restlessness, or a sense of tension
• feelings of danger, panic, or dread
• rapid heart rate
• rapid breathing
• increased or heavy sweating
• trembling or muscle twitching
• trouble focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than one central preoccupation

Native Americans and American Indians were most likely to report high levels of anxiety in Mental Health America’s 2020 screenings. Their rate of moderate to severe depression also increased sharply after 2019.

Depression can affect the sexes differently. Research shows that men with depression may also experience irritability, escapist or risky behavior, substance abuse, or misplaced anger.

Overall, men are less likely than women to recognize depression or seek treatment for that condition. They are more likely to get help when their symptoms resemble “traditional” depression but may not identify their irritability or other strong feelings as something requiring treatment, according to a 2018 study.

Women are about twice as likely to take antidepressant medication as men, with the most frequent users being those over 60, according to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. White people are also far more likely to take antidepressants than Black, Hispanic, or Asian individuals.

Men, for their part, prefer medicine to talk therapy when they get treatment, a 2020 studyfound.

Weight and appetite can fluctuate for people with depression. This experience may be different for each person. Some people will have an increased appetite and gain weight, while others won’t be hungry and will lose weight.

One indication of whether dietary changes are related to depression is if they’re intentional or not. If they’re not, it may mean that they’re caused by depression.

One moment it’s an outburst of anger. The next, tears are flowing uncontrollably. Depression can cause mood swings that fluctuate wildly, and it has nothing to do with anything outside of the person experiencing them.

Depression is sometimes connected to suicide. In 2020, nearly 46,000 people died from suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Black people are less likely to die by suicide than white people, but Black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than white teenagers.

Statisticians were surprised to note a significant decrease in the number of people who died by suicide in 2019 and 2020, after years of increases. In 2020 alone, the number of white females who died by suicide dropped 10%, while the number of white males doing so decreased 3%. The number of Asian men dying by suicide also dropped in 2020.

At the same time, some groups saw increases. In 2020, the number of Hispanic men dying by suicide rose 5%, while the number of Black and American Indian men dying this way also rose.

According to the CDC, American Indian and Native American people are far more likely to die by suicide than any other group, followed by white people.

In Mental Health America’s online screenings, 46% of American Indians and Native Americans reported thinking about suicide or self-harm in 2020, and the number of those having such thoughts increased 7.5% over 2019. This reflected the largest jump in suicidal ideation from any racial or ethnic group surveyed.

Those who die by suicide usually show symptoms of depression or mental health issues first. Often people will talk about it or make a first attempt before succeeding in ending their lives. When people are at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting others, those around them should:

• Call 911 or a local emergency number.
• Stay with the person until help arrives.
• Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other potentially dangerous items.
• Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell

Depression affects millions of people, but there are myriad options available for treatment, from lifestyle changes to medications. No matter what path one follows, asking for professional help is a critical first step toward starting to feel better.

What that help looks like may differ across communities of color and other marginalized groups. Because “traditional” depression symptoms can vary by race and ethnicity — and some people are reluctant to report their symptoms — often, individuals in these communities go undiagnosed.

The reasons for anxiety and depression in each community also differ, and they are not static. In Mental Health America’s 2020 screenings, white people said coronavirus played the biggest role in negatively affecting their mental health. But Black people cited financial matters as a primary concern, while Hispanic/Latinx people were deeply affected by loneliness/isolation, and Native Americans impacted by trauma, loss, and relationship issues (also a major concern for Asian or Pacific Islanders).

People in these racial and ethnic groups are typically less likely to be screened for depression and don’t receive mental healthcare treatment as often as those who are white.

Healthcare professionals who work with people experiencing depression must tailor their approach to address differences among those of varying ethnicities and races. Using a cultural accommodation model(CAM) may help bridge the gap. CAM helps these professionals adjust their viewfinder when diagnosing and treating conditions, urging them to be more culturally appropriate and sensitive to the unique characteristics of these populations.

9 Depression Symptoms to Look Out For

Depression is a complex medical condition. It can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their personal relationships to their physical health. And of course, it impacts mental wellbeing.

But being unhappy isn’t the same as being depressed. Depression is a term often used loosely to describe how people feel after a bad week at work or when they’re going through a breakup. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is more than feeling blue. Specific symptoms differentiate depression from the type of generalized sadness all people sometimes experience.

In 2021, at least 8.3% of U.S. adults experienced a major depressive episode. Depression has become one of the most common mental health disorders in the country.

In this article we cover eight signs of depression.

The symptoms of depression tend to be more pervasive, severe, and debilitating for non-white individuals, who are more likely to be under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed when they have depression. Many do not get treated for the condition, and their symptoms grow even more intense as they get older.

Research suggests that American Indians, Native Americans and Alaska Natives are the most likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression. This group lives with an enormous amount of post-traumatic stress, and members are more likely to engage in substance use disorders than people in other communities. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people (ages 8 to 24) in this demographic.

Additional research suggests that white people are more likely to experience depression during their lifetimes (17.9% prevalence) than African-American individuals (10.4%). (Other data counters this, and finds that the latter group is more likely to experience depression, especially as its members age.) Socioeconomic factors, interpersonal issues, and concerns about racism tend to be major drivers of mental health for Black individuals.

Depression is found to be less common among Asians, and more common among Hispanics and Latinx people.

The signs of depression may differ between racial and ethnic groups. Understanding these differences can help people and their healthcare professionals better identify and treat the condition.

Determining whether persistent dark feelings are the result of depression can be the first step toward healing and recovery. The following signs indicate that it’s time to see a mental health professional.

People who are depressed often experience feelings of hopelessness, though this is not the same across all races and ethnicities.

Hispanic and Latino individuals are the most likely to report feeling hopeless “all or most of the time,” followed by people of two or more races, according to a recent National Health Interview Survey.

Sometimes people who are depressed feel like they are worthless, a sentiment that the survey found most common among people of two or more races, as well as American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are most likely to feel like “everything is an effort, all the time,” followed by Black or African-American individuals.

Some people who live with depression also experience inappropriate guilt. They may often think, “It’s all my fault,” or “What’s the point?”

Loneliness and isolation are among the top three reasons people describe themselves as having poor mental health, as reported by more than 1 million people who screened themselves for depression and anxiety on Mental Health America’s website in 2020. For Hispanic/Latinx people, it was cited as the biggest cause of mental health issues.

Depression can take the pleasure or enjoyment out of the things people love. A loss of interest in or withdrawal from activities that were previously looked forward to — sports, hobbies, going out with friends — is frequently a sign of major depression. In 2020, a whopping 90% of people who identified with more than one race reported symptoms of depression to Mental Health America.

Another study of 25,503 older Americans found that Black and Hispanic individuals were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than white people to experience sadness and a loss of interest in everyday life.

Losing interest in sex is common. Symptoms of major depression include a decreased sex drive and even impotence.

Learn more about types of depression, symptoms, and causes.

Part of the reason that people living with depression might stop doing things they enjoy is because they feel very tired. Depression often comes with a lack of energy and an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, which can be among its most debilitating symptoms. This can lead to excessive sleeping.

Asian and Pacific Islander people (particularly those from older age groups) may report feeling tired or sleepy rather than depressed, as the latter can be seen as less culturally acceptable. Because these symptoms can be attributed to other conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, healthcare professionals may miss the true cause.

Depression is also linked to insomnia, and they can feed off each other. A lack of restful sleep may lead to anxiety.

Depression and anxiety often occur together. Symptoms of anxiety can include:

• nervousness, restlessness, or a sense of tension
• feelings of danger, panic, or dread
• rapid heart rate
• rapid breathing
• increased or heavy sweating
• trembling or muscle twitching
• trouble focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than one central preoccupation

Native Americans and American Indians were most likely to report high levels of anxiety in Mental Health America’s 2020 screenings. Their rate of moderate to severe depression also increased sharply after 2019.

Depression can affect the sexes differently. Research shows that men with depression may also experience irritability, escapist or risky behavior, substance abuse, or misplaced anger.

Overall, men are less likely than women to recognize depression or seek treatment for that condition. They are more likely to get help when their symptoms resemble “traditional” depression but may not identify their irritability or other strong feelings as something requiring treatment, according to a 2018 study.

Women are about twice as likely to take antidepressant medication as men, with the most frequent users being those over 60, according to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. White people are also far more likely to take antidepressants than Black, Hispanic, or Asian individuals.

Men, for their part, prefer medicine to talk therapy when they get treatment, a 2020 studyfound.

Weight and appetite can fluctuate for people with depression. This experience may be different for each person. Some people will have an increased appetite and gain weight, while others won’t be hungry and will lose weight.

One indication of whether dietary changes are related to depression is if they’re intentional or not. If they’re not, it may mean that they’re caused by depression.

One moment it’s an outburst of anger. The next, tears are flowing uncontrollably. Depression can cause mood swings that fluctuate wildly, and it has nothing to do with anything outside of the person experiencing them.

Depression is sometimes connected to suicide. In 2020, nearly 46,000 people died from suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Black people are less likely to die by suicide than white people, but Black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than white teenagers.

Statisticians were surprised to note a significant decrease in the number of people who died by suicide in 2019 and 2020, after years of increases. In 2020 alone, the number of white females who died by suicide dropped 10%, while the number of white males doing so decreased 3%. The number of Asian men dying by suicide also dropped in 2020.

At the same time, some groups saw increases. In 2020, the number of Hispanic men dying by suicide rose 5%, while the number of Black and American Indian men dying this way also rose.

According to the CDC, American Indian and Native American people are far more likely to die by suicide than any other group, followed by white people.

In Mental Health America’s online screenings, 46% of American Indians and Native Americans reported thinking about suicide or self-harm in 2020, and the number of those having such thoughts increased 7.5% over 2019. This reflected the largest jump in suicidal ideation from any racial or ethnic group surveyed.

Those who die by suicide usually show symptoms of depression or mental health issues first. Often people will talk about it or make a first attempt before succeeding in ending their lives. When people are at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting others, those around them should:

• Call 911 or a local emergency number.
• Stay with the person until help arrives.
• Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other potentially dangerous items.
• Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell

Depression affects millions of people, but there are myriad options available for treatment, from lifestyle changes to medications. No matter what path one follows, asking for professional help is a critical first step toward starting to feel better.

What that help looks like may differ across communities of color and other marginalized groups. Because “traditional” depression symptoms can vary by race and ethnicity — and some people are reluctant to report their symptoms — often, individuals in these communities go undiagnosed.

The reasons for anxiety and depression in each community also differ, and they are not static. In Mental Health America’s 2020 screenings, white people said coronavirus played the biggest role in negatively affecting their mental health. But Black people cited financial matters as a primary concern, while Hispanic/Latinx people were deeply affected by loneliness/isolation, and Native Americans impacted by trauma, loss, and relationship issues (also a major concern for Asian or Pacific Islanders).

People in these racial and ethnic groups are typically less likely to be screened for depression and don’t receive mental healthcare treatment as often as those who are white.

Healthcare professionals who work with people experiencing depression must tailor their approach to address differences among those of varying ethnicities and races. Using a cultural accommodation model(CAM) may help bridge the gap. CAM helps these professionals adjust their viewfinder when diagnosing and treating conditions, urging them to be more culturally appropriate and sensitive to the unique characteristics of these populations.

symptoms, causes in men and women, remedies

Lack of vitality, unwillingness to get out of bed, bad mood for a long time, and even unwillingness to live are all signs of depression. Depression has a negative effect on the health and general well-being of a person. That is why it is so important to get medical help from a specialist in time.

How to determine the presence of depression?

Pathology can appear after experienced stressful situations. If there is no disorder, after the problem is resolved, a good mood returns to the person. But when the cause is eliminated, and apathy, depression and loss of strength do not leave the person, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist. It may also decrease performance.

You can determine the presence of depression on your own, but you should not self-medicate even at an early stage of development. This should be done by a doctor, since self-medication can only aggravate everything.

Depression in women is often postpartum, as their lives change dramatically, and sleepless nights add fatigue. This is where frustration and apathy come in.

When the pathology is in advanced form, then a person has the following symptoms of depression – not only a bad mood and impotence, but also persistent disorders of the nervous system. There are also symptoms such as: a significant decrease in self-esteem, disadaptation in society, despondency and loss of interest in any events.

In physiological terms, appetite changes, intimate needs and energy decrease, sleep and bowel function are disturbed (constipation, weakness, fatigue during physical and intellectual stress are observed), pain in the body (in the heart, in muscles, in the stomach area).

The patient shows signs of depression such as loss of interest in other people, a tendency to frequent solitude, refusal of entertainment, use of alcohol and psychotropic substances.

Mental signs of depression include difficulty in concentrating, concentrating, making decisions, slowness of thinking, a pessimistic view of the future with a lack of perspective and thoughts about the meaninglessness of one’s existence, suicide attempts, due to their uselessness, helplessness, insignificance.

Causes of depression

The appearance of the disorder is not influenced by age category or social class. Most often, depression appears against the background of stressful negative situations, with constant failures – then a person falls into despair from the inability to somehow influence the course of events.

But in addition to the social factor, severe psychological trauma can also lead to the development of depression, for example: family breakup, death of a loved one, a serious illness that affects not only the patient himself, but also his relatives. In this case, depressions are referred to as reactive.

The likelihood of depression increases with changes in hormonal levels: during adolescence, after delivery, with the onset of menopause, and also in old age. It can affect the emotional and physical level.

Another factor is brain damage and somatic pathologies. Often depression affects patients who have had a stroke, suffering from a chronic lack of blood circulation in the brain, after a traumatic brain injury.

The causes of depression can manifest themselves as a result of the side effects of drugs (benzodiazepines, corticosteroids). Often this condition disappears on its own after the drug is discontinued.

Types of depression

• Neurotic – people with low self-esteem, insecure, straightforward people often suffer. They constantly feel a sense of injustice, and apathy arises from this.

• Clinical – bad mood, loss of energy, problems with appetite and sleep. Often there is a tendency to suicide. This clinical picture can last at least 2 weeks.

• Vegetative – manifested by such signs as tachycardia, a drop in blood pressure, tinnitus.

• Psychogenic – develops after severe psychological trauma – divorce, loss of a loved one, dismissal from work, betrayal, etc. Accompanied by mood swings, anxiety, excessive sensitivity.

• Masked – often the disease manifests itself secretly. Apathy, solitude and a decrease in interest in life can only appear as negativity and fatigue accumulate.

• Asthenic – the condition is manifested by fatigue, sleep disturbance, emotional imbalance due to accumulated difficulties, stress, physical and psychological stress.

• Postpartum – usually occurs 10-14 days after delivery. A young mother shows an increased sense of excitement for the baby, and constant lack of sleep and fatigue worsen the situation even more. In addition, the hormonal background also affects the state of the mother.

• Somatogenic – attacks occur due to disturbances in the endocrine system, the formation and growth of neoplasms, both benign and malignant.

• Alcoholic – depression is accompanied by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The post-alcohol state is accompanied by an uncontrolled craving for alcohol and the growth of withdrawal syndrome when alcohol is refused.

• Bipolar – the patient is changing euphoria depressive, manic disorder. But in the period between these phenomena, caused by various factors: stress, loss of means of popularity, etc., a person lives an ordinary life and does not show symptoms of the disease.

How does depression develop in stages?

First, the patient has a depressed state, which he himself attributes to fatigue, a hard working week, drinking alcohol and other reasons. At the same time, he wants to retire from others and at the same time is afraid to be alone.

Then the stage of acceptance arises: the awareness of the dangerous state comes, the problem worsens, the intensity of negative thoughts grows, the body and the immune system fail.

The third stage – in the absence of adequate therapy, the patient loses control over himself, aggression increases.

Diagnosis and treatment of depression

–

To identify the disease, experienced specialists use short questionnaires – screening tools to identify symptoms: anxiety, anhedonia (loss of pleasure from life), suicidal tendencies. Thanks to this, it is possible to determine whether the patient has chronic depression, symptoms and treatments for depression, what form and severity it is.

To fully understand the picture of the disease, the doctor needs to familiarize himself with the symptoms that indicate depression, and not another psychological disorder.

For the treatment of depression, you can contact the following specialists:

• Psychiatrist – treatment of depression with hypnosis, drugs for acute mental pathologies – schizophrenia, mental retardation, epilepsy, as well as other less severe ailments – neurosis, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.

• Psychotherapist – treatment is carried out through special therapy, which provides for explanations, conversations, search for solutions to problems together with the patient.

• Psychologist – consults the patient, cannot prescribe drugs and examinations. Clinical psychologists use modern test methods to identify problems that caused a psychological disorder.

The main directions of therapy in treatment are psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, social therapy.

A necessary condition for the effectiveness of treatment is cooperation and trust in the doctor. It is important to strictly follow the prescription of the therapy regimen, visit the doctor regularly, and give a detailed account of your condition.

Preparations for the treatment of depression

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For the treatment of the disorder, antidepressants are used for anxious depression or when the pathology is accompanied by lethargy. Antidepressants are prescribed directly by a doctor and are not recommended for self-administration. The action of many antidepressants manifests itself two weeks after administration, their dosage for the patient is determined individually.

In bipolar depression, depression is treated with insomnia. While it has a negative effect on a healthy person, in a patient with a psychological disorder, sleep deprivation, on the contrary, brings the psyche back to normal.

Moderate or mild depression requires the appointment of drugs on a light, natural basis (herbal).

Where to get tested and treated for depression in Krasnoyarsk?

If you or your loved ones show signs of an emotional disorder, you should immediately contact a specialist. Since depression can lead to dangerous consequences:

• isolation from society

• deterioration in appearance

• relationship problems

• low performance or its complete absence

• sexual problems

Contact the private clinic “Medunion” in Krasnoyarsk, get examined and treated for depression. Our phone number for appointment +7 (391) 202-95-54.

Signs of depression, how depression manifests itself – Allianz CMH

Assess the severity of depression

Take a test developed on the basis of the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” to identify and assess the severity of anxiety disorder, depression. Read more »

Psychogenic, reactive depression

Modern psychiatrists call psychogenic depression acute and prolonged reactions of a healthy psyche to extreme negative events in an area that is emotionally significant for a particular person. It is also called “reactive depression”, emphasizing that this depression is a pathological reaction to tragedy. Read more »

Chronic depression

Chronic depression is persistent depression lasting two or more years (one year in children) during which the patient shows signs of depression, but in a comparatively milder form. More often, chronic depression occurs in women, because men can live up to two or more years in a state of permanent depression without obvious external manifestations, while in women, due to constitutional features, they are immediately visible. Read more »

Neurotic or anxious depression

Neurotic or anxious depression includes both depressive and anxiety-phobic symptoms. The addition of somatized symptoms, hypochondria, obsessions makes this depression sometimes elusive. Read more »

Masked, hidden depression

Masked or hidden depression is a depression in which a variety of somatic, bodily complaints (masks) come to the fore – from itching and pain behind the sternum to headaches and constipation, – and symptoms characteristic of depression (decrease in motor and mental activity, painful negative experiences up to suicide, anhedonia) either recede into the background and third, or do not appear outwardly at all. Read more »

Endogenous depression

Causes of endogenous depression, which, being genetically predisposed, lie not in external stress or a psycho-traumatic situation, but inside the person himself: in the genetics of the individual and family heredity determining disorders of neurotransmitter metabolism, personal factors (excessive correctness, pedantry, accuracy and sacrifice along with the difficulty in expressing and defending one’s opinion). Read more »

The main differences between psychogenic and endogenous depression

Depression in psychiatry is understood as a whole group of diseases that are heterogeneous (heterogeneous) in terms of causes, clinical manifestations and, most importantly, approaches to therapy. Every psychiatrist or psychotherapist, faced with depression, must make a differential diagnosis between its three types – somatogenic, psychogenic and endogenous. Read more »

Remedies for depression and stress

Stress – a severe traumatic event or chronic negative impact – causes depression, symptoms of depression (depressed mood, fatigue, difficulty working) aggravate the situation. You can get out of the pathological vicious circle with the help of a psychotherapist. Read more »

Diagnosis and treatment of astheno-depressive syndrome

Astheno-depressive syndrome is fatigue, chronic fatigue and depressed, constantly lowered mood. The condition can be both an independent disease and a sign of a serious mental illness – bipolar affective disorder, organic brain damage, or even schizophrenia. Diagnosis and treatment is carried out by a psychotherapist. Read more »

Long-term depression: causes, diagnosis and treatment

Fear of going to the doctor and careless attitude to one’s health lead to the fact that a person suffers from depression for many years and no longer remembers what life was like before the illness. The victory over the disorder will not be easy and quick, but the joys of life are worth fighting for them with the help of an experienced psychotherapist. Read more »

How to overcome depression and loneliness: a guide to action

Loneliness is a reason to figure out what you don’t like in the people around you, but those around you don’t like you. Instead of falling into depression, it is better to contact a psychologist or psychotherapist and solve the problem. Read more »

How to get rid of depression and stress: a step-by-step guide

Stress – increased workloads, conflicts, life difficulties – lead to nervous breakdown, exhaustion, depression. Living and working becomes even more difficult. We understand what modern ways to defeat depression and stress exist. Read more »

Depression after the death of a loved one: what to do, who to contact?

Everyone is faced with the loss of a loved one. Individual sessions with a psychotherapist and participation in a support group will help to cope with the loss. Read more »

Lost interest in life: is it depression or schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia and depression have similar symptoms: a person loses interest in life, abandons work and favorite hobbies, may not leave the house for days or weeks, lie in bed. An unequivocal answer to what happens to a person will be given by an examination by a psychiatrist. Read more »

How to get rid of chronic fatigue and depression?

Chronic fatigue and depression are a reason to see a psychotherapist. Severe fatigue, fatigue after several hours of work, as after a week of work, is a symptom of exhaustion of the nervous system, a mental disorder. For diagnosis and treatment, choose an experienced doctor. Read more »

I suffer from constant depression: what to do and how to get rid of?

If you remember yourself as a cheerful, full of energy and optimism person, constant depression is not a trait of your character, but a disorder. And you can get rid of it. Learn more about diagnosing and treating persistent depression. Read more »

Is mild depression dangerous?

Mild depression is a variant of the disorder in which a person continues to work and hardly notices symptoms. Gets tired faster than usual, gets irritated more easily, sleeps more, eats more. Or, on the contrary, he experiences less pleasure from food and from life in general, even from the most beloved things and activities. Read more »

Suicide

It has been established that 90% of people who commit suicide suffered from one or another mental illness at the time of death, often in a severe form. The most common mental disorder is depression, and therefore it should be considered one of the main causes of suicidal behavior. Read more »

Psychological assistance for suicide

According to WHO, one suicide occurs every 40 seconds in the world, and more than 800 thousand suicides occur annually. At the same time, men commit suicide twice as often as women, and women are four times more likely to attempt suicide than men. It must also be remembered that only a specialist can best solve any psychological problems, therefore, at the first alarming signs, one of the relatives should not waste time and should immediately seek advice from a psychologist, psychotherapist. Read more »

Somatic manifestations of endogenous depression

Depression does not necessarily manifest itself on the face of a person – the disorder is characterized by somatic (that is, bodily) manifestations: vague pain and discomfort in the body, indigestion, decreased interest in sex. Depression is diagnosed and treated by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Read more »

Psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist – who to contact?

Psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatrist sound similar but help clients in different situations.