Residents of modern cities are surrounded by many factors that provoke stress. Problems, fatigue, loss of energy are complaints constantly heard around. Thus, more and more people notice in their more or less close environment a person who for a long time "has something wrong with the mood. We call this "depression", often without thinking that this is not just a definition of a state, but a specific and rather severe diagnosis.
The answer is both simple and complex. According to medical specialists including securingpharma.com, depression is a real disease that needs to be treated by a specialist. At the bottom of this disease, a violation of biochemical reactions, namely a deficiency of chemicals (neurotransmitters) lies. Such neurotransmitters are necessary for the proper functioning of our nervous system.
How to help?
Neurotransmitters are biologically active chemicals through which nerve cells interreact with each other, transmit commands to muscles and other cells. These mediators regulate major body functions, including movement, emotional responses, the physical ability to experience pleasure and pain. The most well-known neurotransmitters that affect basic body functions are serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Chemical transmitters of signals between neurons are divided into two categories - excitatory (accelerating, intensifying) and inhibiting (slowing down, weakening) the passage of a nerve impulse through cells. Several neurotransmitters perform both of these functions.
At the heart of this disease, there is a violation of biochemical reactions, namely a deficiency of chemicals (neurotransmitters), which are necessary for the proper functioning of our nervous system.
According to the existing concept, depression is a consequence of a deficiency of intermediary substances that transfer information from neuron to neuron. Also, a certain role in the onset and development of depression is played by hormones: hydrocortisone, thyrotropin, growth hormone, and prolactin. However, at the moment, their role is considered secondary. An exception is the pineal gland hormone, melatonin, which affects the human circadian rhythm (sleep-wake rhythm).
The depression symptoms can be varied in patients, it depends on the form of the disease. Depression can sometimes occur as isolated episodes of the disease, sometimes it can be chronic and accompanied by regular exacerbations.
Emotional manifestations of depression
Anxiety, feeling of inner tension, waiting for trouble;
Feelings of guilt, frequent self-accusations;
Dissatisfaction with oneself, decreased self-confidence;
Long-term, suffering, depressed mood, despair;
Irritability;
A decrease in interest in the environment, a decrease or loss of the ability to experience pleasure from previously pleasant activities;
Loss of the ability to experience any feelings (in cases of deep depression).
Physiological manifestations of depression
Sleep disorders (insomnia, drowsiness);
Changes in appetite (loss or overeating);
Intestinal dysfunction (constipation, diarrhea);
Decreased sexual needs;
Decreased energy, increased fatigue during normal physical and intellectual exertion, weakness;
Pain and discomfort in different body systems.
Behavioral manifestations of depression
Passivity, difficulty engaging in purposeful activity, refusal of entertainment;
The tendency to solitude, loss of interest in other people;
Alcoholism and substance abuse providing temporary relief.
Mental manifestations of depression
Difficulty with concentrating on doing something, decreased concentration;
difficulty making decisions, slow thinking;
The predominance of gloomy, negative thoughts about yourself, about your life, about the world in general;
A gloomy, pessimistic vision of the future with a lack of perspective, thoughts of the meaninglessness of life, thoughts of suicide (in severe cases of depression);
Having thoughts about your own uselessness, insignificance, helplessness.