Depression is a collection of psychological and physical symptoms. Low mood or sadness is often the most prominent symptom. The common property of these symptoms is a decreased level of activity in certain parts of the brain.
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Depression can give one or more of these symptoms:
-Low mood or sadness.
-Lack of joy or interest in activities that used to be joyful.
-Pessimism.
-Feeling guilty about something without any substantial reason to feel so.
-Thoughts of inferiority.
-Irritability.
-Slowness in the thought process.
-Slowness in the interpretation of sensory stimuli.
- Slowness in digestion or other internal physical processes, and symptoms caused by this slowness, for example swollen stomach, constipation or difficulty urinating.
- Slow physical reactions.
Depression can be a mild illness that causes only a few inconveniences in daily life, but can also become very serious and make a person totally unable to work and participate in social life. By depression of a certain severity, there is also a greater risk of suicide.
Depression can occur in all age groups. In adolescents, lack of interest in schoolwork, withdrawal from social life, and a difficult mood can be signs of depression.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES THAT PRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS
By depression, there is a decrease in the amount of neurotransmitters in certain parts of the central nervous system, mainly a deficiency of serotonin, but also to some extent of norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine or gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), or nerve cells do not. react correctly by stimulation of neurotransmitters. A neurotransmitter is a signal substance that transmits the nerve signal across the junctions between two nerve cells.
Serotonin and norepinephrine cause nerve cells to send impulses to other nerve cells and thus increase activity in the brain. A deficiency in these substances causes sluggishness in certain parts of the brain, which again causes the depressive symptoms.
The role of GABA is the opposite, namely to slow down certain nerve impulses, mainly those which cause anxiety and the panic reaction. Lack of GABA causes higher anxiety and an easier panic response. However, the absence of this transmitter also seems to cause depressive symptoms. Indeed, too much activity in certain brain processes can slow down other processes.
There are many causes and subtypes of depression with different physiological mechanisms involved.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION
Depression is often divided into subtypes based on the symptoms presented.
1. Monopolar depression and dysthymic disorder
By monopolar depression, there are pure depressive symptoms. Mild cases of monopolar disorder that do not affect a person's ability to work and participate in social activities are often called dysthymic disorders.
2. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) and cyclothymic disorder
In this state, there are periods with symptoms of depression - the depressive phase, alternating with periods of high mood with increased mental and physical activity - the manic phase. In the manic phase, the affected person also sleeps poorly and has difficulty concentrating. A mild form of this disease is called cyclothymic disorder.
3. Manic Disorder
This condition is characterized by an abnormally high mood, unrealistic optimism, lack of sleep and hyperactive behavior. Many psychiatrists believe that this disorder is simply the same illness as bipolar disorder where the depressive face has not yet appeared.
4. Depression with mostly physical symptoms
Sometimes the physical symptoms of depression are alone or dominant, such as: Digestive problems, constipation, difficulty urinating, slow response to sensory stimuli or slow physical reactions.
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
Two or more factors can have a simultaneous effect to cause depression. Depression can be a separate illness or be part of another illness. Depression is also divided into different subtypes depending on the cause.
1. Reactive Depression
This disease is simply the result of psychological stress, physical struggle, or mental exertion without proper rest and sleep over a long period of time. Exertion will simply exhaust the nervous system or deplete the body of nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system.2. Endogenous depression
When there has not been a period of stress, exertion, or lack of rest that could account for the condition, the condition is often called endogenous depression. Legacy is believed to be part of the cause.
3. Depression by physical illness
Depression or depressive symptoms can be a symptom of a physical illness. It is perhaps the most common cause of depression. Generally, there are three categories of illnesses that give rise to depression:
Illnesses often associated with depression are: heart disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, hypertension or Cushing's syndrome.
Mononucleosis or the flu can trigger depression that continues after the infection subsides.
For lack of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism, metabolism throughout the body is slowed down, including the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. Therefore, depression is an important symptom of hypothyroidism.
4. Depressive symptoms as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle
A generally unhealthy lifestyle with too little exercise, too many stimulants like alcohol, coffee or tea, too few important nutrients, and too much sugar and fat can lead to depressive symptoms, as well as physical problems .
5. Postnatal depression
Women will often have a period of depression after pregnancy and childbirth Pregnancy and childbirth are physically and mentally exhausting and can deplete the body of nutrients. This in turn can cause depressive symptoms
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6. Seasonal Affective Disorder
Depression can occur during cold, dark times of the year and disappear during warm, bright times. Light stimulates brain activity and lack of light is a causative factor.
DEPRESSION TREATMENT
Severe or prolonged depression is often treated with antidepressant medications. Medications used for depression usually increase the level of neurotransmitters like serotonin in the central nervous system, or they mimic neurotransmitters.
The most commonly used drugs today increase the concentration of serotonin by decreasing the removal of serotonin from the space around nerve cells. Examples of this type of medication are: fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), escitalopram (Lexapro, Celexa), sentraline (zoloft).
In bipolar manic facial disorder, heavy tranquilizers (neuroleptics) are used to stop manic symptoms. In bipolar disorder, lithium salts are sometimes used to stabilize the condition, and prevent further outbreaks of depressive or manic faces.
Psychotherapy is sometimes used for depression, usually in combination with medication.
Sometimes severe depression is treated by applying an electric shock through the head, electroconvulsive therapy. The shock induces an epileptic eruption of nerve signals through the brain, resulting in cramps throughout the body. Cramps are relieved or stopped by applying anesthesia before electroshock. This form of treatment is controversial because it can lead to memory loss and is suspected of causing brain damage. The possibility of brain damage, however, is denied by most psychiatrists.
In case of seasonal depression, light therapy can be useful.
Lifestyle adaptation should always be considered based on depression or depressive symptoms. Lifestyle measures can sometimes be enough to cure depressive symptoms before serious depression develops. Lifestyle adjustments can be:
– To slow down a stressful life with too much work or activities.
– Enough rest and sleep.
– A good diet with enough necessary nutrients.
– A little physical exercise.
- Meditation.
– Supplement of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, lecithin, amino acids and essential fatty acids.
– Stimulants like coffee or tea can help with depressive feelings in moderate amounts. However, if you are a heavy user of these stimulants, you should reduce your intake.
There are nutritional products on the market to help with depressive symptoms. These contain ingredients that the brain uses as building blocks for neurotransmitters, for example amino acids and lecithin. They also often contain vitamins and minerals that the brain uses as tools to produce neurotransmitters, especially vitamin B6.
Supplements may additionally contain plant extracts that trigger an action.
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