The keys to understanding depressive disorders

Feeling depressed or having a set of depressive symptoms is normal before some negative events that people live. It is a natural response motivated by the circumstances that the person experiences.

However, when sadness, discouragement or extreme apathy last for an excessive amount of time without apparent cause, this is when we can say that we suffer from "depression".

These kinds of mental disorders are complex, so in the next few lines we will see several explanations that help to understand Depressive Disorders.

• Related article: "The 5 stages of depression, and first warning signs"

What are depressive disorders?

Depression affects physically and mentally the way of feeling and thinking of the individual, and can provoke desires to get away from family, work and friends. In addition, it can cause anxiety and other psychological disorders.

It is common to find in some patient testimonies the loss of interest and the inability to enjoy normal activities, showing little motivation.

In addition, many patients think that having depression is staying in bed crying and not wanting anything, which is why which are not identified with this concept despite the fact that they can actually be diagnosed with some disorder depressant. And although there are symptoms that are characteristic of this class of psychological disorders, there are differences from one person to another.

For Marta Garrido González, a psychologist specializing in Psychologists Málaga PsicoAbreu, depression is an emotional disorder that arises from irrational thoughts. These beliefs, attitudes and thoughts are created from the experiences lived and by the learning of the person.

Often times, people with depression think that if the environment is not the way they want it (that is, the lack of a loved one, a couple breakup, not getting a certain job, etc.) it is normal to be depressed and that life does not have sense.

However, this occurs because of the person's way of coping and by depositing their happiness in factors external to themselves, without realizing that happiness does not depend on what happens to us, but on how we take it.

What are the differences between feeling sad and having depression?

The term depression is confusing since is used on a daily basis to describe when the person is in low spirits, when it is very negative, or in grieving processes, among other reasons.

It is evident that all people go through difficult situations throughout their lives and these can cause them sadness. However, this does not have to mean that you are suffering from depression.

The characteristics of normal sadness are as follows:

• Intensity and duration is proportional to the stimulus that caused it.
• The person's attention is focused on the need for space and putting all the conflicting emotions in its place.
• Acceptance and learning.

Next we will see an example of a case in which symptoms similar to those of depression appear but do not constitute a true psychiatric pathology.

In a breakup, the person who has been dumped may not understand why she is single again, and she feels that she loved him. that person and who does not know how to live without her, thinks of all the time lived together and in the future that he will no longer be with that person person.

On a psychological level the person feels emotional pain, negativity towards the future, etc. She may want to lock herself at home, cry, and even make a lot of plans without enjoying herself.

In these cases, the symptoms are the same as in depression, but proportional to the event.

On the other hand, the characteristics of depression are as follows:

• There may be no event that triggers the depressive emotional state.
• Disproportionate intensity and duration.
• It affects all areas of your life.

An example of depression might be the following:

In the previous case; Let's imagine that the person closes himself in and maintains his negative thoughts for weeks, This leads him to lose self-confidence, to have the feeling of failure and to feel discomfort constant.

When the person has depression, sadness is constant and causes feelings of worthlessness and loss of pleasure. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a cognitive-affective alteration, negatively influencing all areas of your life. In extreme cases, there are people who do not see meaning in life, and begin to think about suicide.

Symptoms of depression

Depression causes symptoms on a cognitive, physical and behavioral level.

A set of symptoms appear that affect the affective sphere, showing constant sadness, decay, irritability, emotional distress, frustration, decrease in usual daily activity, etc. The psychologists of the PsicoAbreu team affirm that physical symptoms are those that usually lead people to seek psychological help.

1. Motivational and behavioral symptoms

They are apathy, indifference, decreased capacity for enjoyment, depressed mood. Getting out of bed, going to work or school, in short, doing any daily task, is complex for a person who is in this state.

These patients tend to isolate themselves from the environment, decrease the frequency of social relationships and have difficulty solving problems.

2. Emotional symptoms

The most notable emotional symptoms are the loss of self-confidence, apathy and reluctance, the feeling of guilt, suicidal thoughts triggered by your horrible present and (theoretically) worse future, excessive worry, etc.

3. Physical symptoms

Physical symptoms are a common feature in people with depression. A high percentage of patients who come to the consultation have sleep problems (insomnia). Other symptoms are fatigue, loss of appetite, decreased sexual activity and desire, etc.

• You may be interested: "Tips for getting a good night's sleep and beating insomnia"

Causes of depression

Despite the studies carried out to find the origin of depression, the mechanisms that cause it are not yet known. However, there are influencing factors. They are as follows.

1. Personality

People prone to developing depression They tend to be more insecure individuals, with low self-esteem, perfectionists, self-demanding...

2. Environmental factor

When the person faces an economic problem, or family, work, etc.

3. Biological factor

Here are framed the brain disorders or neurotransmitter disorders (the not correct communication in the neurons of the brain).

Types of depressive disorders

The Depression can be classified into different subtypes depending on the degree, intensity and duration. Depressive episodes differ by severity, that is, the impact they have on a person's life.

1. Major depression

In this subtype, depressive symptoms are very intense and appear in episodes that can last weeks or months. The depressive episode is defined by the appearance of symptoms during a continuous period that affects all areas of life.

2. Dysthymia or Dysthymic Disorder

The person suffers from prolonged depressive states lasting two or more years, and they do not incapacitate the person, although they do prevent you from developing your life normally.

The most common symptoms are generalized loss of pleasure, pessimism, despair, low self-esteem, irritability, social isolation, concentration and concentration problems memory... It is one of the most common depressive disorders.

3. Psychotic depression

Occurs when depression is accompanied by some form of psychosis, such as disagreement with reality, delusions or hallucinations.

4. Seasonal affective disorder

The depression appears during the winter, when the hours of sunlight decrease and in the changes of season.

5. Postpartum depression

It occurs when a woman experiences an episode of severe depression within the first month after delivery.

6. Bipolar Disorders

It is a disorder suffered by people who have episodes of mania and depression.

The patient has ups and downs in mood. When he is in the mania phase, he usually manifests feelings of greatness or high self-esteem, decreased need to sleep, excessive activity in different areas of your life (love, work, social), high-risk activities potential... and in the depressive phase their symptoms are opposite.

Psychological treatment

The team of psychologists from the Psychology cabinets Psychologists Málaga PsicoAbreu is specialized in the psychological treatment of depressive disorders.

Psychological therapy is aimed at finding the cause of depression and provide the patient with tools to modify thought, emotional and behavioral factors that maintain depressive symptoms. The purpose of the treatment carried out by the center's specialists is for the person to regain meaning for their life and for this form of discomfort to disappear forever.