Depressive symptoms ≠ depression, one word difference, two diseases

The COVID-19 epidemic, which has lasted for more than three years, has forced people to isolate, work, and live at home for a long time to fight the epidemic. The inconveniences in all aspects have caused people to feel uncomfortable. Many people have shown various symptoms of depression, and to outsiders, they seem to have depression.

Depression is a common disease that harms the physical and mental health of all people. Up to 1/4 of the general population suffers from it, and the lifetime prevalence is about 10%. About 20% of people have experienced depression in their lifetime, and 2/3 of them are of working age. During the epidemic, the prevalence of depression has increased significantly. Some specific groups of people are more prone to depression. The harm of depression is self-evident for people who want to stay healthy.

There are many reasons for depression symptoms, such as: ① Personality characteristics: Most people lack self-confidence, have a gloomy personality, are lonely and introverted, have low moods, are prone to pessimism, are dependent on others, lack the courage to take action, have low self-esteem, constantly blame themselves, and are emotionally fragile. Some people are more cautious, sensitive, thoughtful, and serious; ② Psychological factors: Unpleasant situations are often triggering psychological factors, loss of pleasure, and lack of interest in daily life; ③ Physical illness: Especially for those with chronic diseases and endocrine diseases, they feel bad about themselves, which can increase the susceptibility of emotions. They often have depressed emotions or bad moods, cognitive distortions, and physiological symptoms. The most prominent manifestations are emotional repression, frustration, melancholy, loneliness, and emptiness; followed by a lack of motivation to act, hesitation in doing things, and complaints of physical discomfort.

Depressive symptoms or depression not only represent a group of syndromes, including depressed emotions or bad mood, cognitive distortion, physiological symptoms, etc., but also serve as a mental disorder with specific diagnostic criteria. The most prominent manifestations are emotional depression, frustration, melancholy, loneliness and emptiness; followed by lack of motivation in action, indecision in doing things, and complaints of physical discomfort. There are 4 groups of specific symptoms: ① Mental-emotional symptoms, including depressed mood, etc.; ② Physical disorders, including daytime differences in emotions, sleep disorders, loss of appetite, loss of libido, weight loss, constipation, tachycardia and fatigue, etc.; ③ Psychomotor disorders, including psychomotor retardation and agitation, agitation means restlessness or frequent small movements, rubbing hands, biting fingers, pulling hair, biting lips, etc.; ④ Depressive psychological disorders, including confusion, hopelessness, irritability, indecision, self-depreciation, emptiness, repeated thoughts of suicide and dissatisfaction, etc.

Depressive symptoms ≠ depression

There is only one word difference between depressive symptoms and depression, but they are two completely different diseases and things.

There is no clear boundary between depressive symptoms and normality. Conceptually, depressive symptoms and normality can be viewed as a continuous spectrum.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between depressive symptoms and other unpleasant experiences such as anxiety, boredom, hostility, and loneliness, but depressive symptoms are by no means a completely separate entity, so even if they are difficult to distinguish, the two can be assessed.

Depressive symptoms are physical conditions, and depression is a disease.

How to avoid depression in the long term

Normally, if you maintain your physical, mental and social perfection, you can avoid depression for a long time.

Correct treatment measures: Depression symptoms need to be adjusted, and depression needs treatment.

Find out the root cause of depression and eliminate the causes of depression. Improve cognition, think rationally and take action.

For example: strong external control, difficulty coping with stressful living environments, and unhealthy ways of thinking. A large number of studies have confirmed that it is related to depressive symptoms. For personal reasons, in terms of the individual's ability to self-evaluate, or in terms of the belief in the causal relationship between effort and the outcome of things, people do not try to improve unpleasant situations, do not take action when facing pressure and challenges, and do not work hard to achieve good results; in certain social environments where nepotism, bribery, and unequal competition exist in economic life, health is seen as a product of luck and a relationship with someone in power. It is necessary to improve cognition and change the way of thinking.

Lack of social support makes it easy to develop depressive symptoms. It is necessary to overcome personality defects, actively communicate with the outside world, and get out of the closed psychological and social circle.

Contradictions and psychological conflicts caused by marital problems or unsatisfied sex life can lead to depression symptoms, etc. Effective communication, marital adjustment, and psychological counseling are needed.

In winter, the sunlight decreases, the days are shorter and the nights are longer, and everything withers. It is the season when everything in nature is closed, which makes people feel sad and depressed. Sunlight can increase the synthesis and secretion of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine in the brain, which is very beneficial to improving the body's happy mood and sleep. Plants have phototropism, and people also need to imitate and be "sunflowers". The basement is not suitable for "storing" people. Get more sun, go outdoors more often, and keep fit. With the comfort of the sun and the influence of nature, you will be open-minded and have lofty ambitions. With a sunny mentality, you will have a sunny expression, a sunny world and a sunny future.

Nutrient deficiency or excess can cause depression symptoms. A balanced diet is necessary.

People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are prone to depression after middle age. They need to apply desensitization, relaxation, empathy and other therapies, demonstration, support, and targeted sports therapy, which can help strengthen their decisive personality, such as table tennis, tennis, badminton, hurdles, high jump, long jump, etc.

Check whether the medications taken cause the patient to have depressive symptoms. For example, antihypertensive drugs such as Rauwolfia and reserpine will destroy certain substances in the nerve axons. Clonidine has an anti-sympathetic effect on the one hand, but can also cause depression on the other. The medication needs to be adjusted under the guidance of a doctor.

First, you should understand the nature of alexithymia, understand your own emotional experience, and distinguish between physical symptoms and emotional reactions. Then you can use behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy, self-training and suggestion therapy. If necessary, you can use counseling therapy, cognitive therapy, music therapy, catharsis therapy, group psychotherapy and other psychological therapies under the guidance of a doctor, and use antidepressant drugs as auxiliary treatment.

When you have nothing to do, you are prone to depression. At this time, you should "live and learn". Idleness leads to trouble, boredom leads to illness. You should re-evaluate and self-correct your personal cognition, ideals, beliefs, attitudes, and goals, self-control your environment and self-regulate your personal behavior, and use counseling, cognition, and venting therapies.

Choose music therapy, such as playing the 4th movement of "Royal Fireworks Display" by Handel (1685-1759), the master of classical polyphonic music and the greatest composer of ancient and modern divine songs, the last movement of "Creation" by Haydn (1732-1809), the famous Austrian writer in the late 18th century, the master of Viennese classical music, and the "father of symphony", Schubert's "Ave Maria", Grieg's "Wedding Day", Dvorak's "Requiem", Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", Sibelius's "Second Symphony", Beethoven's "Second Romance" and "Sad Waltz", Kreisler's "Viennese Capriccio", Tchaikovsky's "Melancholic Serenade", Liszt's "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" and "Fourth Symphony", Mendelssohn's "On the Wings of Song", or listen to any music that reminds you of those happy times, or play "March of the Toreadors" by French composer Bizet (1838-1875) and Madonna's "Like a Virgin" at a higher volume.

Choose color light therapy, such as yellow, green environment, etc.

Choose flower therapy, such as placing potted flowers and bonsai such as peonies, peonies, peach blossoms, plum blossoms, osmanthus, forsythia, and violets.

Choose sports therapy, such as football, basketball, volleyball, relay races, tug-of-war, etc.