The 2023 “China Mental Health” Blue Book shows that the number of people suffering from depression in our country has reached 95 million, with patients under 18 years old accounting for 30.28% of the total, exceeding 28 million. So, where in the country are people more prone to depression? According to data from Xingqiu Big Data, the depression incidence rates in Sichuan, Guangdong, the three northeastern provinces, Tianjin, and Chongqing are below 5%, while Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shandong provinces have rates exceeding 10%. Shanghai ranks first nationally with a depression incidence rate of 11.8%. It is evident that the fast-paced life and high competition pressure have a significant impact on mental health.
Relaxed Sichuan people live the most comfortable lives.
Sichuan’s disease index is only 4.2%, ranking last nationwide. It is said that once you enter Sichuan, you won’t leave, the root cause lies in the comfortable living environment where young people easily lose their fighting spirit and older people find it suitable for retirement. Whether squatting anywhere, playing mahjong on the lawn, or gathering around trash cans, the extremely relaxed Sichuan people have taken their life experiences to the extreme, living out their own lifestyle.
Depression is not just “feeling blue”; there are some hidden signals that can be easily mistaken for other emotions or physical issues, and many people are unaware that they are depressed.
1. Sleep disorders: Most depression patients have varying degrees of sleep disorders, including insomnia, hypersomnia, early waking, etc. Insomnia may be due to high stress, poor mental state, etc., which are generally not categorized as depressive disorders clinically; while “early waking” is a unique symptom often used as a diagnostic criterion for depression.
2. Easy fatigue: Depression patients have decreased serotonin secretion in the brain, leading to reduced sense of pleasure. At the same time, serotonin levels affect adrenaline secretion, depriving people of sufficient energy supply and causing deep fatigue.
3. Anxiety: Studies show that 95% of depression patients experience some degree of anxiety, manifested as restlessness, fear, mental tension, difficulty concentrating, sweating, tremors, muscle twitches, rapid heartbeat, etc.
4. Unexplained pain and discomfort: Nearly half, even up to 76%, of depression patients experience physical pain symptoms such as headaches, back pain, limb pain, and lower back pain. In addition, some patients may also experience chest tightness, diarrhea, bloating, or constipation.
5. Loss of interest: Losing interest in everyday activities is a major symptom of depression. There is no motivation to do anything, including hobbies and skills that used to bring happiness and fulfillment.
6. Difficulty concentrating: Impaired memory and inability to focus are typical symptoms of depression. Depression affects multiple brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The former is responsible for attention, short-term memory, planning, and problem-solving, while the latter plays a crucial role in long-term memory formation.
7. Self-isolation: Patients often avoid contact with others, prefer to sit alone, stay in bed all day, isolate themselves, avoid social interactions, and may refuse to go out completely.
8. Low self-esteem: Patients tend to attribute all mistakes to themselves, believe they are worthless, and feel hopeless in life.
9. Extreme emotional fluctuations: Fluctuating between happiness and sadness. Depressive moods may follow a pattern of feeling worse in the morning or early in the day and improving in the afternoon or evening, allowing simple conversations and activities.
10. Irritability: There are various types of depression, one of which is irritable depression. Patients may get excessively angry over trivial matters, display verbal aggression, or throw objects, even when minor incidents occur.
11. Changes in eating habits: Some patients lose their appetite due to tormenting negative emotions, resulting in rapid weight loss, while others overeat, seemingly seeking comfort through taste to soothe their low spirits.
Reference: “2023 China Mental Health”
www.xgan.cn
