All people are prone to some anxiety, especially if the work is associated with constant stressful situations. However, depression is a much more complex condition that requires qualified treatment. What is it and who gets atypical depression?
What is this?
There are such varieties of depression: typical and atypical. The first variety has the classic symptoms:
- depressed state;
- feeling hopeless;
- lack of positive emotions from favorite activities;
- irritability;
- difficulties in making decisions;
- tearfulness;
- sleep disorders;
- reduced sex drive;
- mood swings;
- loss of appetite;
- suicidal thoughts.
Typical depression is easy to recognize as changes in a person's behavior are most noticeable. Atypical depression is more insidious because its symptoms are not specific. This condition is more susceptible to individuals who have already suffered in the pastclassical form of the disease. Doctors also consider the possibility that this type of depression may be a subspecies of bipolar personality disorder or manic-depressive psychosis. Typical and atypical depression is a direct reason to seek qualified medical help.
Symptoms
How to recognize atypical depression? This condition can be distinguished by such a main feature as an improvement in mood after any positive event in life. Emotional reactivity in atypical depression is also accompanied by the following symptoms:
increased sleepiness and increased average sleep duration;
- lack of a measure of saturation, which provokes overeating and weight gain;
- increased sensitivity to any rejection, which makes it much more difficult for a person to find himself in society;
- feeling of heaviness in the limbs.
Manifestations of the disease can be both multiple and single. What is atypical depression? This is a combination of the above symptoms, if the latter have no other medical explanation. Since with impaired thyroid function and hormonal failure, similar manifestations can also be observed. In order to find out the true cause of this condition, the doctor will definitely prescribe a blood test for hormone levels.
Causes of occurrence
It is believed that the development of a pathological condition begins as a result of a chemical imbalance in the cerebral cortex. itmeans that the balance of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine is changing. Prerequisites for such violations may be the following factors:
- loss of a loved one (death, divorce);
- genetic predisposition;
- frequent feelings of guilt as a result of interpersonal conflicts in the family or society;
- violence - sexual, physical and moral;
- excessive anxiety before important life events - going to university, moving to a new place of residence, changing or losing a job, retirement;
- serious diseases such as cancer, HIV or stroke that affect the way we perceive the world;
- alcohol or drug addiction.
Who else gets atypical depression? The disease also occurs in people who are in isolation from the outside world－both of their own free will and under the influence of external factors. Atypical depression occurs in individuals who need to be constantly within society, but for a number of reasons this is not possible.
Disease types
Today, there is no consensus on what atypical depression is. This term is applicable to any depressive disorders that have symptoms that are different from the classic manifestations of the pathological condition. It is customary to distinguish such varieties of the disease:
- Depressions that are formed by an atypical manifestation of psychopathic affectivedisorders.
- Apathetic depression, which is characterized by a decrease in somatosensory drives (sleep, sexual desire, appetite).
- Anxious, hypochondriacal depressions.
- Hysterical, delusional depression, which can also connect obsessive movements syndrome.
With atypical development of the disease, classic anxiety can be replaced by fears, fears, somatic complaints (headache, heaviness, discomfort in any part of the body, most often in the heart area).
Diagnosis of disease
Psychiatrist deals with the treatment of mental disorders. The diagnosis is based on the identified symptoms of atypical depression. Most of them may coincide with the classic mental disorder, but there are also specific manifestations. According to the International Classification of Diseases, the diagnosis is established if there are 2 or more typical manifestations of the disease, as well as emotional reactivity. This means that a person becomes more sensitive to minor negative situations that can occur daily.
Medicated treatment
What to do with atypical depression? Doctors carefully study each case of the disease before prescribing therapy. The emphasis is on treatment with MAOI antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors). These drugs are of several types:
- Non-selective irreversible － to improve the general condition of a person. These include funds such as "Fenelzin",Iproniazid, Isocarboxazid, Nialamide, Tranylcypromine.
- Selective reversible drugs. They have an antidepressant effect, help stabilize the balance of hormones in the cerebral cortex. These are "Metralindol", "Pirlindol", "Befol", "Moclobemide".
- Selective irreversible. They have a beneficial effect on the production of dopamine, a hormone that is responsible for the psycho-emotional state of a person. Most often, the drug "Selegin" is prescribed.
Antidepressants are sold by prescription only. The standard course of treatment with one drug is 2 weeks, after which the drug is changed as needed.
Unauthorized prescription and use of antidepressants is prohibited, as they have a large number of contraindications and are toxic.
Psychological help
Treatment of atypical depression is impossible without providing moral support to the sick person. People who are in a depressed state react painfully to any external stimuli. The main goal of providing psychological assistance is to overcome the negative perception of everything around.
To do this, there are basic recommendations for providing such assistance:
Understanding. A depressed person should not feel guilty about being in a bad mood. In addition, it is important to refrain from condemning the patient and not trying to "dig into" his condition
- Optimism. Such people are prone to a negative perception of everything around them. It is important to unobtrusively show a person the positive aspects of life.
- Suggestion of self-confidence. One of the symptoms of atypical depression is pathological self-doubt. It is necessary to show such a person that there are things that he does best.
- Everyday help. It can be difficult for a sick person to tune in to perform routine tasks, such as cooking or cleaning, and this depresses him. It is necessary to provide all possible assistance and encouragement. In this case, a person may feel his need for other people.
- Do not respond to aggressive behavior. The patient is not able to control his own emotions, so he can often break out on others. It is important not to react to such manifestations, but to translate unpleasant conversations in a different direction.
To assist in recovery should not only close people, but also professional psychologists, psychiatrists.
Folk treatment
Remedies of natural origin can have a positive effect on the overall well-being of a depressed person. They can be divided into 2 groups:
Sedatives. Helps to get rid of sleep problems, excessive anxiety and irritability. These include tinctures of valerian officinalis, hawthorn, motherwort, oregano, heather
Stimulating. They are used to increase activity, with a breakdown, drowsiness,reduced concentration. These are tinctures of herbs such as Eleutherococcus, chamomile, Rhodiola rosea, ginseng, lemongrass
Alcohol tinctures can be found freely available at any pharmacy. However, before use, you should consult with your doctor about their compatibility with the main treatment drugs.
Helpful tips
For a person taking antidepressants, it is important to follow a diet that minimizes fat and carbohydrate intake. It is also recommended to consume foods rich in tyramines (amino acids that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland):
- cheeses;
- smoked meat;
- legumes;
- coffee;
- chocolate;
- yeast products;
- red wine (however, its use is only allowed in minimal quantities and is prohibited if depression has developed on the background of alcohol or drug addiction).
The diet is selected by the attending physician based on what drugs the patient takes and the characteristics of his body.
Forecast
If all medical recommendations are followed and the necessary medicines are taken, the chances of recovery are very high. After recovery, it is necessary to lead the most he althy lifestyle, give up bad habits, minimize the occurrence of stressful situations so that the disease does not recur.
Preventive measures
In order to protect yourself from depressive manifestations, you must constantly monitorfor your mental state. For example, learn to enjoy everyday activities, even routine cleaning.
It has been proven that people who sleep no more than 5 hours a day are more prone to depression. Therefore, it is necessary to normalize your daily routine, devoting a large amount of time to sleep (at least 8 hours a day).
It is important to eat right, since it is with food that a large amount of vitamins and microelements enter the body, which affect the hormonal background. It is necessary to give up smoking and abuse of alcoholic beverages.
You should try to avoid conflict situations or learn how to resolve them. A large number of mental disorders appear precisely against the background of guilt that arises from unresolved conflicts.
A person needs to have goals in life in order for it to be rich and interesting. In addition, the goals set must be achieved in order to be fully satisfied. For starters, they can be insignificant - buy new shoes, go to the theater. Gradually it should get more difficult. In this way, you can get rid of a depressing job and find a new one instead, establish communication with the opposite sex and make new acquaintances.
