SPONSORED SECTION: Medical advice from Medlife. Depression is not just a melancholy after sunny summer days, although it is true that the transition to the colder season can predispose us to sadness.
Depression, however, is more than just sadness; it is a serious illness that doesn’t go away on its own. It has severe consequences on all aspects of life. Fortunately, there is a silver lining: a person can be cured if they seek specialized help. Autumn is a transitional season when the body feels the lack of sunlight, and issues that are manifestations of depression become more pronounced.
“About a quarter of all depression cases worsen during the cold season. We know for sure that this has to do with the reduced amount of light, as these cases improve with phototherapy. It’s likely a mechanism mediated by melatonin, a neurotransmitter secreted by the pineal gland, whose activity is regulated by light and the day-night cycle. However, the situation isn’t as simple as the deficiency-supplement paradigm, and we still have much to learn about this,” says psychiatrist Vlad Stroescu from the MindCare Center.
A generalized toxic state
There are several hypotheses regarding the mechanisms through which depression occurs, but it remains a phenomenon still under investigation.
“What we know is that it is associated with complex and subtle imbalances in the brain and beyond, and that it is essentially a toxic state, harmful to both the brain and the body in general. In fact, the brain of a person with prolonged, untreated depression shows visible changes (e.g., atrophy of certain regions). That’s why the idea that depression is a purely endogenous, chemical illness, like hypothyroidism, is just as incomplete as the idea that it has purely psychological causes,” explains psychiatrist Vlad Stroescu. As for psychological explanations, it has been observed that depression occurs against a backdrop of vulnerability in people with certain behavioral patterns.
“Faced with a difficult situation, people act in different ways and manage situations according to their inner reality. It’s no coincidence that for a single problem, there can be a multitude of reactions, responses, and solutions. Sometimes, this vulnerability can be maintained by low self-esteem, stressful situations in personal or professional life, the loss of a loved one, socio-economic issues, and more,” explains psychologist Andreea Chiru-Maga.
How the Diagnosis is Made
Each of us can have bad periods where we experience low mood. Yet, how can we tell if these prolonged feelings of discomfort indicate depression or not?
“Diagnosis is made based solely on a discussion with a psychiatrist, who looks for signs of specific criteria related to our psychological and instinctive life (affectivity, thinking, perception, cognition, sleep, nutrition, etc.) and how we handle daily challenges. Often, it is also necessary to have a discussion with those close to the affected person. Currently, there is no test to certify the diagnosis, unlike other medical specialties where this is possible. Laboratory or imaging tests are only necessary to identify or rule out other health issues,” says psychiatrist Vlad Stroescu.
A key element in recognizing the onset of depression is the person’s passivity.
“A sad person chooses to seek solutions to overcome their sadness, while a depressed person is no longer motivated to find solutions and views themselves in a pessimistic manner. When a person is facing depression, negative beliefs about themselves and their situations are activated, which can lead to changes on personal, social, and professional levels,” explains psychologist Andreea Chiru-Maga.
As a result, the person loses interest in daily activities, isolates themselves from others, no longer enjoys life, feels slow, restless, constantly tired, experiences acute feelings of guilt or worthlessness, feels they have failed, has sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep or sleeping late), gains or loses significant weight in a short period, and may experience headaches and digestive issues, among other symptoms.
“Fear of treatment is often exaggerated by prejudices and stigma. It is no more dangerous than, say, the chronic treatment of diabetes.” Dr. Vlad Stroescu, specialist psychiatrist, MindCare Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic, part of the MedLife group.
It is completely treatable.
Beyond the known relational and socio-economic effects, which can be associated over time with suicidal thoughts, untreated depression can have serious effects on health in the medium and long term.
“Depression is a potentially serious disorder with an impact on the entire body, negatively affecting survival, especially when other health issues are present (e.g., cardiovascular diseases). The cognitive impact—on attention and memory—is sometimes so severe that it can be mistaken for dementias (such as Alzheimer’s) or other neurological issues,” says psychiatrist Vlad Stroescu.
Fortunately, a person can rediscover the joys of life by seeking specialized help.
“All complications of depression can be prevented and treated. Depression is no longer a definitive sentence to isolation and suffering, nor a burden that must be endured in secret, nor a shame or vice, but rather a health issue that can be prevented and cured,” says the psychiatrist. Treatment consists of psychotherapy sessions, sometimes combined with medication.
“If we’re talking about major depressive episodes, all specialist literature agrees that the best results come from combining psychotherapy with medication. There is no single ideal standard treatment that applies to everyone. Often, a combination of medications is needed, and treatment must be individualized over time, which requires a good, long-term relationship with the psychiatrist,” explains the psychiatrist.
Psychotherapy shapes thinking
The patient needs to be guided by a psychotherapist because vulnerability comes from negative thoughts and feelings they have.
“The advantage of psychotherapy is that the suffering person finds a secure setting in which they can better understand their own mechanisms and how to manage the emergence of negative symptoms. The role of psychotherapy sessions is to increase the frequency of positive behaviors, help the person improve their social relationships, enhance their self-esteem, and learn to manage stressful periods both in the short term and long term,” says psychotherapist Andreea Chiru-Maga.
“Especially when other health issues are present (for example, cardiovascular diseases). The cognitive impact—on attention and memory—is sometimes so severe that it can be mistaken for dementias (such as Alzheimer’s) or other neurological problems,” says psychiatrist Vlad Stroescu.
Fortunately, a person can rediscover the joys of life by seeking specialized help.
“All complications of depression can be prevented and treated. Depression is no longer a definitive sentence to isolation and suffering, nor a burden to be endured in secret, nor a shame or a vice, but a health issue that can be prevented and cured,” says the psychiatrist.
Treatment consists of psychotherapy sessions, which may be combined, in some cases, with medication.
“If we’re talking about major depressive episodes, all specialist literature agrees that the best results come from combining psychotherapy with medication. There is no single ideal standard treatment that applies to everyone. Often, a combination of medications is needed, and treatment must be individualized over time, which requires a good, long-term relationship with the psychiatrist,” explains the psychiatrist.
Author: Petrişor Obae, petrisor.obaepaginademedia.ro
Source of the article: https://www.paginademedia.ro/2015/11/sectiune-speciala-sfaturi-medicale-de-la-medlife-exista-viata-si-dupa-depresie/